Excused Absence Examples
• Required court appearances
• Documented healthcare appointments for the student
• Mental health or therapy appointments
• Activities related to obtaining US citizenship for the student
• College visits (Juniors and Seniors only, two per year)
• Death of an immediate family member
• UIL Activities
• Personal illness of the student (school accepts 4 parent notes before a doctor's note is required)

 *Appropriate documentation must be provided

Unexcused Absence Examples
• Family vacations, trips, cruises
• Leaving campus during class or lunch period without authorized permission
• Oversleeping
• Babysitting for family members
• Translating for family members
• Missing the bus
• Car trouble
• Absence without written notification from parent/guardian
• Wedding/graduation ceremonies

The academic success of every student enrolled in Crowley ISD is important. Daily school attendance and arrival on time are critical to this success. By attending school each day, students receive the benefit of teacher-led instruction, peer discussion, building each day’s learning on the previous day’s instruction, participating in a variety of school activities and the opportunity to grow as individuals. 

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 four absences per semester.  

Communicate with us: Parents should call the day of the student's absence and follow-up with a parent's note the following day. For students on a block schedule, if a student has excessive absences (four 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 within the same six weeks. 

Monitor Skyward: Parents and students are encouraged to check your child's daily attendance and grades through Skyward.  

Avoid scheduling conflicts: Schedule medical/dental appointments during non-school hours and plan your trips/vacations according to the district school calendar. 

Update your contact information: We will do our best to communicate with you, so it's important that you provide your current address and phone numbers to the school via Skyward. 

Get organized: Getting to school can get easier by helping your child develop morning and evening routines, such as laying out clothes, packing a backpack the night before and arranging transportation to/from school. 

What does it mean that my student is truant?
School attendance is not a choice, it is the law. If a student is absent without an excuse on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, the district will file truancy court proceedings on parents/guardians and/or the student for violation of the Texas Compulsory Attendance Law. If students don’t obey the truancy court’s orders, they could be found in contempt of court and have to pay a fine. 

Fines range from $100 to $500 per day that student remains truant. Other results of truancy are:

• Loss of VOE form required for a driver’s education permit
• The truancy court may also order a suspension or delay of the student’s driver’s license or permit
• Parents/students may have to participate in counseling, special classes or community services.

What can I do to prevent Truancy?
• Always advise your school when a student plans to miss a school day.
• Monitor your student’s daily attendance
• Request conferences with the school personnel
• Update your home address and emergency contact information.
• If you have any concerns regarding the accuracy of your student’s attendance, contact the school’s attendance office.
• Ensure that your student arrives at school on time, attends each class period and avoids early releases/pick-ups from school unless there is an extreme emergency.
• If your child is changing schools, always formally withdraw them within 24 hours. If you leave your student enrolled, and you move, the accumulated days will harm the students' attendance.

What to do if you receive a truancy warning letter regarding your child's attendance?
When you receive a warning letter, please contact your students' truancy officer to set up a meeting at your earliest convenience. If you receive a warning letter, take steps to avoid future unexcused absences.

PDF: School's Responsibilities Regarding Truancy Flowchart

What should I do if my child is absent?
Students who have been absent must present a written excuse from the parent or guardian within three days. The three-day period begins on the day the student returns to school. All absences require a doctor’s note and/or a parent’s written note. A parent note will only excuse four consecutive days. In addition, a parent may only submit 10 notes in a school year for absences. 

What should I do if I believe my child's attendance is not accurate?
Discuss the concern with your child and verify this information with your child's teacher. If these steps do not resolve your concern, contact the attendance clerk at your child's school.

I can't afford to take my child to the doctor every time they are sick. What should I do?
If your child is not feeling well, you can take them to school at the normal arrival time and let the nurse look at your child. If the nurse believes your child needs to stay home, it would be an excused absence for that day.

What is the 90% rule?
According to Texas state law and Board policy, a student is required to be in attendance at least 90% of the days school or classes are offered. If a student misses more than 10% or approximately 18 days of school, they must make up class time or they will not earn credit for class or a final grade.  If the class is a semester long, the number is reduced to, on average, 8 days of missed school.

When is a child considered truant?
A student engages in truant conduct if the student is required to attend school under TEC 25.085, and fails to do so. If a student fails to attend school without an excuse on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year and those absences have been verified by the campus as unexcused, the student and/or their parents may be referred to truancy court. 

Why did I receive a letter about attendance and truancy?
If you receive a letter from your student’s school, it is because attendance records show that the student has absences without an excuse on three (or more) days or parts of days in a four-week period. This is also when the campus will implement truancy prevention measures for the student. The warning letter and truancy prevention measures are required by law to assist students and parents and to prevent schools from filing with the court for compulsory attendance.

Carmen Flores
Attendance Coordinator
carmen.flores@crowley.k12.tx.us

Dr. John Hamlett
Director of Student Support and Engagement
john.hamlett@crowley.k12.tx.us

Rashad Muhammad
Director of Student Support and Engagement
rashad.muhammad@crowley.k12.tx.us

Dr. Noel Reed
Safety and Truancy Officer
noel.reed@crowley.k12.tx.us

Kristen Fields
Safety and Truancy Officer
kristen.fields@crowley.k12.tx.us

Todd Crawford
Safety and Truancy Officer
todd.crawford@crowley.k12.tx.us