Excused Absences

An absence that is verified by the parent/guardian and for which the cause is listed in the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law is considered excused. However, having the absence excused by the parent/guardian’s call does not automatically protect the absence from counting toward the student’s loss of credit. For clarification purposes, excused absences are divided into four categories:

 

A student is allowed two parental absences per nine-week grading period. Documented dates must coincide with the actual days of absence. Parents must notify the Attendance Office by phone, in writing, or in person no later than the day the student returns. The absence is recorded for school purposes and the student is allowed to make up work and/or tests missed.

 

The absence is verified by the parent/guardian and is excused by written documentation such as a doctor’s excuse, legal order, religious holiday verification, etc. The absence is recorded for school purposes and the student is allowed to make up work and/or tests missed. Documentation must be received within 2 days of the absence. 

 

Medical documentation will only be excused full day if the excuse indicates it to be a full day. If the doctor’s excuse indicates beginning and ending times, the excuse may only be accepted for those times, not the entire day. The doctor’s office can fax or scan and email the excuse to the school. The scan and email can be sent to the school attendance clerk.

 

Administrative absence designation is used to cover special situations which include college visits, funerals, graduations, and certain school-related activities. Parents must request this absence two days in advance through the online administrative absence request form and provide related documentation. Administrative absences will only be approved once per year for a maximum of five days once all parental absences have been applied for the given term. Final approval for Administrative Absence will not be recorded until all steps have been completed.

 

The student is excused for a school-sponsored activity when her/his teacher approves the absence in advance. The student is allowed to make up work and/or tests missed. The teacher/sponsor will provide a complete list of names to the attendance office and to each teacher of those students whose absence is school-sponsored.