Students with Attendance Issues

NEISD suggestions to parents of students with attendance problems

The following suggestions are being provided by the NEISD Attendance Officers to help parents resolve their child's attendance problems. While not all of these suggestions are appropriate to your situation, it is to you and your child's benefit that you follow as many of the suggestions as possible. Excessive unexcused absences could result in a truancy case filed in court.

1. PROVIDE JUSTIFICATION FOR ABSENCES

It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to provide the school a note or when appropriate, a doctor’s note when the child is absent from school. "The school administrator has the final authority to excuse/not excuse an absence.” The Compulsory Attendance Law addresses full day as well as partial day absences. Therefore, late arrival to school, single class period absences, or early removal from school will require documentation as described above. Remember, ultimately it is the parent's/guardian’s legal responsibility to ensure that their child attends school regularly and is on time. Non-compliance with this requirement will lead to court action.

2. DOCUMENT

Keep a written record or log of all contacts made with school officials, police, social agencies, etc. in your efforts to resolve any attendance problem. Keep a copy of all notes sent to the school and make sure the school has correct contact phone numbers on file.

3. CONTACT THE SCHOOL

Call the school counselor or assistant principal to arrange a meeting with your child’s teachers to discuss attendance, academic progress, and behavior. Work with school administration on setting up truancy prevention measures with an Individual Attendance Plan (IAP). Make sure the school has a phone number where you can be reached. Another avenue of communication is through the Parent Portal program. If you do not have a Parent Portal account, contact your child’s school for more information.

4. MONITOR YOUR CHILD'S ATTENDANCE

Now that you have been made aware of your child's attendance problems, don't rely on the school to contact you. Make it your business to check regularly with the school attendance office, your child's teachers and set alerts on Parent Portal to inform you of your child’s absences. Call the school today to see if your child has turned in doctor's notes for absences.

5. CHECK ABSENCES ON REPORT CARD & ON PARENT PORTAL

Remember to ask to see your child's report card. It is issued each nine weeks. A parent's/guardian’s signature is always required. Look not only at the grade column but also at the absence and tardy columns. Contact your school for progress and report card dates. Set alerts on Parent Portal to inform you of your child’s absences.

6. FAMILY VACATIONS

Plan family outings and vacations during the weekends, school holidays, and in the summer when school is not in session. Absences during the school year are unexcused and could result in court action.

7. READ THE PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK

Become familiar with District and school policies and procedures. The Student/Parent Handbook can be found on the NEISD website at www.neisd.net. Pay particular attention to the section regarding absences and attendance policies in the handbook.

8. REQUIRE A REASONABLE CURFEW

Require your child to be home at a reasonable hour in order to get enough rest to attend school the next day. If your child violates the curfew, provide appropriate consequences.

9. LIMIT ACTIVITIES ON SCHOOL NIGHTS

A. Time spent talking on the phone / cell phone / computer B. Watching television on school nights C. Visiting with friends D. Involvement in social activities E. Extracurricular activities that are inappropriate on school nights

10. PROVIDE REWARDS AND CONSEQUENCES

There should be a system of rewards or consequences assessed for behaviors at school. They should be appropriate, reasonable, consistent, and provided in a timely manner. If such a system does not exist in your home, seek out parenting classes that can help you develop these skills.

11. BE CONSISTENT WITH DISCIPLINE

Discuss with your child the house rules and consequences that will occur if the rules are broken. Write them down and post them where your child can see them daily.

12. SHADOWING AFTER TRUANCY

With the campus principal's permission, commit yourself to accompany your child from class to class.

13. CALL THE POLICE IF NEEDED

Call the non-emergency “SAFFE” number (207-8350) to the police and ask for the "SAFFE" officer assigned to your nearest police sub-station. if your child becomes violent and/or destructive when you are trying to send him/her to school. Follow through with filing charges against your child if aggressive behavior continues.

14. KNOW YOUR CHILD'S FRIENDS

Keep a list of both the first and last names, phone numbers and addresses of your child’s friends. Exchange phone numbers with their parents. Beware of friends that go by street names and are secretive about their personal lives.

15. IMMUNIZATIONS

When you are notified that an immunization is needed, make arrangements with your doctor or other health care provider immediately. Ask the school nurse about available immunization clinics. Provide the school nurse with proof of immunization. KEEP A COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS. Failure to immunize your child promptly could result in court action for unexcused absences.

16. HEAD LICE

You should begin treatment immediately. Your child should return to school the following day because the first treatment, if applied properly, will kill all live lice and may even destroy the nits. Failure to treat your child promptly could result in the days recorded as unexcused absences.

17. SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM SOCIAL AGENCIES

Do not hesitate to ask for assistance from professionals in counseling including your child’s school counselor, alcohol abuse, parenting classes, psychological, psychiatric services and child placement facilities. Resources are available, some on a sliding scale/payment plan according to the family's income. 

See a list of some agencies in the attendance brochure below. 

Attendance Brochure - English (pdf)
Attendance Brochure - Spanish (pdf)