Truancy and Dropout Prevention Measures

1.     EPISD will issue a Beginning of the Year Attendance Warning Letter to all parents during the registration process within the Parent Portal.

2.     3 unexcused absences

a.     If a student fails to attend school without excuse on three days (or parts of days), EPISD will email the 1st Warning Letter to the parent or guardian denoted in the Contacts section of the Parent Portal using the Trunancy and Dropout Prevention System (TDPS) by RaaWee.

3.     5 unexcused absences

a.     If a student fails to attend school without excuse on five days (or parts of days), EPISD will email the 2nd Warning Letter to the parent or guardian denoted in the Contacts section of the Parent Portal using the Trunancy and Dropout Prevention System (TDPS) by RaaWee.

b.     Attendance Officer or principal's designee will conduct a conference (home visit, phone, or in-person conference) with the parent or guardian.

c.     Attendance Officer or principal's designee will conduct a student conference (home visit, phone, or in-person conference) for secondary students only.

4.     7 unexcused absences

a.     If a student fails to attend school without excuse on seven days (or parts of days), EPISD will email the 3rd Warning Letter to the parent or guardian denoted in the Contacts section of the Parent Portal using the Trunancy and Dropout Prevention System (TDPS) by RaaWee.

b.     EPISD will require an administrator conference between school officials and the parent. During the administrator conference, the campus administrator will advise the parent or guardian of the following:

i. the student’s absence;

ii. the parent’s duty to monitor the student’s school attendance and require the student to attend school;

iii. the student is subject to truancy prevention measures; and iv. the student may be referred to counseling, mediation, mentoring, a teen court program, or other in-school or out-of-school services to prevent the student’s truancy.

c.     impose a Behavior Improvement Plan (BIP) / Attendance Contract on the student; and

5.     9 unexcused absences

a.     If a student fails to attend school without excuse on nine days (or parts of days), EPISD will email a Final Warning Letter (4th Warning Letter) to the parent or guardian denoted in the Contacts section of the Parent Portal.

b.     Attendance Officer or principal's designee will conduct a final phone conference with the parent or guardian before filing a complaint.

6.     10 unexcused absences

a.     Pre-K – 6th Grade Students – Refer Complaint to District Truancy Office/District Attendance Officer. *

b.    7th – 12th Grade Students – File a complaint with the Eagle Pass ISD Police Department at the campus. *

7.     15 unexcused absences

a.     Pre-K – 6th Grade Students – Refer Complaint to District Truancy Office/District Attendance Officer. *

b.    7th – 12th Grade Students – File a complaint with the Eagle Pass ISD Police Department at the campus. *

8.     20 unexcused absences

a.     Pre-K – 6th Grade Students – Refer Complaint to District Truancy Office/District Attendance Officer. *

b.    7th – 12th Grade Students – File a complaint with the Eagle Pass ISD Police Department at the campus. *

* EPISD will file a complaint against the student’s parent in a justice court, municipal court, or (in some counties) county court for the criminal offense of the parent contributing to non-attendance of school. A complaint will be filed if the student’s absences were without excuse and if the school district has evidence of the parent’s negligence. Generally, a school district must refer the child to truancy court for truant conduct. But there is an additional exception. The exception is if the school district: (1) is applying truancy prevention measures; and (2) determines that the truancy prevention measures are succeeding and it is in the best interest of the student that the referral be delayed or not made.

+ If the student fails to attend school on ten or more days (or parts of days) within six months in the same school year, EPISD must determine if the student’s truancy is the result of (1) pregnancy; (2) being in the state foster program; (3) homelessness; or (4) being the principal income earner for the student’s family. If the student’s truancy is due to any of these four reasons, EPISD may not refer students to truancy court. However, EPISD may require additional counseling for the student.