TRUANCY INFORMATION

Under Texas Senate Bill 1489, DPISD is required by law to contact parents regarding truancy of their child. By Texas law, the Harris County court warning letters are sent when a student has accumulated at least 3 unexcused absences. – Remember, this is just a warning.

 

Children need to be in school but certainly not when they are sick. With that said, parents need to turn in absence notes when the child returns. This can be a parent note and/or doctor note. Parents have up to 5 days to turn in the note from the date of the absence.

 

When there are at least 6 unexcused absences, a truancy case will be filed. This would be a prosecution in the District Attorney’s office. Failure for children to attend school constitutes a crime for which parents could be charged. It is a Class C offense, for which a parent may be fined up to $500 in a Justice of the Peace court.

 

Truancy Video