In Tennessee, school attendance is essential for educational success. No amount of advanced resources or motivational slogans can replace the simple truth that if students don’t attend school, their chances of academic achievement drop significantly. However, periodically, we receive reports indicating that some districts are failing to document students who miss school or skip classes. This oversight could have serious consequences, not just for individual students but for the local educational system. 

Parents need to know where their children are. Schools, acting as guardians during school hours, have a duty to act in the students’ best interests. This includes ensuring students are present and actively engaged in their education. The legal concept of in loco parentis allows schools to enforce attendance policies, a responsibility that parents implicitly transfer when they entrust their children to the school.

The Legal Framework of School Attendance

Tennessee law clearly outlines the rules for school attendance. According to Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) § 49-6-3001 et seq., children ages 6 to 17 are required to attend school—whether public, private, or otherwise—from age six until just before their 18th birthday, with specific exceptions for homeschooling or early withdrawal under certain conditions. Unexcused absences and “skipping classes” can result in truancy procedures when they accumulate.

Reporting Obligations

Tennessee law requires public school principals—and sometimes teachers—to report students with unexcused absences. It is essential to understand that these absences do not need to be consecutive; they add up over the school year. This legal requirement, outlined in T.C.A. § 49-6-3007, is essential to enforcing compulsory attendance and proactively addressing truancy.

• Initial Reporting: Principals must report a student’s name to the director of schools or attendance supervisor after three unexcused absences. At this point, the district must send a written notice to the parent or guardian reminding them of the attendance requirements. 
• Progressive Reporting: After five unexcused absences, additional reports are required, along with written notifications to parents, warning of possible interventions and juvenile court referrals.

Consequences of Noncompliance

The ramifications of failing to address truancy can escalate rapidly. After five unexcused absences, schools enter Tier 1 interventions, which include notifying parents and monitoring attendance.

• Tier 1: Parental notification and attendance monitoring.
• Tier 2: If Tier 1 is ineffective, schools may implement assessments and additional services.
• Tier 3: This may involve alternative educational programs or teen court interventions.

If these measures fail and parental cooperation declines, the school administrator must report the student to juvenile court (T.C.A. § 49-6-3009(g)). Students may be classified as “unruly,” which could lead to supervised probation or fines, and parents might face charges of educational neglect, potentially resulting in misdemeanors.

Additionally, students aged 15 and older with poor attendance risk losing their driver’s license. Chronic absences may result in a license suspension. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days, which can negatively impact school funding and student performance metrics, even though it is not directly linked to truancy reporting. At present, a staggering 23.5 percent of students nationwide are missing school regularly. This high rate of chronic absenteeism signals a pressing issue that demands our immediate attention and action.

The Role of Parents and Local Districts

Parents and guardians are encouraged to familiarize themselves with their district’s specific attendance-tracking policies. Open communication with schools can promote better understanding and compliance with attendance requirements. Local districts have the authority to define what counts as an “adequate excuse” for absences. While state law allows certain exceptions, unexcused absences still count toward reporting thresholds. The goal of these regulations is to promote student success rather than impose punishments. Adhering to attendance laws is not only a legal obligation but also a crucial way to ensure students stay on track for graduation.

Conclusion

Consistent monitoring and reporting of student attendance are vital to student achievement and to building a strong educational system. By emphasizing classroom attendance, Tennessee can enhance students’ chances of academic success and better prepare them for the future. Proactively addressing attendance issues benefits individual students and strengthens the entire educational framework. As Stephen Hawking said, “Half the battle is just showing up.” We need to ensure our kids are showing up, learning, and thriving. In education, attendance isn’t just important; it’s everything.

JC Bowman is the executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee.