Compulsory Attendance Law

State law (Texas Education Code Section 25.085) requires that all students at least 6 years of age and not yet 19 attend school each day. Compulsory attendance also applies to students who are younger than six who have been voluntarily enrolled in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten. [FEA] Compulsory Attendance policy.

State law provides that if a student is absent from school without parental consent for any portion of the school day for three days in a four-week period or for ten or more days in a six-month period, the student and/or the student’s parent or legal guardian are subject to civil prosecution by the truancy court.

Per the compulsory attendance law verbiage, “parts of days”, means that leaving school early or arriving after school begins (tardy), even if the child attended some of the day, may count against the student. Acceptable reasons for an excused tardy are the same as an excused absence.

District of Innovation (DOI)

Texas Education Code Section 25.092 indicates that in order to receive credit or a final grade for a class, a student is required to attend class 90 percent of the days a class is offered regardless of whether the student's absences are excused [see FEA] or unexcused. As a District of Innovation, El Paso ISD does have a benefit of exemption to this requirement by “not penalizing students who miss class due to extracurricular activities, academic activities, or extenuating circumstances”. The District has the ability to exercise local discretion in awarding credit to students who successfully complete course objectives.

“Relief from Section 25.092 does not in any way impact or alter existing compulsory attendance requirements or University Interscholastic League (UIL) rules.” High expectations for attendance will continue to be maintained throughout EPISD, and dropout prevention measures have been put in place for all campuses. Campuses will continue to have an attendance action plan to account for truancy and chronic absenteeism. 

Click here to view the District's innovation plan. 

The Student and Parent Services Department is committed to serving the students of El Paso ISD by removing barriers which prevent students from attending school. We work collaboratively with students, families, schools, community stakeholders and district resources to improve attendance and enhance student success.

The Student Retention and Truancy Prevention Team assists schools in creating a culture of attendance to ensure district compliance with mandates from the state of Teas governing student attendance.

Attendance Matters

Regular attendance in elementary school is a strong predictor of grade-level performance. Attending school regularly helps students feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this having in preschool so they learn that going to school on time, and every day, is important.

Starting in kindergarten, missing about 18 days, or 10 percent of the school year can make it more difficult to learn to read. That equates to missing a day or two every few weeks.

Students who are frequently absent in kindergarten are less prepared than peers for first grade and often struggle to read on grade level through elementary school.

Absences add up in elementary school. Research shows that missing 18 days in a school year or 2 days every month can result in lower test scores and possible retention in later grades.

By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism is one of the three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

By freshman year, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than eighth-grade test scores.

How YOU Can Help Improve Attendance