The State of Texas requires that a child go to school.

Texas Education Code section 25.085 Compulsory Attendance states:

The State of Texas requires that children attend school who are at least six years old through their eighteenth birth-      day. State law also requires that a child be five years old by September 1 to enroll in kindergarten and six years old      by September 1 or has been enrolled in first grade, or completed kindergarten in the public schools of another state      prior to moving to the District to enroll in first grade.  For the pre-kindergarten program, students must be four years       old by September 1 of the current school year and meet other eligibility requirements to enroll. A child who is re-      quired to attend school shall attend each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided.      Once a child is enrolled as a student in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, the child must attend school.

Temporary Absence:

A child required to attend school may be excused for a temporary absence resulting from any cause acceptable to      the teacher, principal, superintendent or school in which the child is enrolled. (Education Code section 25.087)

Truancy:

Students of compulsory education age are required to be in school.  The absence of a child from school on ten or       more days or parts of days within a six month period, or from school on three or more days or parts of days with-      in a four week period, without consent of parents, pursuant to Family Code 51.03 (b) (2) is "conduct indicating a       need for supervision (CINS)" under the Juvenile Justice System.  A student absent without permission from school,      from any class, or required tutorials, will be considered truant and subject to disciplinary action, which may include      court action.

Consequences:

If a parent fails to require the child to attend school according to the law, the School Attendance Officer shall warn      the parent in writing that attendance is immediately demanded.  If, after that warning, the parent fails to require the      child to attend school as required by law, and the child has an absence, the District Attendance Officer will file a      complaint against the parent in a justice court or any precinct in the county in which the parent resides or in which       the school is located. Texas Education Code section 25.093-Parent Contributing to Truancy.  A child's failure to      attend school as mandated by law may consititue the offense of Failure to Attend SChool, which is defined in the      Texas Education Code section 25.094. An offense under this section is a Clas C Misdemeanor.

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