Information on School Absences

Texas Education Code, Section 25.092 states that a student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90% of the days the class is offered. 

Reporting Absences:
If a student is absent, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to use one of the options listed below:
1. Email Mrs. Beer to report the absence. Please include the student’s name, date of absence, reason for absence, estimated date of return, your name, and a phone number where you can be reached. You can email documents to kbeer@ponderisd.net
2. Call the high school office at 940-479-8210 or 940-479-8214 to “report an absence.” In a voice message, provide the student’s name, date of absence, reason for absence, estimated date of return, your name, and a phone number where you can be reached. *If calling and reporting an absence please remember that you will still need to send a note with the student when they return or email Mrs. Beer.

Documentation Required for Absences:
When a student is absent from school, the student must bring a note signed by a parent that describes the reason for the absence. This note must be delivered to Mrs. Lee in the Office within 3 days of the student’s return to school. Any student's absence of more than 3 consecutive days because of a personal illness must be accompanied by a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s extended absence from school.
When a student is absent from class for a medical or legal appointment, the absences will be excused when the school is provided with documentation from the medical or legal provider. Once again, the student has 3 days from his or her return to school to provide proper documentation, or the absence will be considered unexcused. 

A student whose absence is excused for an appointment with a healthcare professional shall not be penalized for the absence if the student commences classes or returns to school on the same day of the appointment and brings a note from the healthcare professional verifying the appointment. They MUST be in school for at least one full period.
A  consultation over the phone or via video (telemedicine) is considered an appointment with a healthcare professional. An appointment with a school nurse is not considered a meeting with a healthcare professional for school funding purposes. (per Texas Education Agency Student Attendance Policy).

*If the nurse sends the student home sick for the day, the absence will be excused. (if the student is absent the following day the office will need a note)
If a student is absent for the entire school day due to a doctor's appointment, the absence will be excused with documentation from the appointment but does not count as a medical absence (they must be on campus for at least 1 class period for the absence to be coded medical).

Compulsory Attendance:
All students enrolled in public schools in Texas are required by state law to be in attendance at least 90% of the total school days in each semester to receive credit for the classes in which they are enrolled. Failure to attend at least 90% of the school days may result in loss of credit and cause a student to have to repeat some or all of the courses for that semester/year. If a student is 10 minutes late for class, the student is considered absent. If the student reports to class within the first 10 minutes of class, they are considered tardy. 

Excused Absences:
State law and school guidelines governing attendance require that excused absences pertain to illnesses, medical or legal appointments, funerals of immediate family members, college days and school-sponsored trips. Leaving town for vacation is not an excused absence.