COVID-19 Attendance Rules

All attendance policies comply with the Mississippi Department of Education guidelines. 

Daily School Schedules

63% Rule

State law requires that a student be present for at least 63% of their instructional day in order to be counted present.

Attendance Matters

Good attendance matters for school success, starting as early as prekindergarten and throughout elementary school. By middle and high school, poor attendance is a leading indicator of dropout. Developing the habit of attendance prepares students for success on the job and in life.

Excused and unexcused absences easily add up to too much time lost in the classroom.

• Students are at risk academically if they miss 10 percent of the school year, or about 18 days. Once too many absences have occurred, they can affect learning, regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused.

• Sporadic, not just consecutive, absences matter. Before you know it - just one or two days a month can add up to nearly 10 percent of the school year.

• Avoid unnecessary absences. Some absences are unavoidable. Occasionally, children get sick and need to stay home. What is important is getting children to school as often as possible.