Attendance Policy
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:29 pm
The goal of this post is to set the record straight on what is required by law, and by District policy with regards to attendance. But first, a caveat.... I am not a lawyer!
First, lets look at State Law.
Now for Mustang's Policy which pretty much is the same as State Law (since it kinda has to).
Now what constitutes a part day?
First, lets look at State Law.
Note that it also mentions part days. So if you take your child out of school for the last half of a day, that is counted as an absence.§70-10-106. Records of attendance of pupil - Report of absence.
If a child is absent without valid excuse four (4) or more days or parts of days within a four-week period or is absent without valid excuse for ten (10) or more days or parts of days within a semester, the attendance officer shall notify the parent, guardian or custodian of the child and immediately report such absences to the district attorney in the county wherein the school is located for juvenile proceedings pursuant to Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Now for Mustang's Policy which pretty much is the same as State Law (since it kinda has to).
So yes, pretty much the same thing. The State law does not state what an excused absence is, and does not state what "part of a day" is. Mustangs policy does expand upon that.Mustang Public Schools Policy #5020
If a child is absent without valid excuse four (4) or more days or parts of days within a four week period or is absent without valid excuse for ten (10) or more days or parts of days within a semester, the attendance officer shall notify the parent, guardian, or custodian of the child and immediately report
such absences to the District Attorney in the county wherein the school is located for juvenile proceedings pursuant to Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
So those are the excuses that Mustang allows. If you recall, the State Law doesn't specify.Mustang Public Schools Policy #5020
Verified Absence:
A. An absence is classified as verified only when parent notification of 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. The student is excused with Physician’s diagnosis accompanying documentation.
5. The student is excused with a documented court appearance.
B. 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.
Now what constitutes a part day?
So what kind of punishment can the District dish out? Well pretty much anything really.Mustang Public Schools Policy #5020
ATTENDANCE PROVISIONS
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.
Board Policy 5080 pretty much allows the District to issue any form of punishment it wishes.Mustang Public Schools Policy #5020
ATTENDANCE PROVISIONS
B. Students who are unaccounted for and/or truant may receive additional disciplinary action in accordance
with Board Policy #5080.
Yikes!Mustang Public Schools Policy #5080
The administrator has the discretion to choose any disciplinary action in regard to unacceptable
student behavior. The following examples of behavior are not acceptable in society generally and in the
school environment particularly:
1. Truancy