Truancy
TRUANCY UNDER THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE
Texas law requires students age 6-19 to attend school each day that instruction is provided.
If a student incurs three or more unexcused absences on full or partial days within a four-week period, McKinney ISD sends a warning notice to inform the parent that the student is subject to truancy prevention measures (TPMs). These notices are generated by the McKinney ISD truancy prevention facilitator, forwarded to the appropriate campus attendance clerks, and then forwarded to the parent/guardian of the student on behalf of the campus.
These truancy letters (sent on the 3rd and 7th unexcused absences) will:
- Remind the parent of his or her duty to monitor the student’s attendance and require the student attend school.
- Request a conference between school administrator(s) and the parent/guardian.
- Inform the parent that the district will initiate truancy prevention measures, including a behavior improvement plan, school-based community service, referrals to counseling or other social services, or other appropriate measures.
The truancy letter sent on the 10th unexcused absence will state:
A court of law may impose penalties against the parent if a school-aged student is deliberately not attending school. The district may file a complaint against the parent if the student incurs ten or more unexcused absences within a six-month period in the same school year. If a student age 12-18 incurs ten or more unexcused absences within a six-month period in the same school year, the district, in most circumstances, will refer the student to truancy court.
After a student age 19 or older incurs a third unexcused absence, the district is required by law to send the student a letter explaining that the district may revoke the student’s enrollment for the remainder of the school year if the student has 5 unexcused absences in a semester. As an alternative to revoking a student’s enrollment, the district may implement a behavior improvement plan.