Attendance

DeSoto ISD receives funding from the state for ADA - average daily attendance - for each student enrolled in the district. In addition, for vertical learning to take place, students must have a solid foundation and build upon each learned skill before moving on to the next step. Missed class time, impacts a student’s (and sometimes the class’s) ability to stay on track to complete the entire course in the semester.

Official Attendance Time is the point in time the district has chosen to take attendance - for all DeSoto ISD schools that time is 10 a.m. Official attendance is not a ‘period’ during school. The time MAY change during testing days to eliminate disruptions. The classroom teacher is responsible for taking her class’s attendance at 10 a.m. Attendance may not be taken by students, classroom aides, or clerks. A sign-in sheet is not acceptable.

EXCUSED VS. UNEXCUSED

For official attendance accounting purposes, excused and unexcused absences do not matter. If present it counts toward funding, if absent it does not.

For academic purposes, a student must provide a parent note within 5 school days to the school attendance clerk that describes the reason for absence. Permitted absences include documented health care appointments, juvenile court proceedings, death in the immediate family, an approved college visit, and a few others. For the complete attendance and truancy policy, please review the Student Code of Conduct online at www.desotoisd.org


Attendance matters! Missing school can affect a student’s academic progress, credit, and Texas state seat time requirement. Increased daily attendance of students and staff leads to more funding available for their education. If an absence is required, please follow your campus protocol for reporting absences.

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