Attendance Policy Reminders

Oxford, Mississippi — As a district, we know that regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. Every day a student is present provides valuable opportunities for learning, building relationships, and staying connected to their school community.

Beginning this school year, Oxford School District has updated its attendance procedures to align with the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law. These updates reflect changes in state requirements and are designed to ensure students receive as much instructional time as possible while allowing schools to identify and address attendance concerns earlier through collaboration with families and appropriate support.

These procedures are not new district rules; they are updates made to ensure compliance with Mississippi law while continuing to support students and families.

We understand that changes to attendance procedures may raise questions. Our goal is to be transparent about these updates while partnering with families to support student success.

What Families Should Know

Students must attend at least 66% of the instructional day to be counted present.

To receive credit for being present each day, students must attend at least 66% of the instructional day. Students who do not meet this requirement will be counted absent for the day.

Parent illness-related notes are limited.

Parents or guardians may submit up to three illness-related parent notes each semester. After those three notes have been used, additional illness-related absences will require appropriate medical documentation.

Students are allowed five excused absences each semester.

Students may have up to five excused absences per semester in accordance with district policy and state law.

If additional absences become necessary due to extenuating circumstances, families may submit documentation for review. Requests for approval beyond the five absences will be considered based on the documentation provided and the circumstances surrounding the absence.

Certificates of Enrollment

Please note that the deadline for obtaining a Certificate of Enrollment has moved to August 15 each school year.

(What is a Certificate of Enrollment? It is a form used when a student withdraws from Oxford School District so they can attend a school in another district, be homeschooled, or attend private school, etc.)

Our Commitment to Families

These changes are not intended to create unnecessary hardship for families. Instead, they are designed to help schools identify attendance concerns earlier so that we can work together to remove barriers to attendance before they become larger challenges.

As we implement these updated procedures, our commitment is to:

• Communicate openly and transparently with families.
• Partner with parents when attendance concerns arise.
• Provide support and resources whenever appropriate.
• Apply attendance procedures consistently and in accordance with Mississippi law.

We recognize that every family's circumstances are unique, and we remain committed to working collaboratively with parents while ensuring compliance with the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law. If you have any questions regarding these new expectations or need assistance, please reply to this email.

Thank you for your partnership and for your continued support of your child's education. Together, we can help every student be present, engaged, and successful throughout the school year.