Attendance

When a student is absent for a class or for a day, one of the following is required: 

The principal determines if an absence is excused or not. For most appointments, a student is required to come to school before and after those appointments. Consequently, a partial day absence due to a doctor’s appointment does not count against the student for the purposes of exemptions and the 90% rule when the doctor’s note is turned in within one week of the appointment. If you have any questions, be sure to call the Attendance Office ahead of time.

NOTE: The note explaining the student’s absence must be received by the Attendance Office within 3 school days of the student returning to school and must include the student’s name and ID number and the date(s) of the absence(s). If it is not received within three school days, the absence becomes an unexcused absence. Notes received after the allotted time may be accepted, however the absence may remain unexcused.

Upload Attendance Notes Here

1. A note written and signed by the parent stating the reason for the absence, (maximum 6 parent notes per school year)
2. A note provided by the doctor/dentist office
3. A note written on letterhead from the agency visited or from the organization represented (court, religious holidays, college, etc.)

Vanessa Carroll
vcarroll@littleelmisd.net
972.947.9443 ext: 20021

As of August 2025, a student will be counted absent if he/she is more than 20 minutes late to class. Students arriving to class after the bell rings, but within the first 20 minutes of class, will be marked tardy. This does not apply if the  student comes to class with a pass from the office, clinic, counselor’s office, etc.

Attendance plays a large role in a student’s level of academic success. It is also a factor used in earning exemptions and getting or renewing a driver’s license (verification of enrollment - VOE). It is the responsibility of parents, teachers, and administrators to encourage regular and punctual attendance. It is the responsibility of the students to be in attendance each school day in a punctual manner.

Students maintaining perfect attendance are recognized each year. Seniors who have perfect attendance will be honored on Senior Awards Night.

Compulsory School Attendance Law ~ According to the Texas Education Code Section 25.085, students are required by law to attend school each school day, each period the course meets, during each term of instruction.

Ninety (90) Percent Rule ~ According to the Texas Education Code Section 25.092, students may not receive credit for a class unless they are in attendance at least 90% of the time the class is offered.

Truancy Law Update

Actualización de la Ley de Absentismo Escolar

Both excused and unexcused absences count toward a student qualifying for a VOE form which is required for a driver’s permit.

A student must have 90% attendance in every class each semester before a VOE can be issued.

If a student is below 90% attendance at the time of the request, the VOE will not be issued.

To improve attendance percentage, students need to come to school every day for every class and complete any seat time recovery that is owed.

Students must request a VOE online. Please allow 2-3 school days to process the request.

Verification of enrollment requests should coincide with school enrollment dates therefore may be requested as early as 3rd day of school and no later than the last day of school. VOE’s obtained within the last 5 days of school are valid until the first day of the following school year.

VOE’s issued during the school year expire 30 days from issuance.  

Loss of credit is based upon the 90% attendance rule. When students reach the attendance limit, a Loss of Credit notification is sent out via email. The Attendance Committee will meet at the end of each Semester to review the attendance records of any student who fell below 90% attendance in any class during the term. Overall attendance and grades will be considered by the Committee.