
Attendance

Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the laws governing attendance?
- What documentation is required for an excused absence?
- How many days can my child miss school before losing credit?
- What happens if my child’s attendance drops below 90%?
- Will I be notified if my child is at risk of losing credit due to absences?
- What documentation is needed for absences due to illness?
- Can my child be withdrawn from school for not attending?
- What if my child is homeschooled?
- Do excused absences count toward the 90% rule?
- What is the difference between excused and unexcused absences?
- Does poor attendance affect whether the student gets accepted when transferring to another campus within Weslaco ISD or to another school district?
- If a student goes to a doctor's appointment and returns to school with a doctor's excuse, is the student counted present?
- What can I do as a parent to support my child’s attendance?
What are the laws governing attendance?
Students who are at least six years of age, or who have been previously enrolled in first grade, and who have not yet reached their 19th birthday shall attend school for the entire period the program is offered, unless exempted as indicated below. On enrollment in prekindergarten or kindergarten, a student shall attend school. [See policy FEA].
A person who voluntarily enrolls in school or voluntarily attends school after the person's 19th birthday shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is offered. After the third unexcused absence of a person who voluntarily enrolls, a district shall issue a warning letter to the person that states the person's enrollment may be revoked for the remainder of the school year if the person has more than five unexcused absences in a semester. [See policy FEA].
Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance
State law allows exemptions to the compulsory attendance requirements for several types of absences if the student makes up all work. These include the following activities and events:
- Religious holy days (requires proper documentation from church leader);
- Required court appearances;
- Activities related to obtaining United States citizenship;
- Service as an election clerk; and
- Documented health-care appointments, including absences for recognized services for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, if the student is absent only a portion of the school day. A note from the health-care provider must be submitted within 3 days of the student’s return to campus.
- Students 17 years of age or older pursuing enlistment in a branch of the U.S. armed services or Texas National Guard (max. 4 days- requires documentation)
- A junior or senior student’s absence of up to two days related to visiting a college or university will be considered an exemption, provided the student receives approval from the campus principal, follows the campus procedures to verify such a visit, and makes up any work missed.
- A junior or senior year of high school and misses school for the purpose of visiting a professional at the professional’s workplace for the purpose of career investigation to determine the student’s interest in pursuing a career in the professional’s field.
For a complete list and details about each exemption, please read pp. 6-11 of the WISD Attendance Procedures Manual.
Note: Documentation must be turned in to the campus attendance office within the timeline established by the school.
What documentation is required for an excused absence?
Students must submit verification of their absence, such as:
- A signed note or form from a college or university.
- A letter from an employer or professional for career investigation visits.
- A form or letter from the military recruiter.
- A signed note from the DPS or proof of appointment for driver’s license visits.
- Documentation showing service as an election clerk.
If documentation is not submitted, the absence may be unexcused.
How many days can my child miss school before losing credit?
What happens if my child’s attendance drops below 90%?
If attendance falls below 90% but stays at or above 75%, your child may still earn credit or a final grade by completing a plan approved by the principal.
If attendance drops below 75%, the parent or student must submit a written petition to the attendance committee to request that credit or a final grade be awarded.
Will I be notified if my child is at risk of losing credit due to absences?
What documentation is needed for absences due to illness?
Can my child be withdrawn from school for not attending?
What if my child is homeschooled?
Homeschooled students are exempt from compulsory attendance laws, similar to students enrolled in private schools.
When withdrawing a student for homeschooling, parents must provide:
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A withdrawal form stating the date homeschooling began, or
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A signed and dated letter from the parent/guardian stating that the child is being homeschooled and the date homeschooling started.
The District may request a letter of assurance that the curriculum includes:
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Reading
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Spelling
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Grammar
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Mathematics
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Good citizenship
Do excused absences count toward the 90% rule?
What is the difference between excused and unexcused absences?
An excused absence is a day a student misses school for a valid reason recognized by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook (SAAH). Examples include:
- Personal illness or injury
- Family emergencies
- Medical appointments
- Observance of a religious holy day
- Participation in certain school-approved activities
An unexcused absence occurs when a student misses school for reasons not recognized by SAAH or the school district, such as skipping class, vacation, or personal errands.
Truancy is a legal term that usually applies when a student has unexcused absences, especially if the student misses 10 or more days or parts of days in a six-month period without valid reasons. Truancy may require interventions by the school or local authorities.
Does poor attendance affect whether the student gets accepted when transferring to another campus within Weslaco ISD or to another school district?
Yes, attendance is an important factor in student transfers. While each campus or school district may have its own policies, chronic or excessive absences can be considered during the transfer process. Schools review attendance records to ensure students are likely to succeed in the new environment. It is recommended to maintain consistent attendance and provide any necessary documentation explaining past absences when requesting a transfer.
If a student goes to a doctor's appointment and returns to school with a doctor's excuse, is the student counted present?
Yes, generally a student is considered present for the day if they attend school for any portion of the day and provide valid documentation, such as a doctor's note or physician's excuse, for the time they were absent for the appointment.
While a partial-day absence with a doctor's note may count the student as "present" for the purpose of the state's compulsory attendance law (truancy), the time missed may still count against the student's attendance hours for earning course credit under the 90% Rule.
High School Credit Note: If a student falls below 90% attendance for a class, they may be required to complete an Attendance Recovery Plan, even with a passing grade, to receive credit.
What can I do as a parent to support my child’s attendance?
- Schedule family trips and medical appointments outside of school hours when possible.
- Stay informed by checking attendance regularly through the parent portal.
- Communicate with teachers and administrators early if attendance issues arise.
Submit required documentation (like doctor’s notes) immediately after an absence.
PEIMS
The Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) is the statewide data collection system used to gather student, staff, financial, and organizational information from school districts and education service centers. This information is submitted to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and serves as the official source for all public education data in Texas.
State law requires every Texas school district to adopt and maintain a student accounting system with clear procedures to ensure the accurate collection, recording, and reporting of student data. These reports are submitted to TEA through PEIMS and play a critical role in determining state funding, compliance, and accountability across multiple programs.
Accountability
PEIMS data is used to evaluate school performance and compliance through various reports and measures, including:
- Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR) – provides information about student performance and district operations.
- Performance-Based Monitoring (PBM) – monitors performance in specific program areas.
- Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) – measures financial accountability.
- Other Compliance Measures – ensures districts follow state laws and regulations.
Funding
PEIMS data directly impacts the Foundation School Program (FSP) and other funding sources, such as:
- Title Programs (federal funding for at-risk students)
- School Nutrition Programs (free and reduced lunch eligibility)
- Special Education Services
- Grant Programs for specific educational needs
At Weslaco ISD, the PEIMS team is dedicated to submitting accurate and timely data on behalf of the district. Our goal is to uphold the highest level of data integrity, ensuring that the information reported reflects and supports the success of our students, staff, and schools.
PEIMS Data Collection Timeline
PEIMS data is submitted four times each school year, with each collection serving a specific purpose:
- Fall Collection
- Captures a “snapshot” of the district’s student and staff data on the designated Fall Snapshot Date (even if it is not a school day).
- Includes all students enrolled and staff employed on that date.
- Leaver data is based on students’ status as of the last Friday in September.
- Captures a “snapshot” of the district’s student and staff data on the designated Fall Snapshot Date (even if it is not a school day).
- Mid-Year Collection
- Reports audited financial data from the previous school year.
- Reports audited financial data from the previous school year.
- Summer Collection
- Gathers year-long data such as:
- Student attendance (regular and flexible)
- Course completions
- Disciplinary actions and student restraints
- Title I, Part A participation
- Course sections and teacher assignments
- District and campus performance ratings
- Foundation High School Program participation
- Student attendance (regular and flexible)
- Gathers year-long data such as:
- Extended Collection
- Includes data for:
- Special Education Extended Year Services (ESY)
- Flexible attendance for credit recovery
- Summertime dual credit course completions
- Special Education Extended Year Services (ESY)
- Includes data for:
5. Six-Weeks Attendance
- Includes data for:
- Student Attendance by Reporting Period
- Flexible Attendance Programs
- Special Program Attendance
- Student Attendance by Reporting Period
Resources
- PEIMS
- DATA VALIDATION MANUALS
- DATA STANDARDS
- DISCIPLINARY CODES & DEFINITIONS
- PEIMS ACRONYMS
- TEA CORRESPONDENCE
- RECORD RETENTION QUESTIONS
LINKS for STAFF
- PEIMS Services (Internal Only)
- Ask TED
- TEAL Login for TREx, TSDS, UID
- Student Attendance Accounting Handbook (SAAH)
INTERNAL LINKS (Passkey protected)
Forms
STAFF
Title
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY
DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Phone
969-6546
969-6552
CMARTINE@WISD.US
CCID@WISD.US
