For all day absences, please email (CLICK ON THE EMAIL LINK): dshsattendance@dsisdtx.us

 

If you are requesting an early dismissal please send an email at least 30 minutes prior to the departure time (CLICK ON THE EMAIL LINK) dshsattendance@dsisdtx.us. Early dismissal passes will be sent to the student prior to the dismissal time requested. Students will be released at the dismissal time on the pass and should come to the Attendance Office to sign out. Parents do not need to come into the school to sign students out if they have emailed the attendance office. The email serves as consent for the student to sign out. If you have not emailed ahead of time, please come in to the school, with your ID, to sign your student out. The act of signing out does not constitute school approval for the student to leave. An assistant principal or designee will determine if the reason for leaving school will be excused or unexcused. Any student who leaves campus without signing out will be considered unexcused or truant as determined by the appropriate administrator.

 

When a student is absent from school for any portion of a school day, the parent must verify the absence with an e-mail to the campus attendance office (dshsattendance@dsisdtx.us), an absence notification through the Family Access system (ALL-DAY ABSENCE ONLY). Absence verification must describe the reason for the absence. The verification must be submitted by the student’s parent. Otherwise, the student’s absence may be considered unexcused and, if so, would be considered to be in violation of compulsory attendance laws. Texas law states that students are required to attend 90% of their classes in order to gain course credit. For students that fall below the 90% threshold, there is an appeal process that goes before the attendance committee. The campus will document in attendance records for the student whether the absence is considered by the district to be excused or unexcused. Please note that, unless the absence is for a statutorily allowed reason under the compulsory attendance laws, the district is not required to excuse any absence, even if the parent provides a note explaining the absence.

 

Upon return to school, a student absent for more than four consecutive days because of a personal illness must email or fax a statement from a health care provider verifying the illness or condition that caused the students extended absence from school.

 
Unexcused

Unexcused absences are those that are not exempt or excused, but are approved and verified by a parent. Out-of-town absences are documented as unexcused absences. Parents must verify the absence by e-mail to the Attendance Office or through Family Access Absence Notification on-line. When possible, verification of a planned absence should be provided in advance of the absence. Absence verification must describe the reason for the absence. The verification must be submitted by the student’s parent or guardian.


Tardy/Absent

A student is considered tardy if he/she is not in his or her assigned classroom when the tardy bell rings, but enters class before the first 15 minutes of class time have elapsed. Students who arrive at school or return to school while class is in progress or between classes must sign in at the attendance office immediately and must have a parent confirm the reason for the absence within 48 hours. Failure to sign in at the time of arrival will result in a truancy and disciplinary consequence. Please note attendance is taken each period of the day. Official attendance for state reporting purposes is taken at 11:40 a.m. 


Lunch

Dripping Springs High School is a closed campus. Students are not allowed to leave campus during the school day without parent permission and following the procedures for leaving the campus during school hours. If you need your student released during their lunch time, please email the attendance office indicating that they will be leaving. You will need to contact your student via text message and have them come to the Attendance Office to sign out. We are unable to send passes to students during their lunch period. Students will not be allowed to sign out until we have an email with parental permission.

 
Verification of Enrollment Forms

Students should email their request for a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) to dshsattendance@dsisdtx.us. Issuance of Verifications of Enrollment are subject to the Texas Compulsory Attendance Laws stated above. The student will need to submit the VOE form to DPS upon application for a driver’s license. Due to the large number of requests, and because all student information must be confirmed by a school official before a verification form can be issued, students should allow a minimum of two days for processing their requests. Please plan ahead for a renewal.