Attendance Policy (Regulations)

The board of education believes that attendance in regularly scheduled classes is a key factor in student achievement. However, it is important for those students who are ill to stay home when sick. Students who have a fever or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100 degrees Fahrenheit should not be at school or school activities. The board recognizes, however, that the cocurricular program of the school also has educational benefit. Therefore, it shall be the policy of this board to minimize absenteeism from regular classes while providing students the opportunity to participate in cocurricular activities.

ABSENCES

Excused absence will be granted for the following reasons:

1. Personal or family illnesses
2. Medical appointments
3. Legal matters, including service on a grand, multicounty grand, or petitjury *
4. Extenuating circumstances deemed necessary by the principal
5. Observance of holidays required by student's religious affiliation.

It is the responsibility of the parent to notify the school if a child is to be absent for one of the above reasons. The school will contact those students' parents who do not call. If no contact is made, the parent must send a note or call the day the child returns before the student can be excused. The student may promptly make up all work missed without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student, on the day of return, to make arrangements to see that the work is made up.

The district will not require medical documentation to support personal or family illness that results in an excused absence. However, students will be required to make up any work that has been missed. Student absences due to a severe, chronic, or life-threatening physical or mental illness, injury, or trauma will be exempted from inclusion in the calculation of the chronic absenteeism indicator of the applicable school site so long as the determination of eligibility is made by the district's medical exemption review committee. The district's medical exemption review committee will be designated by the superintendent on a yearly basis and shall report student absences that are medically exempt to the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) Office of Accountability.

A student will not be considered absent from school if:

1. They are not physically present at school but are completing work in a distance learning program or virtual online program approved by the school district and are meeting the following attendance requirements:
   1. The student has completed instructional activities on no less than ninety (90%) of the time that services were provided in a virtual or distance learning format to include online logins to curriculum or programs, offline activities, completed assignments, testing, face-to-face communications or meetings with school personnel via teleconference, videoconference, email, text, or phone,
   2. The student is on pace for on-time completion of the course as required by the school district,
   3. The student has completed instructional activities within the time that services were provided in a virtual or distance learning format during the academic year; or
2. They have a medical condition that incapacities the student and precludes them from participating in instruction in a traditional school setting and the student is able to progress in instruction via alternative education delivery methods approved by the local board of education.

School Activity

1. The student will be allowed to be absent from the classroom for a maximum of ten days per semester to participate in activities sponsored by the school.
2. The student will be allowed to make up any work missed while participating.

Absence by Arrangement

These are absences in which the parents deem it necessary that a child miss school for reasons other than those that fall within an excused absence.

1. A student may take up to 9 days of absences by arrangement per semester.
2. A student may make up all work missed without penalty. It is up to the student, on the day of retum, to make arrangements to see that the work is made up.
3. In order to take an absence by arrangement, the parent, or guardian, must submit, at least two days prior to the absence, a written request for the student to be absent. If the request is not made as required, the absence will be treated as an unexcused absence.
4. Absences by arrangement will count against a student's exemption from semester tests.

Unexcused Absence

This is any absence that does not fall within one ofthe above categories. Work may be made up. 50% ofthe grade will be counted. Nine unexcused absences will result in that student not receiving credit in that class for the semester.

Truancy

A student is considered truant when absent from the classroom without the knowledge of either the school or the parent or if the parent does not compel the student to attend school.

Tardies

1. A student is tardy who is not in the student's seat when the bell to begin the period sounds.
2. A student who is more than 10 minutes late is counted absent for the period.
3. Each five tardies will constitute an unexcused absence from that class.

Any student who exceeds the 9-day limit for unexcused absences may appeal to the board of education for reinstatement of credit. Consideration will be given as to the reason for the absences as well as to the attempts by parents to minimize the absenteeism.

Chronic Absenteeism

Chronic absentee means a student who is absent 10 percent or more of the school days in the school year exclusive of a significant medical condition, when the total number of days the student is absent is divided by the total number of days the student is enrolled, and school was actually taught in the regular schools of the district, exclusive of Saturdays and Sundays. When a student is identified as a chronic absentee, the Superintendent or designee shall communicate with the student and his/her parents/guardians to determine the reason(s) for the excessive absences, ensure the student and parents/guardians are aware of the adverse consequences of poor attendance, and jointly develop a plan for improving the student's school attendance.

A significant medical condition means a severe, chronic, or life-threatening physical or mental illness, infection, injury, disease, or emotional trauma. Any COVID-19 related absences due to a child's medical needs will be considered a significant medical condition.

Legal Citations

The qualifications and procedures outlined in this policy are based upon the following Oklahoma Statutes (O.S.):

• 38 O.S. §37
• 70 O.S. § 10-105
• 70 O.S. § 3-145.8