Attendance Office

Attendance at Steele ECHS is very important to gain your Competitive Advantage, maximize your learning potential, and to be College, Career, and Life Ready.

At Steele, we are on an A-B Block schedule. This means that missing one class period is the equivalent of missing two complete class periods. When a student is absent at Steele, one absence counts as two absences. Instead of having eight 45 minute classes each day, we have four 90 minute classes each day.

It's very important that our students attend school every day. Every day and every class period counts! However, if your student is going to be out of school, contact Dorian Ruiz prior to or on the day of the absence.

Verification of Enrollment (VOE) Request Form

Procedures

If your student is absent, please notify Dorian Ruiz by phone or email that day. Or you may provide a parent or doctor's note upon your student's return to school.

This note must be received within 3 school days.

This note may be faxed OR emailed OR turned in by the student to the Attendance Office.

All absences are considered A for unexcused unless a parent has notified us that a student is home sick. The student is then coded EXA for excused and may have up to 6 per year.

Please be aware that there is no difference between an “Excused” or “Unexcused" absence as far as the State looks at it for class credit. It simply differentiates if a student was off campus due to illness or a personal reason. Both of these absence count against a student for class credit.

A student who misses a full day of school with a medical note will be coded MA. These absences count against a student for class credit.

A student who misses part of a day, with a medical note dated the same day, will be coded MP for Medical Present. This type of absent does not count against a student.
All notes must be received within 3 days of your student's return to campus.

Allow us 24 hours to update attendance before verifying your student's attendance online on the Home Access Center (HAC).

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD'S FULL LEGAL NAME IS ON THE NOTE!

When a student exceeds five (5) consecutive, or a total of six (6) cumulative absences in any six month period for personal illness, the principal may notify the parent/guardian that a doctor’s note is required to excuse future absences.

Students may receive a warning letter after missing 3 days in a four week period.

Please note that an absence (A) where we have heard from a parent or received a medical note for a student who was out the entire day) does go against a student for credit. A student who misses a part of the day with a medical note will be coded MP which does not go against a student for credit.

College Visits

Juniors and Seniors are allowed 2 days per year by the State for college visits. The student will need to obtain a letter from the college on the day of their visit. This should be on the Institution's letterhead with the student's full name, date of the college visit and stating the student was on campus for an official visit. The State will not accept confirmation of a scheduled visit or campus visit itinerary.

With proper documentation the absence will be coded IHE (Institute of Higher Education) and will not count against a student.

Any additional college visit days will be considered an unexcused absence however, the student is encouraged to turn in the documentation for record purposes.

Religious Absences

Students may be excused from school when celebrating Holy Days for their particular religion.

The following documentation must be provided:

the student's name
which day(s) the student will be gone
the name & date of the Holy Day they are observing
where this event will be held, IF it is an out of town event, and they are requesting travel days
note must be signed by the parent

ALSO - student must make up all missed work.

If the above information is turned in within 3 days after return to campus and the absence is coded "REL" then the absence does not count against a student for attendance credit.

Holy days are not church holidays, festivals, meetings or camp. A Holy day is a tenant of the whole Faith, not a celebration of a particular church.

Funeral Absences

Excused absences may be granted for a close family member. We can offer 1 day for a local funeral and up to 3 days for an out of town funeral. Upon returning to school, the student should provide, the relationship of the deceased to the student, dates missed, location of funeral and parent signature. Please make sure the student's name is on the documentation.

These absences are entered as Unexcused but may be changed to Excused once documentation is received.

Please be aware that both Excused and Unexcused absences count against a student for class credit .

Medical Absences

Medical Present vs. Medical Absence

If a student has a doctor's appointment, we highly recommend that the student attends part of the school day and submits a doctor's note. This will not count against a student's attendance.

"Medical Present" = Student was absent part of the day & supplied medical note for that day. This does not count against attendance.

"Medical Absence" = Student was absent the entire day and supplied a medical note for the day. This absence counts against attendance and attendance makeup hours.

Attendance Codes

A Unexcused Absence - Includes a full/partial day absence for personal reasons/business

EXA Excused Absence – an absence (A) that has been reviewed and approved by a campus administrator or a student is sick per parent documentation

COC Co-curricular activity – Student is present at on-campus school activity.

DEP Student Is present in DAEP.

EC Extra-curricular activity – Student is present at off-campus school activity.

INC Student is incarcerated

ISS Student present in In-School-Suspension

MA Full day medical absence with doctor note

MP Medical present – Student was absent part of the day & supplied medical note for that day

OSS Out of School Suspension

PRE Present – replaces an incorrect absence code

REL Religious Holy Day

RUN Runaway

TRU Truant – student skips school or class

CRT Court - Student was required to attend court and there is documented, written, proof of that requirement from the court or judge

T Tardy to school or class without medical note

IHE Institute of Higher Education visit

TAP Sounding TAPS at a military honors funeral held in Texas for a deceased veteran

Contact:

Dorian Ruiz
Office: 817-698-5800
Fax: 817-698-5840
E-mail: dorian.ruizrivera@nisdtx.org