Good attendance is important for many reasons. Your child receives the maximum benefit of education by being in school every day, and numerous studies show a strong link between academic performance and consistent attendance. Because attendance is so critical for the quality of your child’s education, Texas has a compulsory attendance law.

State law requires schoolchildren to attend school each day that instruction is provided. The law applies to children ages 6–19. If you voluntarily enroll your child in prekindergarten or kindergarten before age 6, school attendance laws apply to your child, too. A person who voluntarily enrolls in or attends school after turning 19 is also required to attend for the entire period of the program of instruction.

The following are a few exceptions:

• Children who are enrolled in a private or parochial school
• Children who are home-schooled
• Students who are 17 years old and enrolled in a GED (high school equivalency) program
• Students who are 17 years old and have received a high school diploma or GED certificate

Most other students of Texas public schools must comply with the Compulsory Attendance Law.