School attendance rules can feel like a tightrope walk — especially in Texas, where strict policies aim at making students successful. Whether your child has missed school due to illness, family emergencies, or extracurricular activities, knowing how many days of school are allowed in a school year in Texas is a crucial part of avoiding penalties. In this guide, we’ll discuss what attendance laws your state has, the difference between excused and unexcused absences from school, and offer tips to help you stay compliant.

Texas School Attendance Laws: The Big Picture

State law here (Texas Education Code §25.092), says students must attend at least 90% of school days to earn credit for taking a course or move on to the next grade. Here’s what that means in practical terms.

• Standard School Year: 180 days for most Texas schools.

• Permissible Number of Absences: 18 days (10% of 180) per class per year

• Semester-Length Calculation: Schools that employ a block scheduling must adhere to a limit of 9 days per semester (i.e., 10% of 90 days).

Going beyond these may lead to grade retention, denial of credit or even legal action against the parents.

What If Your Child Goes Over the Absence Limit?

Miss over 18 days (or 9 days per semister), Texas schools may:

• Implement an Attendance Referral : A meeting between parents, teachers, and administrators to address barriers to attendance.

• Withhold Course Credit: The students may have to recover credits or attend summer school.

• File Truancy Charges: In extreme cases, parents can be fined up to $500 or made to attend mandatory parenting classes.

(Note: Truancy laws only pertain to unexcused absences.) Schools must report students with 10 or more unexcused misses within six months to the truancy courts.

Advice on how to handle missed school days in Texas

• Communicate Early: Let the school know as soon as possible; your child may qualify for an excused absence (ex: illness, bereavement).

• Get Documentation: Always ask for a doctor’s note after a medical absence.

• Plan Ahead: Schedule vacations for school holidays so your student doesn’t have an excused absence.

• Take Advantage of Remote Learning Options: Some districts have virtual days on which students can attend school from home for smaller ailments or appointments.

• Monitor Absences: Review the school’s online portal weekly to track your child’s attendance history.

Special Circumstances: Chronic Illness & Disability

Students with chronic health problems (such as asthma, diabetes) or disabilities might be eligible for protections under:

• Section 504 Plans: Offers supports for medically necessary absences.

• Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) : Modifies attendance obligations for students with disabilities.

Collaborate with your school counselor or special education coordinator to document these accommodations.

Texas School Attendance Rules: 5 FAQs

Q: Are mental health days considered excused absences?

A: Not universally. Others take them with a therapist’s note, but policies differ.

Q: What if my child is absent from school because they are homeless?

A: Federal law (McKinney-Vento Act) protects homeless students from penalties related to attendance.

A: Homeschoolers can be charged with truancy in certain situations.

A: No — attendance laws do not apply to you if you’ve filed a homeschool affidavit with the state.

The Bigger Picture: Why Attendance Is Important

Though undpredictability of life may render perfect attendance an elusive state, the recurring presence at school directly connects to academic success. Studies show students who miss too much school are:

• More likely to be reading at or below grade level in third grade.

• It does you more likely to quit in high school.

Texas’s 90% rule is not just about compliance; it’s about giving kids the opportunity to move forward and thrive.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how many absences your child can have is an important starting point to balancing your child’s health, family needs and education goals. By planning ahead, having open communication with schools, and knowing the protections that exist for specific situations, you can get through attendance issues with ease.