Houston ISD changed its attendance policy to align with state law. Here's what to expect.

The Houston ISD has tightened up its attendance policy to say that students who miss more than 10% of high school-level classes in a semester may not receive credit, regardless of whether the absences are considered excused. The policy update, which confused and angered some families, was necessary after Houston ISD officials said they determined during an internal review the district's previous attendance policy didn't meet Texas Education Code. It's unclear how long the state's largest school system has been out of compliance, but the updated policy went into effect in the summer and won't be retroactive, officials said. Previously, Houston ISD would still grant class credit if students were excused from missing class for being sick, attending a family funeral or any number of other reasons deemed acceptable by campus administrators.

HISD is basing the revision on a strict 2001 AG opinion that says: "unequivocally that, as a prerequisite for receiving class credit, a student must attend class 'for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered.' " Limited exceptions are made in the new policy, including logging on for remote learning and “serious and life threatening illness.” An appeal process exists for students with excessive absences, and campuses have been hosting make-up sessions on Saturdays, during lunch and after school to help students at risk of receiving a no-grade, officials said. School have been sending updates to parents about the policy through emails and newsletters, but parents should also keep out an eye for no-grades on report cards. Giannella Da Fieno, whose son is a junior at Lamar High School, worries that the policy may encourage some students to come to school sick as winter approaches and flu and COVID cases are on the rise. It would particularly difficult for her son who has asthma and takes longer to recover from respiratory viruses.