Houston Independent School District (HISD) has come under scrutiny after failing to report truancy prevention measures to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for four consecutive school years. This revelation has raised concerns about the district's efforts to address student absences and its compliance with state regulations.

Truancy Prevention Measures and Compliance Issues

Truancy is often an indicator of deeper challenges in a student’s life, prompting the Texas Education Code to require school districts to implement and report truancy prevention measures annually. Despite this mandate, HISD reported zero truancy prevention efforts and filed no complaints against parents or guardians, even as tens of thousands of students were identified as truant each year.

According to Bob Sanborn, president and CEO of Children at Risk, truancy can set students on a path toward academic failure and long-term challenges. He emphasized that once a student starts missing classes, it becomes easier to disengage, leading to a higher likelihood of dropping out, struggling to find employment, and missing out on opportunities for higher education. Mike Matranga, vice chair for the National Council for School Safety Directors, also highlighted truancy as a significant risk factor. As a retired Secret Service agent and former head of school security, he noted that chronic absenteeism is often associated with academic decline and disciplinary issues, making it a key warning sign for potential self-harm or violence.

State law requires school districts to notify parents when a student accumulates three or more unexcused absences in one month and to deploy intervention strategies. These measures can include behavior improvement plans and access to community services, especially for students facing hardships such as homelessness, pregnancy, foster care, severe illness, or being the primary income earner for their families.

HISD’s Plan for Addressing Attendance and Reporting Gaps

HISD’s Deputy Director of Schools, Daniel Girard, maintained that the district does have a truancy prevention program in place, despite its failure to report any efforts to TEA over the past four years. He explained that HISD utilizes software that automatically alerts parents once a student reaches three unexcused absences in a month. The system triggers letters, text messages, and phone calls to notify families, while school counselors engage directly to understand barriers to attendance and connect students with support services.

When asked about specific truancy prevention efforts in recent years, Girard admitted he could not provide historical data, citing a lack of information regarding policies before the state’s takeover of the district in 2023. However, he assured that new reporting mechanisms are being put in place to ensure compliance moving forward. With thousands of students being flagged as truant annually, the absence of reported prevention efforts has raised concerns among educators and policymakers. Girard acknowledged that chronic absenteeism remains a significant issue and stressed that HISD’s faculty and administration are dedicated to improving student attendance rates and graduation outcomes.

Despite automated notifications, direct parental outreach and home visits are left to the discretion of individual campuses. Girard confirmed that additional interventions depend on the specific needs and circumstances of each student. A spokesperson for HISD issued a statement explaining that previous compliance teams failed to properly upload truancy-related data to TEA’s portal. The district has since reassigned data reporting responsibilities to a new team tasked with ensuring accurate and timely submission moving forward.

HISD is not the only district that has reported zero truancy prevention efforts. A broader review of truancy data across Texas school districts has prompted action from the TEA. More updates on this developing story are expected as state officials examine district-wide compliance with truancy regulations.