Attendance Policy


  • Each child residing in or legally transferred to GPISD who is as much as six years of age, or who is less than six years of age and has previously been enrolled in a public school, and who has not completed the academic year in which his/her nineteenth birthday occurred shall be required to attend school each day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided. Pre-Kinder and adult students may be withdrawn after five unexcused absences in a semester. In order to receive credit in a class, students must be in attendance for at least 90% of the days the class is offered. Students who are in attendance for fewer than the prescribed number of days set by the law shall not be given credit for the class unless the attendance committee finds that the absence(s) are the result of extenuating circumstances. When returning to school after an absence, a student must bring a note signed by the parent that describes the reason for the absence; notes signed by the student, even with the parent’s permission, will be considered forgery and the student will be disciplined. The District accepts the following as extenuating circumstances for the purpose of granting credit or promotion:

    • 1. An excused absence based on personal illness or illness or death in the family, quarantine, weather or road conditions making travel dangerous, and any other unusual cause acceptable to the teacher, principal, or Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee.
    • 2. Days of suspension.
    • 3. Participation in court proceedings or child abuse/neglect investigation or any court order activity.
    • 4. A migrant student’s late enrollment or early withdrawal.
    • 5. Days missed as a runaway.
    • 6. Completion of a competency based program for “at risk” students.
    • 7. Late enrollment or early withdrawal of a student under Texas Youth Commission.
    • 8. Teen parent absences to care for his or her child.
    • 9. Participation in a substance abuse rehabilitation program.
    • 10. Religious holy days when the days are a tenet of faith and parents submit a written request prior to the absence.
    • 11. For appointment with health care professional.
    • 12. Obtain U.S. citizenship.