State law requires that all employees receive up to five days of paid personal leave per year. Personal leave is earned at a rate of one-half a workday for each 18 workdays of employment. A day of earned personal leave is equivalent to an assigned workday. There is no limit on the accumulation of state personal leave, and it can be transferred to other Texas school districts. There are two types of personal leave: nondiscretionary and discretionary.

Nondiscretionary Leave that is taken for personal or family illness, emergency, or a death in the family is considered nondiscretionary leave. This type of leave allows very little or no advance planning and will be granted to employees in the same manner as sick leave.

Discretionary Leave that is taken at an employee’s discretion and that can be scheduled in advance is considered discretionary leave. An employee wishing to take discretionary personal leave must submit a notice of the request three days in advance of the anticipated absence to his or her principal or supervisor. Discretionary personal leave will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis and will be subject to the following limitations:

1. A maximum of six percent of campus employees in each job category will be permitted to take discretionary personal leave at the same time.
2. Discretionary leave may not last more than three consecutive work days, except with special approval for extenuating circumstances.
3. Discretionary leave may not be taken on the following key days:a. On days stipulated in the school calendar as staff development days.
b. On days and evenings set aside for open house.
c. On the first and last five student days of each semester.
d. On the day immediately preceding or following school holidays.
e. For more than three consecutive workdays.

For special events in an employee’s immediate family, such as college graduations or weddings, an exception to this policy may be approved by the Director of Personnel. The exception must be requested in writing and approval secured at least one week in advance of the anticipated absence. Only special events in an employee’s immediate family will be considered. Activities related to travel for pleasure or business shall not be considered an exception.