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Attendance

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

We believe that every school day is critical. In order to set clear expectations for students and signal instruction time is paramount, we expect that all students to be present each and every day of school, beginning the first day of school. Attendance is taken each period of the school day and is recorded for state reporting each day during the second period of the day (near or at 10:00 a.m.). It is critical that students be present because our school funding is based on daily attendance numbers. If an absence is unavoidable, a parent should call the main office/attendance office before 9:00 am on the date of the absence with the reason for the student’s absence. Teachers are not responsible for communicating this information to the office. All absences will be verified by the school attendance office and if the school has not been notified of the absence, the absence will be recorded as “unexcused.” It is important that the parent calls in and speaks directly to the attendance secretary, Ms. Eli Marban. If the parent cannot reach the attendance office, an email message may be sent to the attendance office or a message may be left on the school’s voice mail. However, it is the parent’s responsibility to verify the message was received.

When the student returns to school, the student must provide the attendance office a note signed by a parent explaining the reason for the absence, or a doctor’s excuse. If a note is not provided within three school days of the student’s return, the absence will be marked “unexcused.”

(Example: If a student is absent on Monday and returns to school on Tuesday, then Tuesday would be considered day one; Wednesday, day two; and Thursday, day three.)

If the student does not have a note submitted to the main office/attendance office, the student’s absence(s) will be marked as “unexcused.”

EXCUSED ABSENCES:

For the purpose of state funding, the following situations are excused absences if the required documentation is provided:

PERSONAL ILLNESS:

A note signed by a parent must be given to the main office or attendance clerk when the student returns to school. If the personal illness exceeds three consecutive days, a statement from a physician or health clinic verifying the illness or other condition causing the student’s extended absence from school is required. If a student has excessive absences due to personal illness, the campus administrators, at the campus administrator’s discretion, may require a physician’s or clinic’s statement of illness after a single day’s absence to excuse the absence.

MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS:

An appointment with a healthcare professional is excused if the student provides documentation of the visit. Parents are encouraged to schedule appointments outside school hours if possible or after the second period when attendance is taken.

OBSERVANCE OF RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS :

Students may be excused for the purpose of observing religious holy days. If it is necessary to travel for the purposes of observing the holiday, only one day of travel to and one day for travel from the site where the student will observe the religious holy day is excused. The campus administrators may require a letter from the religious leader documenting the need for travel or the basis of the religious holiday if the holiday is not an easily recognized or common religious holiday. Travel to attend a baptism or a wedding, for example, is not an excused absence under this category.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:

Participation in a school-approved and supervised extracurricular activity is excused.

ATTENDANCE AT REQUIRED COURT APPEARANCES:

If a student is required to appear at court – including truancy court – the absence may be excused. A copy of the subpoena or court hearing notice should be presented upon return to the school.

NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES:

Appearance at a governmental office to complete paperwork required in connection with the student’s application for U.S. citizenship or taking part in a U.S. naturalization oath ceremony is excused if documentation of the appearance is provided.

Death or serious illness in immediate family: Attendance at a funeral for an immediate family member (parents, siblings, and grandparents) may be excused for up to three days if travel is required, unless a longer period is approved by the campus administrators. An absence due to the serious illness of immediate family members (as defined above) may be excused for up to three days (including travel). A note from the parent is required upon return.

MILITARY DEPLOYMENT OF PARENT:

Absence for the purpose of a student visiting with his or her parent prior to the parent’s leave or deployment, not to exceed three days per year, may be excused unless a longer period is approved by the campus administrators. A note from the parent is required upon return.

OTHER ABSENCES:

Notwithstanding the above absences which may be excused for funding purposes, other absences may be excused, at the discretion of the Campus administrators, and upon the prior request of the parent. The decision of the campus administrators on whether to excuse an absence is final. Absences not excused by law or school practice, including extracurricular activities, will be “unexcused” even if the parent has given permission for the student to be absent.

Student Absences:

Carrollton Farmers Branch ISD has several ways parents can notify campuses of their child’s absence(s). If your child is absent, notification of the absence must be made in writing within three days of the absence. Parents can notify the campus through Parent Square, by calling the attendance office, sending an email or by providing a handwritten note with a signature to the attendance office at your child’s school.

Absences will be recorded as:

  • Verified Absence(s): A documented unexcused absence(s). Parents have notified the campus of the student’s absence.
  • Excused Absence(s): An absence listed as an excused absence per TEC 25.087.
  • ABS: An undocumented unexcused absence without any notification from the parent.

Absences such as vacations/trips, babysitting, working (including modeling), non-school sponsored athletic events and programs shall be considered unexcused.

Verified and Unverified absence per the Texas Education Code, §25.087 listed below:

Religious Holy Days- limited to 1 travel day to and 1 travel day from site. Potentially two verified days in addition to the travel days, depending on student’s attendance prior to travel. Proof of church bulletin or certificate for verification. Religious holy days must be recognized on CFBISD religious calendar. Additional days are unverified for compulsory attendance and attendance accounting purposes;

  • Required court appearances,
  • Immediate death in the family, limited to 1 travel day to and 1 travel day from site. Potentially two verified days in addition to the travel days, Proof of Obituary for verification;
  • Renewal of United States citizenship with proof of documentation for verification;
  • Department of Family and Protective Services court-ordered custody hearings;
  • Medical appointments for the student or the student’s child, if the student comes to school the day of the appointment, either before or after the appointment;
  • Medical appointments for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who receive a generally recognized service for persons with autism spectrum disorder;
  • A junior or senior visiting an accredited institution of higher education. Not to exceed two days in a school year;
  • Student’s visiting with a parent, stepparent, or legal guardian who is an active duty member of the uniformed services. Not to exceed five days in a school year;
  • A student who is 17 years of age or older pursuing enlistment in the armed services or the Texas National Guard. Not to exceed more than four days of school.

*If a student is going to be absent for more than ten consecutive days, the student shall be withdrawn at the end of the tenth day and truancy will be filed in the court.      

TRUANCY/NON-COMPLIANCE WITH ATTENDANCE LAWS:

A student is required to attend school under the law (TEC §25.085). A student who has unexcused absence(s) is considered truant and will be subject to disciplinary action and/or truancy proceedings. Truancy action may be brought for failure to comply with the compulsory attendance law if a student is absent without excuse on ten or more days or parts of days within a six month period or three or more days or parts of days within a four week period. Please check with Melissa Mijares if you have any questions about these provisions.

WITHDRAWAL FROM SCHOOL:

A student under the age of 18 may be withdrawn from school only by a parent. The school requests notice from the parent at least three days in advance so that records and documents may be prepared. Parents may be asked to meet with an administrator before proceeding with the withdrawal process. It is important to let the school know the name of the school to which the student is transferring so that records can be sent promptly.

Morning Procedures

  • All students will enter through the cafeteria upon arriving on campus (beginning at 7:15).
  • Students planning to attend tutorials will sit at table #s 1-4.
  • Students may eat on either side of the cafeteria, but must clean up after themselves.
  • Memos will be posted on the projector each morning, for example, teachers who are unavailable for tutoring, and where the student should go if in need of tutoring.
  • 6th grade students will be released to D-hall beginning at 8:10.
  • Students will have until 8:35 to attend tutorials.
  • Dismissal for first period will take place at 8:50.
  • Tutorials will be offered each day, except Wednesday, from 8:10-8:50.*
  • Teachers will post their tutorial schedule in the classroom and reference with students.

Tardy Procedures

Tardies will be logged in two places; the SIT Server and Teams. The SIT Server will generate an alert for administrators for every 10th tardy. The consequences for tardiness will be the following:

  • 10th tardy– Student conference; Parent will receive an informative email.
  • 20th tardy-Assignment of one hour after school detention. (Assigned Wed. or Thurs.)
  • 30th tardy- Assignment of two hour after school detention. (Assigned Wed. or Thurs.)
  • 40th tardy-Step 4(Parents must attend exit conference)
  • 50th tardy- OSS, mandatory morning tutorials for 5 days.
  • 55th/60th/65th+ tardy-4 hour detention(Tues. and Thurs.) mandatory morning tutorials for 5 days, loss of privileges(may not attend extra curricular activities for one week-this includes attending and participating in any activity).

In the event a student does not attend their assigned detention, they will choose a Step 4 upon returning to school. Parents are not required to attend exit conference.