EPISD staff recommends reinstating 90% attendance rule, seeks advisory committee
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Summary
Administration recommended removing the District of Innovation exemption for the 90% seat-time rule, citing multi-year attendance declines and a recent rise after new compulsory-attendance procedures; staff requested two board representatives for a DOI advisory committee and outlined a January–May timeline for review and a May board recommendation.
District administrators recommended Jan. 20 that the board remove a District of Innovation exemption that has allowed exceptions to a 90% seat-time attendance rule and reinstate the 90% requirement in policy beginning with the 2026–27 school year.
Miss Macias (presenting the item) told trustees that staff reviewed nine years of data showing attendance declined after the exemption took effect and that attendance fell further following COVID. She said recent compulsory-attendance procedures implemented in 2024–25 produced a 1% improvement and that fall-semester attendance has reached approximately 93.1% where procedures are implemented with fidelity.
"Our recommendation is for that 90% rule to be in place," Miss Macias said, adding that staff will develop and implement communications and procedures districtwide. She asked the board to nominate two representatives to serve on a DOI advisory committee that will review existing exemptions (January–March), post a renewal proposal for public feedback in April, and return to the board for approval in May.
Trustees pressed staff on the biggest differentiators between high- and low-attendance campuses. Miss Macias identified consistent implementation, front-office and attendance-clerk practices, and ongoing two-way communication with parents and students as critical factors. Trustee Levesque asked that advisory-membership include active parents so recommendations reflect community realities.
Board members praised the data-driven approach but emphasized the need for a long runway and clear communications (backpack flyers, texts, emails) so families understand changes and to limit confusion when policy changes are implemented. Staff agreed to provide a communication plan as the committee develops recommendations.
