Navigating the New Era of Texas Attendance with Precision and Compassion
Addressing Attendance Challenges: Updates to State Laws Emphasize the Need for Engagement
Since the pandemic, chronic absenteeism in Texas has nearly doubled—exceeding 20% and affecting more than 936,000 students statewide. In response, the 89th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 991 (SB 991), fundamentally changing how districts address attendance.
Chronic absenteeism is no longer merely a metric—it is now a formal, codified “at-risk” factor.
Effective September 1, 2025, Texas Education Code §29.081 requires schools to provide accelerated instruction and targeted interventions for any student missing more than 10% of required instructional days.
The Financial Stakes for Your District
In Texas, school funding is driven by Average Daily Attendance (ADA)—not enrollment. Every absence results in an immediate loss of state revenue, averaging approximately $55 per student per day.
- A single chronically absent student can cost a district between $1,375–$2,200 annually.
- A district with 1,000 chronically absent students may lose $1–$2 million per year.
Kreider Mediation provides training designed to recover these funds by keeping students in the classroom through structured Truancy Prevention Measures (TPMs).
Bridge the Gap with Kreider Mediation and Counted Present
Our Truancy Prevention Measure Course is a comprehensive 8-hour training for school administrators, school board members, principals, and attendance officers navigating the complexities of the Texas Education Code.
What You’ll Learn
The San Antonio / Bexar County Model
Study the strategies used to reduce truancy filings by 50% in a single year through early intervention and structured collaboration.
Identifying the Root Causes
Move beyond assumptions of “willful disobedience” and address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which make a student four times more likely to be chronically absent.
The ALICE Population
Implement strategies to support families who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed…earning too much for assistance but too little to overcome attendance barriers.
Specialized Protections
Navigate federal mandates including IDEA, Section 504, and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act while ensuring compliance with attendance intervention requirements.
Ready to Equip Your District?
Implement Truancy Prevention Measures that are proactive, compliant, and financially strategic.

