FEA(LOCAL) - ATTENDANCE: COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE

Students in violation of the compulsory attendance law shall be reported to the District attendance officer, who may institute court action as provided by law.

Excused Absences

In addition to excused absences required by law, the District shall excuse absences for the following purposes.

Higher Education Visits

The District shall excuse a student for up to two days during the student's junior year and up to two days during the student's senior year to visit an accredited institution of higher education. A student shall be required to submit verification of such visits in accordance with administrative regulations.

Armed Services Enlistment

The District shall excuse a student 17 years of age or older for up to four days during his or her enrollment in high school for activities related to pursuing enlistment in a branch of the U.S. Armed Services or Texas National Guard. A student shall be required to submit verification of such activities in accordance with administrative regulations.

Early Voting or Election Clerk

The District shall excuse a student for up to two days per school year to serve as an early voting or election clerk. A student shall be required to submit verification of service in accordance with administrative regulations.

[For extracurricular activity absences, see FM.]

Withdrawal for Nonattendance

The District may initiate withdrawal of a student under the age of 19 for nonattendance under the following conditions:

  1. The student has been absent ten consecutive school days; and
  2. Repeated efforts by the attendance officer and/or principal to locate the student have been unsuccessful.

[For District-initiated withdrawal of students 19 or older, see FEA(LEGAL).]

Students Attending Homeschools

Students who are homeschooled are exempt from the compulsory attendance law to the same extent as students enrolled in other private schools.

Adequate documentation of homeschooling for withdrawal shall consist of either a statement of withdrawal in accordance with FD(LOCAL) indicating the date homeschooling began, or a signed and dated letter from a parent or guardian indicating that his or her child is being homeschooled and the date the homeschooling began.

The District may request from a parent or guardian a letter of assurance that a child is being educated using a curriculum designed to meet basic education goals of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and a study of good citizenship.

Enforcing Compulsory Attendance

If a parent or guardian refuses to submit a requested statement or letter, or if the District has evidence that a school-aged child is not being homeschooled within legal requirements, the District may investigate further and, if warranted, shall pursue legal action to enforce the compulsory attendance law.

Hamshire-Fannett ISD

FEA(LOCAL)-A

UPDATE 111

DATE ISSUED: 6/26/2018