Attendance
Absence Policy
Westlake Academy Absence Policy
In addition to your student's success, attendance is also directly connected to Westlake Academy's financial base. The Average Daily Attendance (ADA) is the number of students that are present during school days and represents the TEA’s revenue stream to the Academy. This school year, we have renamed the attendance codes to 'Funded or Unfunded' instead of the previous 'Excused or Unexcused’ so there is a clear distinction as to why absences are coded differently. We understand that there are valid reasons why students may incur unfunded absences and we are not encouraging parents to send ill students to school as contagious students should be in their family’s care. Please review the attendance policy for what the TEA considers funded absences and the required documentation.
Funded absences include a doctor's appointment note and the student attends school part of that day, a court appearance, a state-approved religious holiday, testing, in-school-suspension, military appointments (situational), INS appointments, limited Junior and Senior college visits, district-approved school activities or another state-approved reason as listed in the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook. Documentation is required for all funded absences. If you have questions about acceptable documentation, please contact the attendance office.
When parents email to notify us that their student will not be in school for any reason other than what is listed as a funded absence, the absence needs to be coded as Unfunded with parent permission. A parent note lets us know that they are aware that the student is not present at school. Parent approved absences will count against the 90% rule, and may also count towards truancy if they are excessive.
Medical Documentation for Partial Day Absences
Students who are at a medical appointment during our official attendance time can be marked present for state funding purposes as long as the student is on campus the rest of the day. Documentation from the physician’s office must be received within 10 school days of the appointment for the absence to be changed to a medical absence and the student to be counted as present.
Medical Documentation for Full Day Absences
Full day medical absences are coded as unfunded when a parent provides a physician’s note within 10 days of the appointment. If the student misses a day of school because he/she is sick but doesn't see a doctor until the next day, you can request the doctor to include all absence dates on the note. The benefit of having a professional medical excuse to cover absences is that they will not count towards truancy. If the amount of medical absences exceeds the TEA 90% Rule, the student may still require make-up hours.
College Visits/Career Exploration for Juniors and Seniors
Juniors and Seniors are allowed two funded College Visit days per year. Visitation documentation must be on college letterhead and list the day(s) the student visited the school as well as make up all work missed. (TEA does not accept email confirmations, visit itineraries or business cards to count the absence as funded). Travel time for college visits is NOT funded and will be coded as unfunded with parent permission.
Military Enlistment
An absence will also be considered funded if a student 17 years of age or older is
pursuing enlistment in a branch of the U.S. armed services or Texas National Guard, provided
the absence does not exceed four days during the period the student is enrolled in high school
and the student provides verification to the district of these activities.
Tardies/Early Release
Students who arrive late to a class or leave early will be counted as absent if they miss more than 30% of class time.
Truancy
All absences including Parent Approved Unfunded Absences may lead to truancy. Students who have 10+ unfunded/unexcused absences of any kind are considered truant.
Truancies are handled through the Assistant Principal's office.
Parent Attendance FAQ
Westlake Academy Attendance Procedures 2024 - 2025
More details are available in the Parent & Student Handbook
Absences
A parent/guardian must email (attendance@westlakeacademy.org) the WA attendance office any day (or duration) that their student will not be in school. This requirement is in addition to any communication a student may share with their teachers. If the absence is due to a medical appointment, religious observance, court appearance or day-of driver’s permit/license, please provide the written excuse/documentation to the attendance office.
Arrivals
Students must enter classrooms by 7:50 am. Students must sign in at the front office if they arrive any time after 7:50 am – even if it is during a passing period or lunchtime - to receive a pass. If a student arrives less than 30 minutes late for any block – they receive a tardy. If arrival is greater than 30 minutes, the student is absent for the entire block (per TEA state code). In this case, WA needs a parent/guardian note or phone call, or a written excuse from an appointment documenting the absence.
Early Dismissals
Parents/guardians must physically sign their student out at the front office for an early dismissal. If someone other than a parent/guardian is picking up the student, that person must be on the emergency contact list in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. If they are not, please provide their name and WA will copy their driver’s license before we release the student. Early dismissals are available until 2:30 pm each day. Students cannot be released after 2:30pm.
Students with Cars on Campus
With written parent/guardian notice, 10th - 12th graders may sign themselves out for early dismissal. Please follow these guidelines: A parent/guardian writes a note or email that includes:
~ Name of student (first and last)
~ Date of departure
~ Time of dismissal
~ Signature of parent/guardian signature
~ Phone of parent/guardian
In the morning, the student brings the parent/guardian notice to the attendance office in exchange for an early dismissal slip. At the approved time, the student shows the dismissal slip to their teacher and walks down to the attendance office to sign out.
WA Attendance Contact Info: 817-490-5757 or Attendance@westlakeacademy.org
Primary 90% Rule Information
K-5 Graders Only
TEA 90% Attendance Rule
More details are available in the Parent/Student Handbook
In addition to your student's success, attendance is also directly connected to Westlake Academy's financial base. The Average Daily Attendance (ADA) is the number of students that are present during school days and represents the TEA’s revenue stream to the Academy. This school year, we have renamed the attendance codes to 'Funded or Unfunded' instead of the previous 'Excused or Unexcused’ so there is a clear distinction as to why absences are coded differently. We understand that there are valid reasons why students may incur unfunded absences and we are not encouraging parents to send ill students to school as contagious students should be in their family’s care. Please review the attendance policy for what the TEA considers funded absences and the required documentation.
Per TEA State code, there is a 90% attendance rule requirement for students. Kindergarten - 5th Grade students can still meet the 90% if they only miss up to 17 days for the entire school year. If a student misses more than this - they now owe the state a make-up hour in order to bring their attendance back up to 90%. Student attendance is always available under their profile in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
The TEA treats student absences with a doctor's note in 2 ways:
1. If a student is both on campus and goes to a doctor's appointment on the same day, the Academy receives funding and the absence does not count against the student's 90% attendance rule.
2. If a student misses an entire day of school because of a doctor's appointment and does not step on campus that day, the Academy does not receive funding and the absence counts against the student's 90% rule.
Secondary 90% Rule Information
6th - 12th Graders
TEA 90% Attendance Rule
More details are available in the Parent & Student Handbook
In addition to your student's success, attendance is also directly connected to Westlake Academy's financial base. The Average Daily Attendance (ADA) is the number of students that are present during school days and represents the TEA’s revenue stream to the Academy. This school year, we have renamed the attendance codes to 'Funded or Unfunded' instead of the previous 'Excused or Unexcused’ so there is a clear distinction as to why absences are coded differently. We understand that there are valid reasons why students may incur unfunded absences and we are not encouraging parents to send ill students to school as contagious students should be in their family’s care. Please review the attendance policy for what the TEA considers funded absences and the required documentation.
Per TEA State code, there is a 90% attendance rule requirement for students. 6th grade - 12th grade students can still meet the 90% if they only miss up to 4 absences per-period, per-semester. If a student misses a period the 5th time – they now owe the state a make-up hour in order to bring their attendance back up to 90%. Student attendance is always available under their profile in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
The TEA treats student absences with a doctor's note in 2 ways:
1. If a student is both on campus and goes to a doctor's appointment on the same day, the Academy receives funding and the absence does not count against the student's 90% attendance rule.
2. If a student misses an entire day of school because of a doctor's appointment and does not step on campus that day, the Academy does not receive funding and the absence counts against the student's 90% rule.
WA Attendance Contact Info: 817-490-5757 or attendance@westlakeacademy.org.