1. Taking Care of Your Future
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
Taking Care of Your Future
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Upbeat music—
Welcome to Austin ISD’s Attendance Matters webinar. In this short presentation, you’ll learn why attendance is important. We’ll also discuss the legal, social, and academic impact of not attending school regularly.
Presented by Learning Support Services, DPS

2. Why does Attendance Matter?
It’s the Law
You’ll make friends
You’ll stay on track for high school and college graduation
High school and college grads make $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 more in income over a lifetime!
So, why does attendance matter? First of all, it’s the law. There are legal consequences for not attending school regularly. Also, school is where your friends are. Yes, you can keep up with them on Facebook but it’s not the same as seeing them face to face. Lastly, coming to school regularly makes you more successful at school and keeps you on track for high school and college graduation. Remember, school success begins with attendance. Did you know that missing 3 days a month is like missing a whole 6 weeks of school?. Would you to earn $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 as a high school or college graduate, JUST COME TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY!
School Success Begins with Attendance
Presented by Learning Support Services, DPS

3. What does the law say?
In Texas, you must attend school at least % of the time
Your school can file truancy charges against you or your parent/guardian for:
3 unexcused absences within a 4 week period, all day OR part of day
10 unexcused absences within a 6 month period, all day OR part of day
So, why does attendance matter? First of all, it’s the law. There are legal consequences for not attending school regularly. Also, school is where your friends are. Yes, you can keep up with them on Facebook but it’s not the same as seeing them face to face. Lastly, coming to school regularly makes you more successful at school and keeps you on track for high school and college graduation. Remember, school success begins with attendance. Did you know that missing 3 days a month is like missing a whole 6 weeks of school?. Would you like to earn $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 more in a lifetime as a high school or college graduate, JUST COME TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY!
Presented by Learning Support Services, DPS

4. Possible legal consequences
Possible denial of driver’s license
Mandatory student and parent/guardian classes
Criminal record
Court mandated actions
Fines up to $500
Court fees up to $85
Community Service
Probation Officer
If you DO go to court here are some of the possible consequences:
You can be fined up to $500.00
You might have to do community service.
You could be assigned a probation officer.
You might not be able to get a driver’s license—you will have to pay any fines and fees before being given a license.
You and your parent might have to go to classes.
Your offense could remain on your criminal record
The court may require you to be drug tested or detained or referred to Gardner Betts
Presented by Learning Support Services, DPS

5. absences Excused Unexcused Overslept Missed the bus
Out of town/Vacation
Parent sick
Baby sitting
Sibling doctor appointment
Car trouble/Traffic
Bad weather
Nothing to wear
“Don’t feel like it”
Documented illness
School activity
Mentor visit
College visit (2 per Jr. year, 2 per Sr. year)
Religious holy day
Court appearance
Medicaid appointment
Excused? Unexcused?
absences
So what is an excused absence? Documented illnesses are generally excused. What does that mean? The general rule is that when a parent, guardian, or doctor writes a note explaining the illness, then the absence is usually excused. See the list for other kinds of excused absences.
Even though your doctor’s appointments are considered excused, it’s important to try to schedule those appointments outside of school hours.
(click to second column)
Other absences are probably unexcused. That includes oversleeping, missing the bus, and car trouble. Look at the list for other examples.
Presented by Learning Support Services, DPS

6. When am I too sick? Too Sick Not Too Sick Fever over 100 degrees
Vomiting/Diarrhea
Contagious
Hospitalized
Doctor’s orders
Runny nose
Headache
Stomachache
Sprained ankle/cast
Allergies
“Don’t feel good”
Here’s a little more information about illnesses. When are you too sick to come to school? Generally, if you have a fever, are vomiting or have diarrhea, you need to stay home. Also, if a doctor has said you’re contagious you should stay home. Contagious means that whatever you have might make someone else sick. We don’t want sick students at school.
(click to second column)
There are going to be times when you don’t feel 100% but you can still come to school. Keep in mind that your school has a nurse who you can see if you start feeling worse.
Presented by Learning Support Services, DPS

7. Social Impact Attendance affects Friendships
Lose out on making friends. Out of the social loop. Can’t participate in extracurricular activities. Loss of personal time. Lose out on making friends. Out of the social loop. Can’t participate in extracurricular activities. Loss of personal time. Lose out on making friends. Out of the social loop. Can’t participate in extracurricular activities. Loss of personal time. Lose out on making friends. Out of the social loop. Can’t participate in extracurricular activities. Loss of personal time. Lose out on making friends. Out of the social loop. Can’t participate in extracurricular activities. Loss of personal time.
Attendance affects Friendships
Lose out on making friends
Out of the social loop
Can’t participate in extracurricular activities (sports, band, dances, field trips)
Loss of personal time (Saturday school, tutoring, after school detention)
Facebook and Twitter are not the only ways to keep up with your friends. Attending school is a great way to build lasting friendships and meet new people. When you’re not at school you lose track of what’s going on. Many times school won’t let you participate in fun activities like sports, dances, and field trips when you are absent.
Presented by Learning Support Services, DPS

8. academic Impact Loss of high school credit Fall behind in school work
Lose of high school credit. Fall behind in school work. Hard to catch up/feeling lost. Make-up work. Low Grades. Repeat Grade. Summer School. Fail STAAR/EOC/TAKS. Lose of high school credit. Fall behind in school work. Hard to catch up/feeling lost. Make-up work. Low Grades. Repeat Grade. Summer School. Fail STAAR/EOC/TAKS. Lose of high school credit. Fall behind in school work. Hard to catch up/feeling lost. Make-up work. Low Grades. Repeat Grade. Summer School. Fail STAAR/EOC/TAKS
Loss of high school credit
Fall behind in school work
Hard to catch up/Feeling lost
Make-up work
Low grades
Repeat grade
Summer school
Fail STAAR/EOC/TAKS
Poor attendance also impacts your academic success. For high school credit classes, even when you’re passing the class grade-wise, you lose credit if you miss more than 90% of class time.
When you’re not in class you miss out on important information, activities, and assignments which causes you to fall behind. When you return to class it’s often hard to catch up because you’ve missed important pieces of information.
Being absent can lead to academic consequences such as make-up work, low grades, repeating a grade, summer school, or failing standardized tests. No one likes to feel lost. Coming to school every day will help prevent that feeling.
Presented by Learning Support Services, DPS

9. What if I’m absent?
Turn in a note to the ATTENDANCE CLERK, not a teacher, when you are absent or tardy
Communicate with your teacher about missed work
Ask for help if absences are becoming a problem
So what should do when you have to be absent? First of all, be sure to bring a note to the attendance clerk explaining why you were absent. This note should be signed by a parent, guardian, or doctor and submitted within 48 hours.
Presented by Learning Support Services, DPS

10. Who can help? Parents Counselor Dropout Prevention Specialist
Counselor, Dropout Prevention Specialist, Attendance Specialist, Communities in Schools, Family Resource Center, Teachers, Parent Support Specialist, Administration, Parents, Counselor, Dropout Prevention Specialist, Attendance Specialist, Communities in Schools, Family Resource Center, Teachers, Parent Support Specialist, Administration, Parents, Counselor, Dropout Prevention Specialist, Attendance Specialist, Communities in Schools, Family Resource Center, Teachers, Parent Support Specialist, Administration, Parents
Who can help?
Parents
Counselor
Dropout Prevention Specialist
Attendance Specialist
Communities in Schools
Family Resource Center
Teachers
Parent Support Specialist
Administration
Here are examples of people you can talk with for guidance and suggestions to help you improve your attendance.
Presented by Learning Support Services, DPS

11. For more information, go to: www. childstudysystem
For more information, go to: or contact your CSS Facilitator
So what should do when you have to be absent? First of all, be sure to bring a note to the attendance clerk explaining why you were absent. This note should be signed by a parent, guardian, or doctor and submitted within 48 hours.
Presented by Learning Support Services, DPS