PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT HCISDHCISD

Dr.Dr. JOSE LUIS CAVAZOSJOSE LUIS CAVAZOSDIRECTORDIRECTOR

Attendance Department Mission Attendance Department Mission StatementStatement

Our goal is to have every Our goal is to have every Harlingen Consolidated Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District Independent School District student attend our schools on a student attend our schools on a daily bases to ensure that they daily bases to ensure that they learn their required skills and learn their required skills and graduate from high school on graduate from high school on their projected graduation date. their projected graduation date.

ATTENDANCE OFFICERSATTENDANCE OFFICERS

SYLVIA GONZALEZ-LEAD ATTENDANCE OFFICERSYLVIA GONZALEZ-LEAD ATTENDANCE OFFICER

ELIA ARAUJOELIA ARAUJO

JOSE A. CARDENASJOSE A. CARDENAS

ELIZABETH CORTEZ ELIZABETH CORTEZ

ANNA MARIA CRUZANNA MARIA CRUZ

CORINA PIZANOCORINA PIZANO

TERRY MARTINEZTERRY MARTINEZ

ZULEMA NYQUISTZULEMA NYQUIST

ROSE LOPEZROSE LOPEZ

DIANA FLORESDIANA FLORES

ATTENDANCE ATTENDANCE OFFICERSOFFICERS

ATTENDANCE OFFICERS are involved daily in ATTENDANCE OFFICERS are involved daily in following up on students that are not attending following up on students that are not attending school (absent, truant, referral, etc.) The school (absent, truant, referral, etc.) The individuals make phone calls, home visits and individuals make phone calls, home visits and campus visits. These methods are used on a daily campus visits. These methods are used on a daily basis to monitor students attendance.basis to monitor students attendance.

The main role of attendance officers is to improve The main role of attendance officers is to improve attendance and lower the dropout rate by working attendance and lower the dropout rate by working with “no shows” and truancy at all campuses.with “no shows” and truancy at all campuses.

COMPULSORY SCHOOL COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCEATTENDANCE

STATE LAWSSTATE LAWS

Compulsory School AttendanceCompulsory School Attendance

(a)(a) A child who is required to attend school under A child who is required to attend school under this section shall attend school each school this section shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided.instruction is provided.

(b)(b) Unless specifically exempted by Section Unless specifically exempted by Section 25.086, a child who is at least six years of age, 25.086, a child who is at least six years of age, or who is younger than six years of age and or who is younger than six years of age and has previously been enrolled in first grade, and has previously been enrolled in first grade, and who has not yet reached the child’s 18who has not yet reached the child’s 18 thth birthday shall attend school.birthday shall attend school.

Cont. Compulsory School Cont. Compulsory School AttendanceAttendance

(c) On enrollment in prekindergarten or (c) On enrollment in prekindergarten or kindergarten, a child shall attend school.kindergarten, a child shall attend school.

(d) Unless specifically exempted by Section (d) Unless specifically exempted by Section 25.086, student enrolled in a school district must 25.086, student enrolled in a school district must attend:attend:

(e) A person who voluntarily enrolls in school or (e) A person who voluntarily enrolls in school or voluntarily attends school after the person’s 18voluntarily attends school after the person’s 18 thth birthday shall attend school each school day for birthday shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is the entire period the program of instruction is offered.offered.

EXEMPTIONSEXEMPTIONS

ExemptionsExemptions

(a)(a) A child is exempt from the requirements of A child is exempt from the requirements of compulsory school if the child:compulsory school if the child:

(1) attend a private or parochial school (1) attend a private or parochial school

(2) is eligible to participate in school district’s (2) is eligible to participate in school district’s special education program under Section special education program under Section 29.003 and cannot be appropriately served by 29.003 and cannot be appropriately served by the resident districtthe resident district

Cont. ExemptionsCont. Exemptions

(3) has a physical or mental condition (3) has a physical or mental condition of a temporary and remediable nature that of a temporary and remediable nature that makes the child’s attendance infeasible makes the child’s attendance infeasible and holds a certificate from a qualified and holds a certificate from a qualified physician specifying the temporary physician specifying the temporary condition, and covering the anticipated condition, and covering the anticipated period of the recuperating from that period of the recuperating from that remedial treatment remedial treatment

Cont. ExemptionsCont. Exemptions

(4) is expelled in accordance with the (4) is expelled in accordance with the requirements of law in school district that does requirements of law in school district that does not participate in mandatory juvenile justice not participate in mandatory juvenile justice alternative education program under Section alternative education program under Section 37.01137.011

(5) is at least 17 years of age and:(5) is at least 17 years of age and:(a) is attending a course of instruction to prepare (a) is attending a course of instruction to prepare for the high school equivalency examinationfor the high school equivalency examination(b) has received a high school diploma or high (b) has received a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate.school equivalency certificate.

Cont. ExemptionsCont. Exemptions

(6) is at least 16 years of age and is (6) is at least 16 years of age and is attending a course of instruction to prepare for attending a course of instruction to prepare for high school equivalency examinationhigh school equivalency examination

(a)(a) The child is recommended to take the course The child is recommended to take the course of instruction by a public agency that has of instruction by a public agency that has supervision or custody of the child under a supervision or custody of the child under a court ordercourt order

(b)(b) The child is enrolled in a Job Corps training The child is enrolled in a Job Corps training program under the Workforce Investmentprogram under the Workforce Investment

FAILURE TO ATTEND FAILURE TO ATTEND SCHOOLSCHOOL

Section 25.094 of the Texas Section 25.094 of the Texas Education Code, Failure to Attend Education Code, Failure to Attend

SchoolSchool::

If a student fails to attend school without an If a student fails to attend school without an excuse on ten or more days or parts within excuse on ten or more days or parts within six-month period in the same school year six-month period in the same school year or on three or more days or parts within a or on three or more days or parts within a four week period, the school district shall four week period, the school district shall file a complaint against the student in file a complaint against the student in justice or municipal court.justice or municipal court.

Section: 25.093 of the Texas Section: 25.093 of the Texas Education Code, Parent Contributing Education Code, Parent Contributing

to Nonattendanceto Nonattendance::

A parent with criminal negligence fails to A parent with criminal negligence fails to require the child to attend school as require the child to attend school as required by law, and the child is absent required by law, and the child is absent from school on ten or more days or parts from school on ten or more days or parts of day within a six-month period in the of day within a six-month period in the same school year or on three or more same school year or on three or more days within a four-week period, the parent days within a four-week period, the parent commits an offense.commits an offense.

HARLINGEN CONSOLIDATED HARLINGEN CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDEN SCHOOL INDEPENDEN SCHOOL

DISTRICTDISTRICT

LOCAL LAWLOCAL LAW

Withdrawal For NonattendanceWithdrawal For Nonattendance

The District may initiate withdrawal of a student The District may initiate withdrawal of a student under the age of 18 for nonattendance under under the age of 18 for nonattendance under the following conditions:the following conditions:

(1) The student has been absent ten (1) The student has been absent ten consecutive school days; andconsecutive school days; and

(2) Repeated efforts by the attendance (2) Repeated efforts by the attendance officer and/or principal to locate the student officer and/or principal to locate the student have been unsuccessful.have been unsuccessful.

Cont. Withdrawal For Cont. Withdrawal For NonattendanceNonattendance

Once the determination has been made that a student Once the determination has been made that a student will be withdrawn for nonattendance, the withdrawal will be withdrawn for nonattendance, the withdrawal date shall be retroactive to the day following the last date shall be retroactive to the day following the last day of attendance. Concurrent with the determination day of attendance. Concurrent with the determination that a student will be withdrawn for nonattendance, that a student will be withdrawn for nonattendance, the student’s locker shall be opened and all its the student’s locker shall be opened and all its contents shall be removed and inventoried. All contents shall be removed and inventoried. All textbook and school materials shall be retained by textbook and school materials shall be retained by the District. Any contraband shall be submitted to the the District. Any contraband shall be submitted to the local police department. local police department.

Personal IllnessPersonal Illness

When a student’s absence for personal illness When a student’s absence for personal illness exceeds five consecutive days, the student shall exceeds five consecutive days, the student shall present a statement from a physician or health present a statement from a physician or health clinic verifying the illness or other condition that clinic verifying the illness or other condition that requires the student’s extended absence from requires the student’s extended absence from school. If the student has established a school. If the student has established a questionable pattern of absences, the attendance questionable pattern of absences, the attendance statement of illness after a single day’s absence as statement of illness after a single day’s absence as a condition of classifying the absence as one for a condition of classifying the absence as one for which there are extenuating circumstances.which there are extenuating circumstances.

INFORMATION INFORMATION

It is the parent duty to monitor their child’s It is the parent duty to monitor their child’s school attendance and require that your child school attendance and require that your child attend school. Failure to do so could result attend school. Failure to do so could result in your prosecution under Section 25.093 or in your prosecution under Section 25.093 or Section 25.094. This offense is a Class C Section 25.094. This offense is a Class C Misdemeanor and subject to a fine not to Misdemeanor and subject to a fine not to

exceed $500.00. Each day your child exceed $500.00. Each day your child remains out of school may constitute a remains out of school may constitute a

separate offense. Two or more offenses separate offense. Two or more offenses may be consolidated and prosecuted in a may be consolidated and prosecuted in a

single action.single action.

A Parent’s RoleA Parent’s RoleEl Papel de los PadresEl Papel de los Padres

If your feelings towards If your feelings towards school are positive and school are positive and you view it as an you view it as an important place to be, important place to be, your children will also your children will also see it as a positive and see it as a positive and important place.important place.

Si miras y hablas de la Si miras y hablas de la escuela como un lugar escuela como un lugar positivo e importante, positivo e importante, también sus hijos también sus hijos tendrán la misma tendrán la misma opinión.opinión.