TEXAS COMPULSORY SCHOOL
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
Texas Education Code Statutes

Section 25.085
COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
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.
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 19th birthday
shall attend school.

Section 25.0915
TRUANCY PREVENTION MEASURES
A school district shall adopt truancy prevention measures designed to:
(1) address student conduct related to truancy in the school setting
before the student engages in conduct described by Section
65.003(a), Family Code; and
(2) minimize the need for referrals to truancy court for conduct
described by Section 65.003(a), Family Code.

Section 25.092
MINIMUM ATTENDANCE FOR CLASS CREDIT
Except as provided by this section, a student in any grade level from
Kindergarten through 12th grade may not be given credit or a final for a class
unless the student is in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the
class is offered.

Section 25.093
PARENT CONTRIBUTING TO NONATTENDANCE
If a warning is issued as required by Section 25.095(a), and the parent with
criminal negligence fails to require the child to attend school as required by
law, and the child has absences for the amount of time specified under
Section 65.003(a) Family Code, the parent commits an offense.
The attendance officer or other appropriate school official shall file a complaint
against the parent in a justice court of any precinct in the county in which the
parent resides or in which the school is located.

Section 25.095
WARNING NOTICES
A school district shall notify a student's parent if the student has been absent
from school, without excuse under Section 25.087, on three days or parts of
days within a four-week period. The notice must inform the parent that:
A. it is the parent's duty to monitor the student's school
attendance and require the student to attend school; and
B. the student is subject to truancy prevention measures under
Section 25.0195; and

C. request a conference between school officials and the parent to
discuss the absences.

The fact that a parent did not receive a notice under Subsection (a) or (b) does
not create a defense to prosecution under Section 25.093 or Section 65.003
Family Code.
In this section, "parent" includes a person standing in parental relation.

Section 25.0951
SCHOOL DISTRICT COMPLAINT OR REFERAL FOR FAILURE TO
ATTEND SCHOOL
a. If a student fails to attend school without excuse on 10 or more days or
parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, a school
district shall within 10 school days of the student's 10th absence refer the
student to a truancy court for truant conduct under Section 65.003(a),
Family Code.
b. If a student fails to attend school without excuse as specified by
Subsection (a), a school district may file a complaint against the
student's parent in a county, justice, or municipal court for an offense
under Section 25.093 if the school district provides evidence of the
parent's criminal negligence.

In this subsection, "parent" includes a person standing in parental
relation.
A court shall dismiss a complaint or referral made by a school district
under this section that is not made in compliance with this section.