Skip to main content

Franklin Independent School District

Striving for Excellence

Schools

Popular Links

Attendance

Did you know that school attendance is the leading indicator of your child’s lifelong success?

Attendance at Franklin ISD

Franklin ISD recognizes the value and importance of school attendance and looks forward to educating your children during the 2025-26 school year. Our district team has been working to revise attendance procedures so that communication is increased and assistance is given to any family struggling with chronic unexcused absences.

The 84th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2398, which substantially altered existing truancy laws in Texas. With the passage of the new law, former provisions that criminalized a student's truant behavior have been repealed and a civil process governing truancy proceedings has taken effect. This change means truancy proceedings against students will now be handled in a civil court. The District is required to provide a written warning to parents at the beginning of the school year informing them that if the student is absent from school on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, the parent/guardian may be subject to criminal prosecution and, as mentioned, the student is subject to referral to a truancy court for truant conduct.

Specifically, Franklin ISD will enforce Texas compulsory attendance laws as follows:

  • Automated phone calls will be placed to parents or guardians notifying them when a student has been marked absent. It is the parent's or guardian's responsibility to ensure that he/she provides current and up to date contact information to the school.

  • All students will be issued a warning notice when attendance records reflect that the student has absences without an excuse on three days or parts of days in a four week period. Further, each campus will request a conference with the student and parent or guardian for the purpose of addressing truancy prevention measures for students who continue to exhibit attendance issues in order to improve the student's overall attendance.

  • All students who miss seven days with unexcused absences can receive a home visit or be required to attend a meeting on campus to develop a Truancy Prevention Plan. This Plan is an intervention based plan offered to students as a preventative measure to intervene 1) before students receive a referral to truancy court; 2) to educate students who are experiencing truancy problems about the consequences associated with unexcused absences. In addition, the plan identifies available and appropriate resources for families who are experiencing issues that may be contributing to a student's truancy. The Truancy Prevention Plan is offered to students only once during each school year.

  • If a student fails to attend school without an excuse on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six month period in the same school year and those absences have been verified by the campus as unexcused, the student is truant and students and their parents may be referred to truancy court. At this point, the court could also file a criminal complaint against parents who contribute to the nonattendance of their child. Should you or your students need special assistance, experience extenuating circumstances or have additional questions, you may contact your child's Assistant Principal.

  • Parents are responsible for notifying the school the day of the absence. If the parent/guardian does not contact the school, they are responsible for making sure that an excuse for the absence is submitted, in writing to the student's attendance office. This must be done the day the student returns to school from the absence. This will ensure that the absence does not remain as unexcused. Also, a student must have a legitimate excuse for arriving late or leaving early from school.

It is also the parent/guardian's responsibility to contact the school immediately if you feel there has been an error in your student's attendance.

Presence in school is a strong indicator of future success. We encourage regular attendance and look forward to a successful school year with your child.

 


 

A green sign with the words 'ATTENDANCE MATTERS' in large letters.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact:

 

Roland Reynolds Elementary           Franklin Middle School           Franklin High School

Email: Tammy Merryman                 Email: Marci Leamon            Email: Tonya Bronikowski

979-828-7300                                             979-828-7200                              979-828-7100

 

 

District Attendance Policy

  • It is important that you contact your child’s school if your child is absent from school. 

    On the day of your student’s absence, you will receive a notification via phone call, text, or email even if the absence has been reported via our district system. Contacting parents and guardians of students who are not in class is an important measure undertaken by the District to ensure the safety of all of our students.

  • Good attendance is important for many reasons. Your child receives the maximum benefit of education by being in school every day, and numerous studies show a strong link between academic performance and consistent attendance. Because attendance is so critical for the quality of your child’s education, Texas has a compulsory attendance law.

    State law requires children to attend school each day that instruction is provided. The law applies to children ages 6–19. If you voluntarily enroll your child in prekindergarten or kindergarten before age 6, school attendance laws apply to your child, too. A person who voluntarily enrolls in or attends school after turning 19 is also required to attend for the entire period of the program of instruction.

    The following are a few exemptions:

    • Children who are enrolled in a private or parochial school

    • Children who are home-schooled

    • Students who are 17 years old and enrolled in a GED (high school equivalency) program

    • Students who are 17 years old and have received a high school diploma or GED certificate

    Most other school-aged children in Texas must comply with the compulsory attendance law.

  • Although perfect attendance is the goal, it’s not always possible. School districts are required to excuse a student’s absence for reasons listed in state law, such as to:

    • Observe a religious holy day

    • Attend a required court appearance

    • Serve as an election clerk

    • Death of an immediate family member

    • Medical treatment

    The Texas Education Code describes these reasons in greater detail and lists additional statutorily excused absences. Any questions about required documentation may be directed to the attendance clerk at your child's campus.

  • Both the child and parent are responsible for unexcused absences. Yes, even if your child is 16 years old and skips class without you knowing, you are considered responsible!

    After too many unexcused absences, the school is required to notify the parent. A compulsory attendance notification will be sent to the parent if a student has unexcused absences on three days or parts of days during a four-week period. Notice it says “parts of days.” This means that leaving school early, or arriving excessively late in the day, even if the child attended for some of the day, may count as an absence.

    The compulsory attendance letter gives the parent notice that the student has accumulated too many unexcused absences and gives the parent a chance to correct the child’s attendance record.

    A student with excessive absences may also be subject to truancy prevention measures. These measures may include a behavior improvement plan, school-based community service, or a referral to counseling, mediation, or teen court. A student who is between the ages of 12 to 18 may also be referred to a truancy court within 10 school days of the student's 10th unexcused absence. In addition, parents may be criminally charged or fined if their child continues to miss school.

  • In addition to compulsory attendance law, districts are required to enforce the 90 percent rule, which states that students in grades K-12 must attend class for 90 percent of the time it is offered to receive credit or a final grade. The 90 percent rule applies to most absences, including excused absences. If the student doesn’t meet this requirement, an attendance committee may grant the student credit or a final grade, depending on the circumstances. Some districts have exempted themselves from this state law through their district of innovation plan.

    The Student Handbook explains your school’s guidelines on absences, tardies, and making up missed schoolwork. Becoming familiar with the school’s policies will help you manage your child’s attendance and ensure that he or she avoids too many missed school days.

     

Why Attendance Matters

Academic Achievement

 

Students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve academic success, graduate on time, and pursue higher education opportunities.

Social and Emotional Development

 

School provides a supportive environment where students can develop social skills, build friendships, and enhance their emotional well-being.

Future Success

 

Regular attendance instills valuable habits such as punctuality, responsibility, and commitment, which are essential for success in life.

Attendance Tips

Communicate with the school: If your child experiences challenges that affect their attendance, please reach out to the school for support and resources. We are your partner and here to help you however we can. 

 

Encourage a love of learning: Foster a positive attitude towards school and learning by engaging in educational activities with your child at home.  If there are areas where your child’s school or academic experience can improve, we encourage you to speak with your school principal or educator. 

Establish a consistent routine: Ensure your child gets enough sleep, eats a healthy breakfast, and has ample time to prepare for school each morning.  If you need help with providing meals for your child or are in need of transportation, please contact your child’s principal. 

 

Schedule appointments outside of school hours: Whenever possible, schedule doctor's appointments, dental check-ups, and other appointments during non-school hours.  Even missing a half day of school for an appointment can be disruptive to your child’s academic experience. 

Attendance FAQ

    • Compulsory School Attendance (Texas Education Code Sec. 25.085) A student between the ages of 6 and 18 MUST attend school and all District required tutorial sessions unless the student is otherwise legally exempted or excused. Upon enrollment in prekindergarten or kindergarten, a child shall attend school.
    • Failure To Attend (Texas Education Code Sec. 25.085) An individual, required to attend school, who is absent without excuse on ten or more days; or parts of days within a six month period. An individual, required to attend school, who is absent without excuse on three or more days; or parts of days within a four week period.
    • Parent Contributing to Non Attendance (Texas Education Code Sec. 25.093) If a warning letter is issued, the parent with criminal negligence fails to require the child to attend school as required by law, and the child has 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; the parent shall be charged.

       

    • The parent/student did not turn in the note or proper guidelines were not followed to excuse the absence. If the student received an early dismissal or came to school late from an appointment they did not turn in the documentation to excuse the absence.

    • The absence in question was due to personal business such as; shopping, non-medical appointments, missed bus, illness other than the immediate family, work.

  • If you have any concerns regarding the accuracy of your student's attendance you will need to contact your student's campus Assistant Principal.

  • Truancy charges are filed by your son/daughter's school after:

    • The student continues to miss school without a valid excuse after receiving warning letters that have been issued after 3, 7 and 10 unexcused absences.

    • The student fails to meet the terms or conditions of the Truancy Prevention Plan.

  • Administrators cannot force a child to come to school. However, an administrator may be able to conduct a home visit to stress the importance of regular attendance to both the student and parent. Please contact your child's Assistant Principal.

  • Parent conferences, home visits, and telephone calls will be made by appointment on a case by case basis. Please contact your child's campus Assistant Principal to set up an appointment.

  • The Compulsory Attendance laws of the State of Texas require that all children between the ages of 6 and 18 are to attend school unless they are exempted from attending by Sec. 25.086 of the Texas Education Code. Students who turn 18 during the academic year are further required to complete that academic year and attend school each and every day school is in session.