Attendance


  • We Empower Today to Excel Tomorrow 


    The mission of the Irving ISD attendance success initiative is to serve and support the students of Irving ISD by removing barriers while working collaboratively with families, community stakeholders and district resources to improve attendance and enhance students' success. Student and parent engagement are critical for the quality of your student’s education.
    Good academic performance goes hand in hand with consistent attendance. Our team of attendance clerks and campus attendance officers are here to work with you and your students towards successful completion at every grade level. 


    Missing School Means Missing Out. 


    Texas State Compulsory Attendance Law, Section 25.085, requires all enrolled students ages 6-19 to attend school on time, all day, every day school is in session.
    Violation of the law occurs when students get unexcused absences for 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period .  Per Texas compulsory attendance law, 10 or more unexcused absences within a six-month period will result in a referral to truancy court involving either student, parent or both. Texas has a compulsory attendance law. Please keep in mind, making up attendance hours does not take away any truancy referrals or tickets.


    Every Minute Counts 


    Per Texas Education Code Section 25.092, districts are required to enforce the 90% rule which states that students in grades Kindergarten through 12 must attend a class for 90% of the time it is offered to receive credit, final grade, or promotion. An excused absence still counts in the days allowed per semester. At the High School level students on a block schedule are limited to 4 absences per semester. At the Middle School and Elementary levels, the amount of absences allowed per semester are a campus administration decision. Any additional absences accumulated until the end of the semester will only be excused with a doctor’s note. Please keep in mind if a student arrives tardy after the reporting period without a doctor’s note, the student will be considered absent for the periods the student misses.
    When scheduling a medical appointment, choose a time that will allow the student to begin or end the day at school. If your student has a medical appointment and attends school part of the same day with a medical note, the student will be considered present for the full day, in the same way if a student leaves early for a medical appointment and returns the next day with a Dr. note for the previous day the student will also be considered present. 
    If your student is receiving services for academic accommodations, this does not release your student from meeting the attendance requirements. 
    A student, who is in attendance for at least 75% but less than 90% of the days a class, may be given credit or a final grade for the class if the student completes a plan approved by the school's principal that provides for the student to meet the instructional requirements of the class.

    STEPS TO TAKE IF MY STUDENT WILL BE ABSENT

  • What to do if my student will miss a day of school?

  • When does my student need a doctor’s note?

  • What absences may be excused?

  • What if my student needs time off for a Religious Holy Day, Court, Military visits, College Visit or other?

  • What absences are not excused?

  • What if my student needs to leave campus during school hours?

  • What are the requirements for my student to obtain a VOE (form used to obtain a driver's permit)?

  • What does it mean that my student is truant?

  • What to do if you receive a Truancy Warning Letter regarding your students' attendance?

  • PARENT’S ATTENDANCE TIPS 


    Let’s Come Together and Ensure Your Student Attends School


    Parents and students are encouraged daily to check online on the Home Access Center (HAC) to look for any problems with attendance.  


    Prioritize – Make attendance THE priority. An absence is an absence no matter if it is excused or unexcused.  Students on a block schedule are only permitted 4 absences per semester.  


    Communicate – Parents should call the day of the student's absence and follow up with a parent note the following day. 


    For students on a block schedule,  If a student has excessive absences (4 or more) per semester, a doctor’s note will be required. 


    All absences not cleared within 24 hours of the student’s absence will require a doctor’s note 


    Parents should call the day of the student's absence and follow up with a parent note within 24 hours. If a student has excessive absences, a Doctor's note will be required. 


    Doctor notes need to be turned in within the same six weeks. 


    Monitor – Check your child’s daily attendance and grades through Home Access Center (HAC).Home Access Center (HAC) - Irving ISD


    Schedule – Schedule medical/dental appointments during non-school hours and schedule trips/vacations according to the district school calendar (see back). 


    Update – Provide your current address and contact number to the school. 


    Organize – Develop morning and evening routines (layout clothes, pack backpack the night before and arrange transportation to/from school). 


    Partner – Team up with your child’s school: Parents and schools are partners. 

    Irving ISD is committed to keeping our staff and students healthy and safe. 

    Helpful Tips for Parents? 

    Praise your child when they exhibit good attendance and promptness.
    Establish routines. Give your child enough time to get ready for school in the morning by preparing lunches, school bags, and outfits the night before.
    Establish an alternate plan for who can help get you to get your child to school when something comes up.
    Allow your child to stay home only when he/she has a contagious illness, fever, or is too sick to be comfortable.
    When scheduling appointments with health care providers, choose a time that will allow your child to begin or end their day at school. A student who has an appointment with a health care provider but attends school for a part of that same day or class will receive credit for attending the whole day or class.
    Switch between morning and afternoon appointments so that your child does not miss the same class all the time.
    When your child is absent, work with teachers to provide your child with opportunities to learn and make up their work.
    Follow district policy for reporting absences and submitting absence documentation within 24 hours of the first day your student missed school. 
    Consistently talk to your student about why going to school every day is important.  Help your student get excited about going to school.
    Monitor your student’s attendance through Home Access Center (HAC) Family Access. Home Access Center (HAC) - Irving ISD

    Contact your student’s school any time they will be absent due to illness, sick medical visits appointment or extenuating circumstances beyond your control that will prevent your child from attending school.