EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 As families prepare to enter a new school year, El Paso Independent School District is reminding parents and students that an attendance requirement will be enforced at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year, warning that the policy could impact students’ course credit or final grade. <\/p>\n
Under Texas law, students must attend at least 90% of school days or class periods to receive course credit or a final grade, EPISD said. <\/p>\n
The district said on Friday that while the state law is not new, it is returning as a local requirement because EPISD’s recently approved District of Innovation Plan no longer includes an exemption from the 90% rule.<\/p>\n
The district has been classified as a district of innovation since 2016, which gives Texas schools an exemption from the state\u2019s code of education that, according to the Texas Education Agency website, \u201cinhibits the goals of the district.\u201d Meaning, policies can be tailored differently than what the state mandates.<\/p>\n
However, EPISD adopted a request to remove the exemption from the 90% rule in June 2025<\/p>\n
According to EPISD on Friday, the attendance requirement states that for elementary school students, they cannot miss more than 17 days during the school year. <\/p>\n
In middle and high school, while attendance is tracked by individual class periods each semester, the district warned that repeatedly missing the same class can become an issue even if a student attends school the rest of the day.<\/p>\n
In middle school, missing a class more than eight times in the fall semester or more than nine times in the spring semester will result in loss of credit.<\/p>\n
In high school, where students are on an A\/B schedule, missing a class more than four times in a semester will result in loss of credit. <\/p>\n
The district said all absences, excused or unexcused, count toward the 90% attendance requirement unless they qualify for a specific exemption under state law. If attendance becomes a concern, campuses will work with families to review available options, which may include an attendance recovery plan approved by the principal.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryday matters,\u201d Superintendent Dr. Brian Lusk said. \u201cWhen students are in school, they are learning, building confidence, and creating relationships that help them succeed. We want families to understand that attendance is just as important as grades, and we’re committed to working together to keep every student on track for success.\u201d<\/p>\n
The enforcement of the attendance policy comes as the district continues to face a budget crisis after a $53 million deficit was reported for the current school year.<\/p>\n
As KFOX14\/CBS4 previously reported, the board voted to declare financial exigency on June 4 due to the deficit. <\/p>\n
Additionally, for the 2026-27 school year, EPISD faced a projected $37 million deficit, largely due to payroll costs.<\/p>\n
Last month, the board adopted a budget that reduced that shortfall to about $4.3 million.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, during the 2024-2025 school year, EPISD also grappled with a significant financial setback, losing millions in state funding due to high truancy rates. <\/p>\n
Audits of seven high schools revealed 161,361 unexcused absences, resulting in an estimated $9.8 million loss in state funding.<\/p>\n
District-wide, the number of unexcused absences jumps to 426,839.5, equating to a staggering $25.9 million in lost state funding, based on a formula provided by the Texas Education Agency.<\/p>\n
More information, including a full list of frequently asked questions about the 90% attendance requirement, is available at the district’s website here.<\/p>\n
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