Attendance Q & A
When my child is absent, what information do I need to put on their absence note and who needs to receive it? Written documentation needs to be submitted to the attendance secretary within 3 days of the absence. The note should include: Student’s full name, Date(s) of absence, Reason for absence, Parent contact phone number, Parent signature (or electronic signature if sent by email). A note is required to change any attendance codes.
You may email the note to the following address: karenda.leclair@wimberleyisd.net
What do I need in order to sign out a student? The parent/guardian is required to come into the office and sign out the student(s) in person. The parent/guardian must present a valid state-issued identification card at the time of sign-out. The person signing out the student must be listed in Skyward on the student’s pick-up list. They will need to provide a valid state-issued identification card. If a person not on the list is supposed to pick up the student, please send a written note/email to the attendance secretary stating the person’s full name as listed on their valid state-issued ID and giving us permission to release the student to them. The same requirements apply to older siblings. Please have your child drop it off in the office first thing in the morning. Students must sign out through the office to ensure safety and proper attendance code.
Do I have to go into the school to sign my student in for the day? No - students may sign themselves in as long as they have a note. The parent or doctor's note must state the reason for the absence/tardy. If there is no note, you must come in to sign them in for the day. Students must check in through the front office to ensure safety and proper attendance code.
May I sign out my student during testing days? Students may not be signed out during a test administration without approval from a campus administrator.
What is the difference between an absence and a tardy? Students are absent if they are more than 20 minutes late to class. Students are also absent if they leave before the last 20 minutes of class.
What is the difference between a D-DN code and X-DN code for medical notes? The D-DN is a code given to students who attend school anytime during the same day they go to a medical appointment. The X-DN code is given to a student who does not attend school on the day they go to the medical appointment.
Is my student absent if I check them out of school early? At the secondary level, attendance is taken every period. Your child will be marked absent for every period they miss if they leave early.
Do I still have to send a note if I call in the morning of the absence? Yes, TEA requires us to have something in writing before we can change the attendance code for a student’s absence. The call notifies us, but a note is still required. You may email the attendance secretary instead of calling and it will serve as a notification and the written attendance note. Please include all the information listed in the first question.
Do I have to send a note when I know the absence is unexcused? Yes, please send a note for every absence. TEA requires us to have a reason for the absence in writing/email in order to properly code the absence. We are required to monitor for truancy. When a student has 3 or more unexcused/ unreported absences, we have to send letters home about truancy. If we still are not receiving notes, we are required to implement an attendance plan. (Texas Education Code 25.092)
Will my child make perfect attendance if they have a doctor note and attend part of the day? No, in order to get perfect attendance the student must attend every class, every day unless it is a school related event.
When does an absence become an extended absence and is there a special way to report it? When you know in advance that your child will miss 3 or more days, an Extended Absence form must be filled out. This form is available in the front office and may be picked up by the student or parent. It must be completed by all participants and turned into the attendance secretary before the extended absence occurs.