5025 Attendance
Educational programs are built on the foundation of continuity of instruction and participation in the classroom setting. Consistent classroom attendance can lead to the development of strong work habits, responsibility, and self- discipline. Because attendance also has a definite correlation to academic performance, the quality of a student’s education suffers when he/she is absent from class. Students are encouraged to maintain regular attendance and to schedule non-academic activities during times which will not conflict with classroom instruction.
Students will be recorded as “absent” when they are late to their assigned class or do not attend in accordance with each building’s administrative regulations. This will apply to both the regular schedule and to a modified schedule.
CATEGORIES OF ABSENCES
Excused Absence:
A. An absence, as defined by Oklahoma Statute, is classified as excused only if one of the following conditions exists.
1. The student is excused from attending school by reason of mental or physical disability as determined by the district upon receipt of written recommendation by a duly licensed and practicing physician.
2. The student is excused from attendance at school during observance of a religious holiday.
3. The student is excused from attendance at school if the absence is deemed by the principal and parent/ guardian to be an emergency.
4. A student who has attained his/her 16th birthday is excused from attending school by written, joint agreement between (a) the school administrator of the district where the student attends school, and (b) the parent/guardian. It must be determined that such action is in the best interest of the student and/or the community and the student will be under the supervision of the parent/guardian until the student has reached the age of 18 years.
B. An excused absence as outlined above will not count against the number of allowable absences.
C. A student is excused from attendance if the parent/legal guardian has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting and may be granted excused absences at the discretion of the Superintendent or designee.
Unexcused Absence:
A. When a student misses one or more classes during a school day with or without the knowledge or permission of a parent/guardian and school authorities provided the absence does not qualify as an excused absence.
B. Unexcused absences are limited to ten per semester for each class. Students who exceed ten absences in a semester may receive an “F” grade for that class.
C. If a student exceeds ten unexcused absences, a doctor’s statement that confirms the dates of the illness may be turned in to the attendance office upon the student’s return to school resulting in the absence(s) being changed to an excused absence(s).
D. Students who fail based only on their attendance exceeding the ten-day limit may submit an appeal to a site committee composed of an administrator, the school nurse, a teacher and a counselor.
ATTENDANCE PROVISIONS
A. If a student is absent, a parent or guardian must notify the school office, give reason for the absence, and approximate date of return.
B. Students who are unaccounted for and/or truant may receive additional disciplinary action in accordance with Board Policy #5050.
C. Students must be in attendance at least two of the first three hours or two of the last three hours to be recorded present one-half day, each for the morning and afternoon.
D. Students are encouraged to make up any work missed due to an absence. In order to receive credit, the student is responsible for obtaining, completing and returning to the teacher the assignments missed during the absence. Students will be granted at least one school day for each school day missed due to an absence. More time may be allowed at the discretion of the teacher, depending on the nature of the assignment(s) and length of the absence.
E. It shall be unlawful for a parent, guardian, custodian, or other persons having control of a child who is over the age of five years and under the age of 18 years, and who has not finished four years of high school work, to neglect or refuse to cause or compel such child to attend and comply with the rules of some public, private, or other school, unless other means of education are provided for the full term the schools of the district are in
session; and it shall be unlawful for any child who is over the age of 12 years and under the age of 18 years, and who has not finished four years of high school work, to neglect or refuse to attend and comply with the rules of some public, private, or other school, or receive an education by other means for the full term the schools of the district are in session.
F. If a child is absent without valid excuse four or more days or parts of days within a four-week period, the principal or designee shall notify the parent, guardian or custodian of the child with an attendance warning letter. After the warning letter is sent, the parent, guardian, or custodian of the child does not comply with the compulsory attendance laws and six (6) additional days are recorded, the principal or designee shall immediately report such absences to the district residency/truancy officer in the Enrollment Center. The residency/truancy officer will then report to the Tulsa County District Attorney pursuant to Okla. Stat. Tit. 70, Article X, Section 232 or the appropriate City of Tulsa official when a city ordinance applies.
G. In accordance with Oklahoma Statute 70 OK Stat § 18-107 (2022), a student who has incurred 10 unexcused absences consecutively will be withdrawn from enrollment and must reenroll before returning to school.
H. All students attending Union schools, unless they are legally emancipated or meet the requirements to qualify for “self-support,” shall be required to have absences excused by their parent/guardian. Students who are legally emancipated or meet the requirements of “self-support” may assume responsibility for all absences.
I. The maximum number of absences for activities, whether sponsored by the school or outside agency/ organization, which removes any student from the classroom shall be ten (10) for any one class period of each school year. Excluded from this number are state and national levels of school-sponsored contests. State and national contests are those for which a student must earn the right to compete. The criteria for earning the right to represent the school in any activity or contest must be submitted in writing by local school sponsors and approved by the Board of Education.
J. The Internal Activities Review Committee includes the Executive Director of Secondary Education, Director of Fine Arts, Director of Athletics, and Activity Coordinator. This committee shall be responsible for reviewing and recommending any deviation of the activities policy to the Board of Education. Any deviation from the ten days absence rule shall not exceed five days.
K. College visitations may be counted as a school activity and will not count as an absence provided the following criteria are met:
1. limited to two per year,
2. parent notifies attendance office,
3. documentation confirming the visit is provided by the college or university and turned in to the attendance office upon return to school.
L. In order to determine medical exemptions for accountability purposes on the Oklahoma School Report Card, a district medical exemption committee consisting of three to five administrators that represent both elementary and secondary education shall convene. That committee shall use the rules provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Education as guidance to determine which exemption requests qualify as medical exemptions when calculating chronic absenteeism rates. Any COVID-19 related absences due to a child’s medical needs will be considered a significant medical condition.
M. Students who are attending a class or classes in a virtual or distance learning environment are exempt from the in-person attendance requirements as stated above for the virtual or distance learning class or classes.
Attendance for students in a virtual or distance learning environment (class or classes) shall be measured by means appropriate in a virtual, hybrid, or distance learning environment which may include, but are not limited to, District-approved chatroom participation, message board posts, e-mails, submission of assignments, or other District-approved means for determining participation. Teachers shall make contact with each of their students a minimum number of times per school week, as determined by District administration, and count these contacts as full-time attendance. Attendance shall be maintained through the District’s authorized student information system consistent with all rules and regulations of State Board of Education. The attendance for a student participating in virtual distance learning shall be the date on which the student first completes an instructional activity as defined in 70 O.S. § 3-145.8. The defined time period, assignment completion status, or other means used to determine student attendance in the virtual program shall meet or exceed the minimum measures of virtual attendance listed at 70 O.S. § 3-145.8(B). [Per Okla. Admin. Code tit. 210, § 35-21-2(c)(1)(C)(iii)].
Semester exam exemption (High School): To encourage students to attend class regularly, the following incentive is available:
A. Seniors who have no more than 5 absences in the second semester may, with parent approval, waive the semester exam for any course in which they have an “A” average.
B. Seniors who have no more than four absences in the second semester may, with parent approval, waive the semester exam for any course in which they have a “B” average.
C. Seniors who have no more than three absences in the second semester may, with parent approval, waive the semester exam for any course in which they have a “C” average.
Revised 6/10/96
Revised 12/8/97
Revised 12/13/99
Revised 1/14/02
Revised 12/8/03
Revised 2/12/07
Revised 12/10/07
Revised 1/18/10
Revised 11/8/10
Revised 3/21/11
Revised 12/12/11
Revised 8/13/12
Revised 12/9/13
Revised 12/8/14
Revised 12/10/18
Revised 12/9/19
Revised 8-20-2020
Revised 12/13/21
Revised 5/9/22
Revised 12/11/23