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El Paso ISD staff propose tightening attendance policy, removing 90% DOI exemption
Summary
Staff proposed revisions to FEA (local) to reflect the district's move away from a 90% District of Innovation seat-time exemption, adopt TASB-recommended language on attendance and credit, and allow two institute-of-higher-education days to count as present; trustees pressed staff on transition supports.
At the June 2 policy committee meeting, staff presented proposed revisions to board policy FEA (local) on compulsory attendance that reflect the district's recent decision to eliminate a 90% seat-time exemption available under the District of Innovation (DOI).
Trustee Dr. Lehi said the policy change is intended to keep "students...in the classroom" and to improve average daily attendance (ADA) funding. Christine Ferrett, senior director of strategic planning, told the committee the proposed language aligns with recommendations from the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). "Students will have the ability to do 2 days at institutes of higher education," Ferrett said, and staff stated those days would be counted as days present.
Ferrett also described proposed attendance-for-credit language, explaining the policy spells out the 90% attendance threshold and the processes for when a student does not meet that threshold, including appeals and extenuating-circumstances language. A trustee asked that the policy be displayed for public viewing; another trustee asked about transition supports for staff. In response, a district representative said the district is communicating the change to families, plans to convene school teams regularly, and has a plan led by Dr. Ramirez to help students regain credit mid-semester.
No votes were taken on the policy during the committee meeting; staff presented the recommended TASB language and answered trustees' questions about rollout and supports.
