Excused Absences (OSHS)

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. The doctor’s office can fax or scan and email the excuse to the school. The school fax number is (228) 875-7404. The scan and email can be sent to our school attendance clerk.

 

Medical documentation will only be excused for a 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 link and provide related documentation. Administrative absences will only be approved for a maximum of five days and will be utilized after parental absences have been applied except for funerals and college visits. Final approval for an 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. 

 

When a student is absent from school, the number of days allowed to complete any required make-up work is equivalent to the number of days missed to a maximum of five (5) days. For example, for excused absences, if a student is absent for one (1) day, the student has one (1) day to complete the required make-up assignments. If the student is absent for five (5) days, he/she will have five (5) days to complete this/her make-up work. If a student is absent for seven (7) days, the student has five (5) days to complete the missed work. The teacher may require an alternate assignment for missed work. 

 

These absences are limited in number, however, so the student must choose judiciously concerning school-sponsored absences. 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.