Attendance in school and participation in class are an integral part of academic achievement and the teaching/learning process. Regular school attendance develops patterns of behavior essential to professional and personal success in life. Beyond that, regular attendance by every student is mandatory. The State of Mississippi requires that every child in the state abide by the Compulsory School Attendance law. Parents or legal guardians have the responsibility for ensuring that students attend and remain at school daily.

In 2026, the state law related to school attendance was updated to provide new requirements for the number of school absences permitted, how absent students can participate in school activities, and the process for documenting, reporting and providing intervention for students who demonstrate chronic absenteeism. Please review our Snapshot Overview of the new law's requirements below.

• Click to download Attendance Referral & Intervention Flowchart (MDE)

• Click to download Student Referral Process (MDE)

Why does School Attendance Matter?

School Attendance matters for our students AND our district! The district's Average Daily Attendance (ADA) reached in Oct/Nov determines much of our state funding for the entire year, and raising our ADA just a few percentage points can mean important increases in funds.

Beyond that, students can't learn and grow in academics, the arts, activities, and so many other areas if they are not in school to experience the excellent learning opportunities available. Missing even a couple of days each month can drastically impact a child's growth in key areas.

For more information, contact: