Admissions and Attendance

The public schools of our nation are unique among the world's educational systems, open free of charge to all school-aged residents who have not yet graduated and are not enrolled elsewhere.  Generally, students attend school where they live, but state law allows for certain exceptions and transfers.  The following are resources related to public school admissions, including transfers, and attendance.

Admissions
Attendance

Admissions   

Related Policies

Your local school board policy manual contains TASB's (LEGAL) reference policies and board-adopted (LOCAL) policies.  Your district may also have relevant administrative regulations.  For more information on student admissions, see district policy and regulations at the following codes:

FD	Admissions
FDA	Interdistrict Transfers
FDAA	Public Education Grants
FDB	Intradistrict Transfers and Classroom Assignments
FDC	Homeless Students
FDD	Military Dependents
FDE	School Safety Transfers

TASB Resources

• TASB Legal Services’ School Admissions Issues, for sale in the TASB Store, is a full-length legal outline with an overview of when students are entitled to admission and what documentation is required, as well as common questions about transfers, early kindergarten admissions, and more. 

Other Resources

• The Texas Education Agency (TEA) Correspondence Re: Attendance, Admission, Enrollment Records and Tuition, issued annually, summarizes several related statutes and associated TEA interpretation.
• The TEA Student Attendance Accounting Handbook contains information related to enrollment procedures and requirements at section 3.3.
• The Department of Family and Protective Services Authorization Agreement for Nonparent Relative provides a manner by which a child's parent may authorize certain close relatives to perform specific acts on behalf of a child, as described in Texas Family Code section 34.002, including enrolling a child in school.
• The TEA Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) Web Site addresses PEIMS reporting rules and provides links to statewide data and reports.
• The TEA PEIMS Frequently Asked Questions Web Site answers questions about a number of topics addressed by PEIMS, such as enrollment, ID numbers, transfers, and withdrawals.
• The Texas Department of State Health Services FAQ addresses admissions issues related to immunizations.
• The TEA Program Monitoring and Interventions Civil Action 5281 Web Site provides information on the impact of Texas' statewide desegregation order on student transfers.
• The Charles A. Dana Center Texas Homeless Education Office provides a number of resources to help districts identify and serve homeless students.
• The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Education for Homeless Children and Youths Web Site provides information on the education of homeless youths, including the applicable statutes, guidance, and related resources.
• The U.S. DOE Questions & Answers on Special Education and Homelessness provides information about the provision of special education services to homeless students.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration Homelessness Resource Center Web Site provides resources addressing the issue of homelessness, including the education of homeless students.
• TEA Office of Legal Services General FAQ’s answers frequently asked questions about transporting homeless students.
• The TEA Resources for Military Families in Texas Web Site provides information on educating military dependants, including information regarding the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
• The Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission Web Site provides information about the Interstate Compact, answers to frequently asked questions, and related resources.
• The TEA Chapter 37 – Resources and Links Web Site provides several documents related to the school safety choice option, such as a general guidance and methodology for designating a persistently dangerous school.
• The U.S. DOE Public School Choice Non-Regulatory Guidance provides information on the application of statutes providing parents the option to request a transfer if their children attend certain low-performing schools.
• The U.S. DOE Unsafe School Choice Option Non-Regulatory Guidance provides information on the application of statutes providing parents the option to request a transfer if their children attend an unsafe school.
• The TEA Public Education Grant (PEG) Frequently Asked Questions Web Site provides information about PEG transfers and related issues like athletic eligibility and transportation.
• The U.S. DOE Office of Migrant Education Web Site provides information about the federal migrant education programs and educating migrant youth.
• The U.S. DOE No Child Left Behind Education of Migratory Children Draft Non-Regulatory Guidance provides information about migratory children, assessing their educational needs, and providing them services.
• The TEA Foreign Exchange Students Frequently Asked Questions Web Site provides information about waivers, student visas, and related issues.
• The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program Web Site provides information about the program, including fact sheets, answers to frequently asked questions, and related resources.
• The U.S. DOE Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Web Site provides information about foreign exchange students and student visas.
• The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Student and Exchange Visitors Web Site provides information about obtaining a visa to study in the United States.

Attendance   

Related Policies

For more information on attendance, see district policy and regulations at the following codes:

FEA	Compulsory Attendance
FEB	Attendance Accounting
FEC	Attendance for Credit
FED	Attendance Enforcement
FEE	Open/Closed Campus
FEF	Released Time
FNE	Pregnant Students Leave of Absence

Other Resources

• The Texas Education Agency (TEA) Student Attendance Accounting Handbook details the attendance accounting rules that districts must follow when reporting to TEA.
• The TEA Correspondence Re: Attendance, Admission, Enrollment Records and Tuition, issued annually, summarizes several related statutes and associated TEA interpretation.
• The TEA School Finance Average Daily Attendance (ADA) Reports Web Site provides a database of ADA reports searchable by district or by Education Service Center (ESC) region, created annually since the 2004-05 school year.
• The TEA Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) Web Site addresses PEIMS reporting rules and provides links to statewide data and reports.
• The TEA PEIMS Frequently Asked Questions Web Site answers questions about a number of topics addressed by PEIMS, such as compulsory attendance, attendance and ADA eligibility, and home schooling.
• TEA Office of Legal Services Attendance FAQ’s answers frequently asked questions about truancy, required attendance, kindergarten, pregnant students, immunizations, absences for educational purposes, determining a child’s school assignment, when a student may drop out, and related issues.
• The TEA Home School Information Web Site provides information on the exemption from compulsory attendance requirements for home schooled students and the placement of home school students enrolling in school.
• The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Truancy Reduction Demonstration Program provides prevention tools and other resources to assist districts in reducing student truancy.
• The Texas Attorney General (AG) Texas Teen Page provides information for teenagers on a variety of topics, including truancy.
• The Texas Juvenile Justice Department Web Site provides a searchable database of resources on the prevention of youth problems, such as truancy.