Student Attendance

Information About Attendance

Daily school attendance is critical to student success and is governed by the Texas Education Agency’s Student Attendance Accounting Handbook (SAAH). Students are considered present for attendance purposes if they are in attendance at the official attendance-taking time (snapshot) or are otherwise eligible under TEA guidelines

 

Fort Bend ISD expects all students to arrive on time, be present at the official attendance-taking time, and remain actively engaged in instruction throughout the school day to support academic progress and compliance with state attendance requirements.

Attendance Requirements

Students must meet both academic and attendance requirements to earn course credit. In accordance with state law, students are required to attend at least 90% of the days a class is offered. Students who do not meet this requirement may be at risk of losing credit or not being promoted to the next grade level.

 

Reporting Absences

Parents/guardians must submit an absence note to the campus attendance office whenever a student is absent—even if the student leaves school early due to illness.

• All absence notes are reviewed by campus attendance staff or administrators
• A determination will be made whether the absence is excused or unexcused
• Unexcused absences may lead to truancy-related consequences

If you have questions about your child’s attendance, please contact your campus directly.

Official Attendance (Snapshot Time)

As required by the Texas Education Agency Student Attendance Accounting Handbook, attendance is recorded at a designated Official Attendance Time (OAT), also known as snapshot time. A student must be present at this time to be counted present for the day.

Snapshot Times by Campus Level:

• Elementary School: 10:00 AM
• Middle School: 10:15 AM
• High School: 10:00 AM

Students should be present at school by snapshot time and remain academically engaged for the full day.

Important Reminders for Parents/Guardians

Parents/guardians play a critical role in supporting strong attendance habits:

• Make daily attendance a priority and establish consistent routines
• Ensure your child arrives on time and attends all class periods
• Notify the attendance office promptly if your child will be absent
• If your child is ill, contact the attendance clerk as soon as possible

Medical Appointments:
If your child attends school for part of the day (either at the beginning or end of the day) and a valid doctor’s note is provided, your child may be marked present for attendance purposes.