Attendance Requirements

We know student attendance is important for the best quality of education, but what does the law say?

Texas law requires most students aged 6-19 to attend school each day that instruction is provided. Compulsory attendance also applies to students younger than six who have previously been enrolled in first grade and to students below the age of six who are voluntarily enrolled in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten. For students over the age of 19, truancy may revocate enrollment in certain circumstances. Tex. Educ. Code §§ 25.085-.086.

Parents may be subject to prosecution and the student may be referred to truancy court if the student is absent (unexcused) for 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period. Tex. Educ. Code § 25.095.

Unexcused absences do not include absences that are excused by state law and local school district policy. Tex. Educ. Code §§ 25.086-.087, .095.

Texas Education Code Title 2. Public Education; Subtitle E. Students and Parents; Chapter 25 Admission, Transfer, and Attendance

Compulsory Attendance and Truancy