Attendance | Webb Middle School

Attendance boosts student achievement, improves the quality of your child's educational experience, and it prepares them for college, good careers, and successful adulthood. When a Webb student is tardy, absent, or has to leave during the school day, parents and students are asked to follow the procedures below. If you have any questions, please contact Audrey Rodriguez, Attendance Specialist, at (512) 414-4168 or by email audrey.m.rodriguez@austinisd.org

Absences

If a student misses part or all of the school day due to illness, a doctor’s appointment, or other excused reason, please submit a handwritten note or email our attendance specialist within 2 business days of the absence. Absences may also be reported online at:

https://www.austinisd.org/attendance/report-absence

Please Include:

Student’s Name
ID number
Grade Level
Date(s) of absence
Reason for Absence

Arriving Late

When a student arrives late at school, the student must check-in through the main office and be issued a “permit to enter.” If the student is arriving late due to a doctor’s appointment or other excused reason, please bring a note explaining the reason for the absence so it can be updated from unexcused to excused in our system. If the lateness is for an unexcused reason, the student will be marked as tardy.

Compulsory Attendance Law

The State of Texas requires that all students at least 6 years of age and not yet 19 attend school until they obtain a diploma. It is important that students attend school each day. There is a very strong connection between student attendance and academic performance in school. Therefore, when students miss class, they miss out on learning.

90% Attendance Rule

In addition to the Compulsory Attendance Law, there is a 90% law. In order to receive credit for 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. Atty. Gen. Op. JC-0398 (2001). If the student does not meet this requirement, the student must go through the Attendance Recovery Process.

If the student drops below 90% but attends class at least at 75% of the days the class is offered, the student may earn credit for the class by completing a plan approved by the principal or assistant principal.

Submission of the attendance appeal must occur within 30 school days of the end of the semester in which the credit was denied. The campus attendance committee then meets and renders a decision based on the circumstances as presented by the student and parent within 30 school days of the end of the semester in which the credit was denied. See Austin ISD Board Policies FEC (LEGAL) and FEC (LOCAL).

Pick-Up Procedures

If you need to pick up your child during the school day for a doctor’s appointment, illness, or other personal reasons, a parent or legal guardian may come directly to the front office to sign the student out. Please bring a valid form of ID. When you arrive, we will call the student down from class. Calling the office before you arrive will NOT be allowed due to safety concerns.

Make-Up Work

Whether an absence is excused or unexcused, students are responsible for following up with each teacher to make sure all missed academic obligations are met. Check with each teacher about their specific make-up work policies and procedures, and notify the teacher about planned absences ahead of time when you can. Submitting missed assignments will also help maintain eligibility for extracurricular activities.

Address Changes

If your address changes, please advise the attendance specialist with a copy of a utility bill/gas bill as proof of your new address.

Field Trips

When a student attends a scheduled field trip with one class, the other teachers often are unaware of the reason for a student’s absence. The absence may first appear in the system as unexcused, but the attendance specialist will update them to excused, after receiving the complete list of students that actually attended the field trip. It may be a few days before you see the correction. Once excused, these absences will show up as code FLD on the AISD Parent Cloud.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What can I do to help?

Keep Reviewing Your Child's Attendance Records
- It is important to monitor your child’s attendance and stay in communication with the school to ensure that you are informed about your child’s attendance history.
Minimize Instructional Time Lost
- Schedule any appointments (doctor, dentist, etc.) outside of school hours.
Send a Note
- For an excused absence, you must send a note to the campus that describes the reason for the absence within two school days of your child returning to school.
Make-Up Work and Passing Grades
- If your child is absent for any reason, including extracurricular activities, be sure the assigned make-up work is completed. Submitting missed assignments due to absences will help maintain eligibility for extracurricular activities as well as a student’s GPA.
How Can I Monitor My Child’s Attendance?
- You can sign up for the AISD Parent Cloud, which will allow you to access your child’s attendance records online, including absence codes identifying excused and unexcused absences. You can also see your child’s grades in real time. If you do not have access to a computer, you can request a copy of your child’s attendance record for the week at the campus. Records will only be released to parents and guardians.

What type of absences count against my student's 90% attendance law?

Some examples of absences that count against the 90% attendance law include, but are not limited to:

family trips
vacations
attendance at non-school sponsored events

Please note: Illnesses that are excused under Compulsory Attendance Law may count against the 90% attendance law.

What type of absences do not count against my student's 90% attendance law?

Activities that do not count against the 90% attendance law include, but are not limited to:

school field trip
UIL activity
dual credit course
college visit or other school-related events

What happens if my child's attendance falls below the 75% threshold?

When students fall below the 75% attendance rate, the student and parent/guardian must appeal to the Campus Attendance Committee. This Committee will review the reasons for your student's absences, review performance, and offer a plan for recovery. Each plan is unique based on individual student's circumstances. If a student is in good standing, work missed has been made up, and proper documentation for absences has been provided, the Attendance Committee may determine the method for recovery.

Whom should I check in with first on campus?

Check in your with your student’s teachers or our attendance specialist. One of these individuals can review your child’s absences with you and let you know next steps.

Is a doctor's note required for each absence?

No, a doctor's note is not required for each absence. When a student's absence for personal illness exceeds 5 consecutive days, the principal or attendance committee may require that the student present a statement from a physician or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student's extended absence from school as a condition of classifying the absence as one for which there are extenuating circumstances. If a student has established a questionable pattern of absences, the principal or attendance committee may require that a student present a physician's or clinic's statement of illness after a single day's absence as a condition of classifying the absence as one for which there are extenuating circumstances.

How many absences will create a filing for truancy charges?

Three or more UNEXCUSED absences in a four week period, will generate a Truancy Warning Letter. This letter is mailed home to the parent/guardian.
Ten UNEXCUSED absences within a six month period, truancy charges SHALL be filed. Filing with the court system for missing ten or more (unexcused) days; or parts of days, in a six month period is required by state law.

Why did I receive a letter about attendance and truancy?

If you receive a letter from us it is because your student has three or more unexcused absences in a four week period of time. This letter is a reminder of Texas State Law and a warning that truancy charges will be filed once ten unexcused absences are attained.

My question isn't here. Who do I contact?

The Office of the Attendance Specialist can be reached at (512) 414-4168 or by email audrey.m.rodriguez@austinisd.org