Attendance Resources for Families
You Count and your Attendance Matters! A regular attendance routine is important for your child’s well-being, learning and long-term success. Below are guidance and tips to keep your child healthy and avoid unnecessary absences from school, and managing absences when they happen.
how to avoid unnecessary absences
Healthy habits help keep kids in school
- Nutrition, Sleep and Exercise
- Good Hygiene
- Safety
Understanding transportation and weather protocols
- Transportation service for eligible students
- Bus route delays and changes
- 鶹ý ISD inclement weather protocols
- Make a plan for backup transportation if your child missed their ride
How to check your child's attendance
Parents can use the 鶹ý ISD portal to access their student's grades, attendance, school and staff contact information, bus routes, lunch information, and more.
Encourage great attendance
- Make school attendance a priority
- Help your child stay engaged
- Communicate with your child’s school by contacting your campus
Health Guidance
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Keeping a sick child home protects other children, school staff, and visiting community members from catching an illness that can be spread from person to person.
A sick child who is unable to participate at school should be kept home to rest and recover until symptoms improve. Please be aware that a student with any of the following symptoms should not attend school:
- Temperature of 100 degrees or higher
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Eye redness and/or drainage
- Undetermined rash and/or scaly patches over any part of the body or scalp
- Intense itching with signs and symptoms of secondary infection
- Open, draining lesions
A child with any of these symptoms must stay home until they are symptom-free for 24 hours and without the use of medication before returning to school.
Showing up to school every day is critical for children’s well-being, engagement and learning. Keeping consistent, healthy routines can help your child maintain outstanding attendance so they don’t miss out on fundamental academic and social experiences.
Nutrition, Sleep and Exercise
- Ensure your child eats a good breakfast every morning or check if your school serves breakfast.
- Maintain a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Keep screens out of the bedroom and limit use prior to bedtime.
- Encourage your child to stay active for at least 60 minutes a day.
Hygiene
- Stress hand washing, particularly before eating, and after using the restroom.
- Remind your child to brush their teeth twice a day.
- Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick.
- Don’t share cups, utensils, hair brushes or combs.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough/sneeze into an elbow.
Safety
- Make sure your child wears a seatbelt and/or appropriate car seats during car rides, and a helmet when using a bike, skateboard or scooter.
- If your child walks to school, help them find a safe route to school and to travel with at least one friend. Have a backup plan in case of bad weather.
- Fever: Temperature over 99.9º Fahrenheit. A fever is one of the ways the body fights infection. It is not always necessary to treat with medication, but it may help alleviate symptoms associated with fever.
- 鶹ý ISD Policy: Students with temperature greater than 99.9º Fahrenheit must be picked up from school. Students must be fever free without the use of fever-reducing medication (Tylenol, Advil, Motrin) for 24 hours before returning to school.
- Pink Eye/ Conjunctivitis: Symptoms may include redness to the white part of the eye, itchy eyes, yellow/ green discharge from the eye, lashes sticking together, swollen eyelids.
- If diagnosed with conjunctivitis, student must be cleared by a medical provider to return to school. Student and family should practice good hand hygiene to prevent spread to other family members or students.
- Diarrhea: Frequent loose bowel movements (more than 2 episodes per day)
- Student must stay home until bowel movements are “normal” for 24 hours without the use of diarrhea suppressing medication OR student is cleared by a medical provider to return to school.
- Have student drink plenty of fluids and seek medical evaluation for persistent diarrhea
- Vomiting: Student must be 24 hours from the last episode of vomiting before returning to school.
- Have student drink plenty of fluids and seek medical evaluation for persistent vomiting.
- Rash: Students with a skin rash should be seen by a medical provider to be diagnosed appropriately. If the skin condition is diagnosed as contagious, student must be cleared by a medical provider to return to school.
- Sore Throat: A severe sore throat may be strep throat even if there is no fever. If a student is diagnosed with strep throat, they must be cleared by a medical provider to return to school.
If a child is suspected to have a contagious disease, the parent should contact the school nurse so other students who might have been exposed to the disease can be alerted. Remember, hand washing can prevent the spread of diseases.
When you take your child to a healthcare provider for an evaluation of illness or injury, please be sure to request a written letter stating when your child may return to school and any accommodations required upon their return.
For COVID-19:
please refer to the 鶹ý ISD COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols for students who are experiencing symptoms, have tested positive, or have been in close contact with an individual who tested positive.
鶹ý ISD is required to report certain contagious (communicable) diseases and illnesses to the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) or our local/regional health authority. For a complete list of Communicable Diseases, please see the
鶹ý ISD Health Services and Nursing is here to help!
Your student’s mental and emotional health is often directly tied to their academic success. If your child is missing school due to mental health challenges, 鶹ý ISD is here to support your child’s mental and emotional well-being.
鶹ý ISD Resources
- School Counselors provide small group and short-term individual counseling. In addition, they conduct mental health screeners and help students with problems ranging from everyday stress to a mental health crisis. All 鶹ý ISD campuses have at least one counselor position to help our students.
- Licensed Mental Health Professionals are available across the district to provide support to students and families facing challenges that interfere with their academic or interpersonal success and other complex needs.
Helpful Tips to Improve Mental Health
- Everyone’s mental health is different, and there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. But there are simple practices that research shows can help you and your child.
- Give yourself some grace. Accept that this is not going to be the most productive time in your life. It is okay if all you do during this time is simply get your family through each day and make sure everyone remains safe and healthy and has their basic needs met.
- Aim for routine and structure. During these uncertain times, some families find it helpful to maintain a daily routine. Develop a schedule that includes time for schoolwork, breaks, eating, and playtime.
- Talk to your child. Take time to speak with your children about the COVID-19 pandemic in developmentally appropriate ways. Reassure your child that it is okay to feel upset and let them know they are safe, protected, and supported.
- Take care of your body. As hard as it may be, focus on the basics like getting enough sleep, eating fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of water, and getting some exercise each day.
- Spend time Outside. If possible, try to spend some time outside every day. Fresh air, nature, and sunshine can boost your mood, and being outside can give everyone a much-needed change in scenery.
- Find more mental health resources.
Ensure your child visits their health care provider for:
- A physical once a year.
- All recommended immunizations, including flu and COVID-19.
- Chronic health issues such as asthma or diabetes.
- Try to schedule non-urgent medical appointments outside of school hours.
Does your child require medications that are necessary for their medical care and regular attendance? With written permission of a parent or guardian, designated care staff can administer the medication. Learn more and complete the “鶹ý ISD Request to Administer Medication at School” form.
Transportation & 鶹ý Protocols
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Students are eligible for transportation route service if the following criteria are met:
- Students live two (2) or more miles from their campus of regular attendance—home school or magnet school—measured along the shortest route to school. The home school campus is determined by the student's residential address and the assignment boundary of each school.
- Students living within 2 miles of their home school or magnet school, who would be subject to hazardous traffic conditions if they were to walk to school.
Transportation service eligibility for any specific magnet program is determined by board policy. Transfer students are not eligible for transportation route service. Please call 512-414-0238 for more information.
Sometimes bus routes and pickup and dropoff times may be changed or delayed by weather, traffic, road closures or other circumstances. 鶹ý ISD monitors more than 370 bus routes every day, adjusting routes and adding buses as needed.
Families interested in specific 鶹ý ISD bus route information may call 鶹ý ISD’s Transportation Department between 7:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday at 512-414-0238. Families also may call dispatchers at 鶹ý ISD's bus terminals for information about the routes for their respective schools after 4:30 a.m., Monday through Friday:
- Nelson Bus Terminal in Northeast 鶹ý: 512-414-6520
- Saegert Bus Terminal in Southwest 鶹ý: 512-414-6500
- Southeast Bus Terminal: 512-414-8510
Learn more about the district's Emergency Response protocols.
As with weather-related hazards for drivers, drivers will need to adjust driving behavior to account for the weather and may use DriveTexas.org website for current travel-related information. If your student is unable to attend school, please use the Report an Absence webform to stay in communication with your student's office staff.
If further communication is shared by the school district, campus, or news outlets about school closure or a delayed start, the absence will then be marked excused.
What happens if your child misses their ride and you're at work and can't leave? Let's make a plan! Contact a trusted adult who can help get your child to school safely, such as:
- A family member
- A neighbor
- Another parent
Did you know kids 18 and under ride free with CapMetro in 鶹ý? This can be a great option for students who need an alternative mode of transportation to their campus. Learn all the details on the .
Talking Points for Parents
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Communicating why Attendance Matters is critical to ensuring everyone understands. Attendance Works offers their “R.E.A.L.” framework to help you explain the importance of showing up, and to reflect on what is needed to make showing up to school worthwhile.
Keep the tone positive, respectful and supportive, and use the conversation as an opportunity to:
- Build Routines - Daily attendance routines, created at home or in school, can reduce stress for students and families and create a sense of safety and security, especially after chaotic transitions.
- Increase Engagement - Being in school helps students to get to know peers, teachers and school staff, and to create trusting relationships that motivate students to participate in learning.
- Provide Access to Resources - 鶹ý ISD and your campus can help families gain access to resources such as meals, physical and mental health services, and fun enrichment activities including sports, clubs, music, etc.
- Support Learning - Learning is most meaningful when it is active, and social, and allows students to apply concepts to real-life situations and can see it as part of their future possible selves.
Showing up to school regularly helps your child engage in learning that builds proficiency in reading and math, which will help them to graduate from high school.
Framework concepts tailored for specific groups:
How to Check Your Child's Attendance
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Families may not realize how quickly absences can add up to academic trouble, and staying engaged with your child’s school data is a key component to staying on top of chronic absenteeism.
Families can enter the 鶹ý ISD portal to access their student's grades, attendance, school and staff contact information, bus routes, lunch information, and much more. You can use your phone, tablet or computer to access the portal. Google Chrome is the ideal browser to navigate the portal.
- Sign into the .
- Select the Parent Self-Serve tile.
- You will be directed to the Frontline webpage to login. Select Sign-in. Enter your User ID and Password, the same you used to login to the 鶹ý ISD portal, and click Sign On.
- Select your student’s name to access available information.
- NOTE: The tabs visible in Parent Self-Serve will vary based on whether you are accessing information for an elementary, middle, or high school student.
- Select the Attendance tab to see the student’s attendance history.
- Select the View Legend button at the bottom of the page to see attendance code descriptions.
- NOTE: The legend will differ depending on the attendance codes assigned to your student at the time you are viewing.
- View the legend and select Ok to return to the main window
Encourage Great Attendance
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Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success, and families play a key role in making sure students get to school every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in their future careers.
Make school attendance a priority
- Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.
- Help your children maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Try not to schedule dental and non-urgent related medical appointments during the school day.
- Keep your student healthy. If you are concerned about a contagious illness, call your school or health care provider.
- If your children must stay home because they are sick, make sure they have asked teachers for resources and materials to make up for the missed learning time in the classroom.
- Develop backup plans for transportation to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
Did you know all kids 18 and under ride free with CapMetro in 鶹ý? Get all the details !
Help your child stay engaged
- Find out if your children feel engaged by their classes, and feel safe from bullies and other threats.
- Make sure your teens are not missing class because of challenges with behavioral issues or school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, contact the school and work with them to find a solution.
- Monitor your child’s academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors when necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
- Encourage your child to join meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs.
- Support your students if you notice signs of anxiety, and if needed, seek advice from your school or health provider.
Communicate with Your Child’s School
- Make sure your child’s teachers know how to reach you. Click here to sign in to your to make changes to your contact information and emergency contacts.
- For middle and high school students, request a schedule of classes and log in information for your student.
- Ask for help from school officials, after-school program providers, other parents or community agencies if you’re having trouble getting online or need help with food, housing or some other challenge.
- Know the school’s attendance policy and the consequences for absences.
- Check on your child’s attendance to make sure they are attending school and all of their classes.
Contact your child’s campus for more information. Find your campus.