Attendance

Westlake Academy Attendance Procedures 2025 - 2026

More details are available in the Parent & Student Handbook

Absences

A parent/guardian must email (attendance@westlakeacademy.org) the WA front office any day (or duration of days) 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 front office.

Arrivals

Students must enter classrooms by 7:45am. Students must sign in at the front office if

they arrive any time after 7:45am – 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 period (per TEA state code). In this case, WA needs a parent/guardian note/email, 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)

~ Time of dismissal

~ Date of departure

~ Name and phone of parent/guardian

In the morning, the student brings the parent/guardian notice to the front 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 front office to sign out. 

WA Attendance Contact Info: 817-490-5757 or Attendance@westlakeacademy.org

 

The Texas Education Agency’s Mandatory  90% Attendance Rule

Absences for K - 5th Graders Only

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. Attendance codes are named 'Funded or Unfunded' instead of ‘'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. 

Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance (§25.086)

State law exempts the compulsory attendance requirements for several absences if the student makes up all work. Exemptions are funded, and they do not count against the student’s 90+% attendance rule but require official written documentation. These include the following activities and events:

• Religious holy days;
• Required court appearances;
• Naturalization/ U.S. citizenship;
• Serving as an election clerk;
• Documented health-care appointments for the student or a child of the student, including absences for recognized services for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders if the student comes to school or returns to school on the same day as the appointment. A note from the healthcare provider must be submitted upon the student’s arrival to return to campus;
• For students in the conservatorship (custody) of the state;
• An activity required under a court-ordered service plan;  
• Any court-ordered activity provided it is not practicable to schedule the student’s participation in the activity outside of school hours;
• For children of Military Families, absences of up to five days will be excused for a student to visit with a parent, stepparent, or legal guardian who has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from certain deployments.
• For High School students, no more than one day may be exempt for obtaining a driver’s license or learner’s permit.
• Playing TAPS at a funeral;
• School-sponsored activities;
• Career investigation up to 2 days per year for Juniors and Seniors only.
• College visits up to 2 days per year for Juniors and Seniors only.

Per TEA State code, there is a 90% attendance rule requirement for students. For Kindergarten - 5th Grade students, Westlake Academy does not excuse extended absences except in emergency or exceptional circumstances. Therefore, these absences will be considered unexcused. Please note that if a student exceeds 10 unexcused absences during the school year (5 per semester), they will be administratively withdrawn from Westlake Academy. Additionally, if the student’s total absences, excused or unexcused, exceed the 10% attendance threshold, they may not receive credit for their coursework and risk retention for the following school year.  Student attendance status 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.

Examples:

 

Truancy

All absences including parent-approved unfunded absences may lead to truancy. PYP students who have 17+ unfunded/unexcused absences of any kind are considered truant. 

WA Attendance Contact Info: 817-490-5757 or attendance@westlakeacademy.org.

The Texas Education Agency’s Mandatory  90% Attendance Rule

Absences for 6th - 12th Graders

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. Attendance codes are named 'Funded or Unfunded' instead of ‘'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. 

Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance (§25.086)

State law exempts the compulsory attendance requirements for several absences if the student makes up all work. Exemptions are funded, and they do not count against the student’s 90+% attendance rule but require official written documentation. These include the following activities and events:

• Religious holy days;
• Required court appearances;
• Naturalization/ U.S. citizenship;
• Serving as an election clerk;
• Documented health-care appointments for the student or a child of the student, including absences for recognized services for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders if the student comes to school or returns to school on the same day as the appointment. A note from the healthcare provider must be submitted upon the student’s arrival to return to campus;
• For students in the conservatorship (custody) of the state;
• An activity required under a court-ordered service plan;  
• Any court-ordered activity provided it is not practicable to schedule the student’s participation in the activity outside of school hours;

• For children of Military Families, absences of up to five days will be excused for a student to visit with a parent, stepparent, or legal guardian who has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from certain deployments.
• For High School students, no more than one day may be exempt for obtaining a driver’s license or learner’s permit.
• Playing TAPS at a funeral;
• School-sponsored activities;
• Career investigation up to 2 days per year for Juniors and Seniors only.
• College visits up to 2 days per year for Juniors and Seniors only.

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 5^th time – they now owe the state a make-up hour in order to bring their attendance back up to 90%. Student attendance status is always available under their profile in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Please note that if a student exceeds 10 unexcused absences during the school year (5 per semester), they will be administratively withdrawn from Westlake Academy. Additionally, if the student’s total absences, excused or unexcused, exceed the 10% attendance threshold, they may not receive credit for their coursework and risk retention for the following school year.  Student attendance status 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.

Examples:

Truancy

All absences including parent-approved unfunded absences may lead to truancy. MYP students who have 10+ unfunded/unexcused absences of any kind are considered truant. 

WA Attendance Contact Info: 817-490-5757 or attendance@westlakeacademy.org.