¡Hola Halcones!
My name is Azucena Ramos and I am your attendance clerk at Lively Middle School. Please submit absence notes to my email at : azucena.ramos@austinisd.org or you may also have your child drop off absence note in our main office. Please include your child’s name and student ID# and the dates your child was absent. Our front office hours are 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions at 512-414-3207 ext. 70387.
Austin ISD is required to submit its attendance to the Texas Education Agency reflecting student attendance at a specific time each day. Please try to schedule appointments for your student after school, but if that is too difficult, try and schedule medical appointments after 10:30 AM.
Note: Phone calls are not required to report an absence in advance, per policy we can’t address absences in advance. Phone calls also cannot count as documentation.
Parent/guardian notes may be used to excuse a total of 8 absences for the school year. If exceeding 8 parent/guardian notes, parent/guardian encouraged to communicate with your campus principal to discuss the reason(s) for absences and whether future parent/guardian notes will be accepted.
Attendance Matters!
Every Day Counts! Student success begins with attendance. We know from research and experience that attendance boosts student achievement, educational experiences, and prepares students for college, careers and beyond.
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% Rule
In addition to the Compulsory Attendance Law, there is the 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 or unexcused. 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 75% of the days the class is offered, the student may earn credit for the class by completing a plan approved by the principal.
Credit Loss Defined
When students do not meet the 90% attendance rate in class, it is reflected on their report cards as course credit denial. See flow chart for specific steps.
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
Based on state policy, the only absences that count as excused and do not count against attendance for credit fall under the categories below:
- Medical Appointments
- Holy Day as designated by the district (the form is available for download below)
- Court Appearance
- Citizenship
- Naturalization
- College Visit (high school)
- Playing Taps at a military event
- Board Approved Excused Absence
- School-related(UIL, Field Trip, ISS, Testing, Other campus event)
Illness
We do recognize, however, that perfect attendance is not always possible. Ill children should be kept at home to allow recovery and to keep other students from contracting the illness if contagious.
If your child is absent for all or part of a school day, the student-upon arrival or return to school-must bring a note or send in an email, signed by the guardian or health care professional that describes the reason for the absence.