Ennis Junior High School Attendance Procedures

Absent/Tardy

ATTENDANCE

Regular school attendance is essential for the student to make the most of his or her education, to benefit from teacher-led activities, to build each day’s learning on that of the previous day, and to grow as an individual. Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the instructional materials; therefore, the student and parent should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences. Two state laws, one dealing with compulsory attendance, the other with attendance of course credit, are of special interest to students and parents.

Ennis Junior High School requires that a student must be in attendance at least 95% of the allotted number of school days. A student must not miss a total of 5 days per semester, totaling 10 days for the year. Students who are in attendance less than 95% may be subject to being retained unless the attendance committee finds that the absences are the result of extenuating circumstances.

Attendance Committee

In determining whether there were extenuating circumstances for the absences, the attendance committee will use the following guidelines:

• All absences, except those for religious holy days and documented health care appointments for which routine make-up work has been completed, will be reviewed.
• For a student transferring into the District after school begins, including a migrant student, only those absences after enrollment will be considered.
• In reaching consensus about a student’s absences, the committee will attempt to ensure that its decision is in the best interest of the student.
• The committee will consider whether the absences were for reasons which the student or the student’s parent could not exercise any control.
• The committee will consider the acceptability and authenticity of documentation expressing reasons for the student’s absences.
• The committee will consider the extent to which the student has completed all assignments, mastered the TAKS, and maintained passing grades in the course or subject.
• The student, parent, or other representative will be given an opportunity to present any information to the committee about the absences and to talk about ways to earn or regain credit.

If credit is lost because of excessive absences, the attendance committee will decide how the student may regain credit. 

When a student must be absent from school, the student – upon returning to school – must bring a note, signed by the parent that describes the reason for the absence. A note signed by the student, even with the parent’s permission, will not be accepted.

Compulsory Attendance

The state compulsory attendance law requires that a student between the ages of 6 and 18 must attend school and District-required tutorial sessions unless the student is otherwise legally exempted or excused. A student who voluntarily attends or enrolls after his or her eighteenth birthday is required to attend each school day. However, if a student 18 or older has more than five unexcused absences in a semester, the District may revoke the student’s enrollment. The student’s presence on school property is then unauthorized and may be considered trespass.

School employees must investigate and report violations of the state compulsory attendance law. A student, absent from school without permission from any class, will be considered truant and subject to disciplinary action.