Compulsory Attendance Law
SUBCHAPTER C. OPERATION OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Section 25.085. COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
(a) A child who is required to attend school under this section shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided.
(b) Unless specifically exempted by Section 25.086, a child who is at least six years of age, or who is younger than six years of age and has previously been enrolled in first grade, and who has not yet reached the child’s 18th birthday shall attend school.
(c) On enrollment in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, a child shall attend school.
(d) Unless specifically exempted by Section 25.086, a student enrolled in a school district must attend:
(1) an extended-year program for which the student is eligible that is provided by the district for students identified as likely not to be promoted to the next grade level or tutorial classes required by the district under Section 29.084;
(2) an accelerated reading instruction program to which the student is assigned under Section 28.006(g);
(3) an accelerated instruction program to which the student is assigned under Section 28.0211; or
(4) a basic skills program to which the student is assigned under Section 29.086.
(e) A person who voluntarily enrolls in school or voluntarily attends school after the person’s 18th birthday shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is offered. A school district may revoke for the remainder of the school year the enrollment of a person who has more than five absences in a semester that are not excused under Section 25.087. A person whose enrollment is revoked under this subsection may be considered an unauthorized person on school district grounds for purpose of Section 37.107.
Failure to attend as an individual, required to attend school under Section 25.085 of the Texas Education Code, who is absent without excuse on ten or more days or parts of days within a six month period or three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period. An excused absence is determined by the teacher-principal or the superintendent of the school in which the student is enrolled per Section 25.087 (a) of the Education Code. It is the parent(s)' responsibility to monitor the student's attendance, and the parent, subsequently, is subject to prosecution (Section 25.093, Texas Education Code) if the student fails to comply with the compulsory attendance laws. The student is also subject to prosecution (Section25.094, TEC) or referral to the juvenile court if he/she fails to attend school as required by law. Excessive absences over the 90% attendance rule must have a doctor's note.