As GPISD moves into the 21-22 school year, the Truancy Department is excited to announce

that parents will be able to view the Truancy Warning Letter through the Skyward

Parent-Portal.  Click here for Skyward Parent Portal Access. If you need to set up your Skyward Parent Portal contact your child’s school.  Education Code 25.087 requires school districts to notify a student’s parent if the student has unexcused absences for three day or parts of days within a four-week period.

It is the parent’s duty to:

• Monitor the student’s school attendance and require the student to attend school;
• Request a conference with the school officials to discuss the absences;
• Provide updated accurate address and contact information;
• Monitor student attendance through Skyward Parent-Portal;
• Submit an excuse note to the attendance office for all unexcused absences.

The GPISD Truancy Department wants all parents to know it is never too late to work

together to improve student attendance and reduce truancy.

FREQUENTLY ASKED ATTENDANCE QUESTIONS

What do I do if my child has to be absent from school?

When a student is absent, it is important to let the school attendance office know the reason for missing school. Parents must call or send an electronic communication through the Skyward Parent Portal to the school before 10:00 a.m. on the day of the absence.  If contact is not made on the day of the absence a signed note will be required.   A note signed by the student, even with the parent’s permission, will not be accepted unless the student is age 18 or older or is an emancipated minor under state law.   If a signed note is not received within 4 days of the absence, the absence becomes unexcused. 

NOTE: Excuse notes should have student name, grade, date of absence(s), reason and parent signature. Please have your student write their ID # on their note if possible.

What types of absences may be excused?

• Student’s illness or injury
• Family emergency with administrator approval
• Death of a family member
• Doctor’s appointments (medical, dental, vision) that cannot be scheduled before or after school hours
• Religious holy days
• Court appearances

Unexcused absences:

• Being out of town, only for acceptable reasons, without principal's prior approval
• Being absent for personal reasons other than illness, only for acceptable reasons, without the principal's prior approval
• Oversleeping
• Being truant
• Parent failing to contact the school by Skyward Parent Portal, note or telephone within four school days of the excusable absence
• Any reason for which extenuating circumstances are not found by the campus administration

What is the school/district’s responsibility regarding school attendance?

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

The school district will also provide attendance information on your student’s school attendance. For up-to-the minute attendance information parents/guardians can view their student’s attendance record via Skyward Parent Portal.

What should I do if I received a Warning Letter regarding my student’s attendance?

If you receive a Warning Letter, take steps to avoid future unexcused absences. 

What if there is an error with my students Attendance?

If you have any concerns regarding the accuracy of your student’s attendance, contact the school’s attendance office.

Detailed information regarding attendance can be found in the student/parent handbook on the district’s website.

What is the parent/guardian’s responsibility?

We are sure you are aware of how important it is that your child receive a quality education. However, you may be unaware under the laws of the State of Texas it is your duty as the parent/guardian to monitor your child’s attendance and make sure he/she attends school each and every day, for the full instructional day.  This also includes ensuring the student arrives to school on time, attends each class period and avoid as much as possible early releases/pick-ups from school unless there is an extreme emergency.

Legal Responsibilities:

If a student has been absent without excuse for three days or parts of days within a four-week period, the school district shall issue a Warning Letter to inform the parent,

(A) of their duty to monitor the student’s school attendance and require the student to attend school

(B) the student is subject to truancy prevention measures in addition to other statutory requirements in existence and a request for a conference between school officials and the parents will be scheduled to discuss the absences.

If a student is absent without excuse on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, the district will file truancy court proceeding on parents/guardians and/or the student for violation of the Texas Compulsory Attendance Law.

What are the laws governing school attendance?

The Texas State Compulsory Attendance Law, Section 25.085, requires all enrolled students to attend school on time, all day, every day school is in session.

Violation of the law occurs when students get unexcused voluntary absences for 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period.

Parents/students who violate the law may receive referral(s) for court proceedings. Students over the age of nineteen may be withdrawn by the school for excessive unexcused absences.