See OKCPS Board Policy Regulation F-03-R1

Students are expected to miss no more than ten percent (10%) of school days per year to avoid being considered chronically absent. Students who are absent more than ten percent (10%) of the school year miss over sixteen (16) days per school year.

When students miss ten percent (10%) of school, their pattern of attendance is considered chronic absenteeism, except when absences are due to a significant medical condition. A significant medical condition means a severe, chronic, or life-threatening physical or mental illness, infection, injury, disease, or emotional trauma. Students who are chronically absent will be provided assistance to address attendance barriers and a path for academic success. 

A student is entitled to be counted present in the following learning environments:

• When attending in-person in a traditional classroom

• When working in an approved distance learning setting

• When distance learning is required due to school closure or emergency, or

• When participating in a district or school activity with the approval of a building principal and under the supervision of an OKCPS staff member. 

• When they have a medical condition precluding them from participating in instruction in a traditional school setting and they are able to progress in instruction via approved alternative education delivery methods.

For student safety, the parent or legal guardian is expected to notify the school as soon as possible any time a student will be absent. All student absences are classified as either Excused or Unexcused. Both Excused and Unexcused absences are included in the chronic absenteeism calculation. All absences not excused will be considered unexcused.

Excused absences are those due to illness or personal injury, medical and dental appointments, court appearances, religious holidays, and family emergencies. No student shall receive an excused absence without proper documentation. Written or verbal communication from the parent or guardian may be considered acceptable by the principal for the first five (5) excused absences during the grading period. Additional absences will be considered unexcused unless official written documentation is submitted (ex: doctor’s note, verification of a court appearance, memorial service folder, etc.).

Students who accrue ten (10) consecutive unexcused absences will be dropped from enrollment on the eleventh day. Students are welcome to return to school and re-enroll at any time. Student absences due to a severe, chronic, or life-threatening physical or mental illness, injury, or trauma will be exempted from inclusion in the calculation of the chronic absenteeism indicator of the applicable school site so long as the determination of eligibility is made by the district’s medical exemption review committee. The district’s medical exemption review committee will be designated by the superintendent on an annual basis and shall report student absences that are medically exempt to the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) Office of Accountability.

The following absences may be excused:

1. Parent/guardian-requested absences by writing a note to the school signed by a parent/guardian

2. Illness, injury, or medical appointments (limited to five (5) per grading period without additional documentation)

3. Bereavement for family documented by an obituary or funeral program

4. Serious illness or immediate family emergency

5. Legal matters, such as jury service or subpoena

6. Extenuating circumstances deemed necessary by the principal

7. Pre-approved college visit

8. Observance of religious holidays required by student’s religious affiliation

9. School bus not running

10. State and national levels of school-sponsored contests

11. Competitions sanctioned by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) such as Athletic, Spirit, Music, Academic Bowl, Speech & Debate, or ESports.

12. Documented participation in 4-H activities or programs approved by the county 4-H educator

13. Documented speech therapy, occupational therapy, or any other service related to the child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

It is the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian to notify the school if a child is to be absent. Enumerated items 12-13 are statutorily excused absences which will require notification to the school district prior to the absence and documentation from the 4-H educator or service provider after the absence to identify the absence as excused.

Students are permitted a maximum of ten (10) absences per year per class period for participation in documented 4-H activities. Students will be given the opportunity to make up any schoolwork missed while they are participating in activities or programs sponsored by 4-H. Grades cannot be adversely affected for lack of attendance or participation due to their participation in activities or programs sponsored by 4-H so long as the district was notified prior to the absence and the appropriate documentation was provided by the 4-H educator after the absence which substantiates the student’s attendance at the 4-H event or activity. 

Students will not be provided an excused 4-H absence for any student who participates in an activity or program sponsored by 4-H if the 4-H activity occurs during the scheduled statewide student assessment window set by the State Board of Education or if the student has been disciplined or suspended by the school district and a condition of the punishment would preclude the student from participation in any school field trips or extracurricular activities.

A maximum of ten (10) days of Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) sanctioned activity absences per year from a class period for school activities are permitted. Schools closely monitor activity absences to maintain compliance with OSSAA. Students may submit an appeal to receive five (5) additional OSSAA sanctioned activity absences if they participate in multiple qualified activities. To be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, secondary students must maintain attendance and academic requirements as outlined in board policy and the rules and regulations of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association.

For activity absences:

• The attendance clerk or principal designee will notify the principal when a student becomes ineligible due to non-attendance.

• Teachers, coaches, and sponsors of the various student organizations of the school will inform students of these provisions and will not permit students to participate in activities when the requirements are not fulfilled. Such notification shall be provided confidentially in accordance with FERPA.

• Students may choose not to take part in an activity when they feel the number of activity absences will be excessive. Students will not be reprimanded or punished for missing the activity.

For all class work and tests missed due to any absence, students have up to two (2) days for every absence day to make up work and tests for full credit. If teachers are not available for students to receive work or need to schedule tests outside the make-up time frame, students will not be penalized.

Students are considered Tardy if they arrive to class after the bell rings or designated class time has begun. Repetitive tardiness results in missed instruction and will be addressed by an Attendance Improvement Plan (AIP). Tardies are considered unexcused unless students/parents/guardians provide documentation for one of the same reasons as excused absences and require the same written documentation for them to be excused. 

• Elementary students who arrive at school one (1) or more hours late in the morning or are checked out or leave one (1) or more hours early in the afternoon will be counted absent for one-half (½) day. 

• Secondary students who are less than 15 minutes late are counted as tardy.  Secondary students who are more than 15 minutes late or do not attend are counted as absent. 

When a student reaches five (5) absences, the principal or other persons designated by the principal may convene a team meeting for an Attendance Improvement Plan (AIP) for the student. The person who convenes the AIP team will:    

• Maintain the AIP, with notes, signed by student and parent/guardian. A copy of the signed AIP will be provided to the student and parent/guardian.

• Use evidence-based interventions implemented when students/parents/guardians are notified when students reach seven (7) and ten (10) absences, excused and unexcused combined, within the semester. Results of interventions will be documented in the student’s AIP.  

• In addition to meeting notes, quarterly attendance reports, and action steps, the AIP includes documentation of follow-up phone calls and/or conferences during each quarter throughout the current and following semesters.

Parents/Legal Guardians should be notified when students reach seven (7) and ten (10) absences.  When student absences are related to issues such as extended or repeated illness, homelessness, family situations, etc., school personnel such as an administrator, counselor, nurse, social worker, attendance officer, truancy specialist or other appropriate school and interagency personnel may be included in the AIP team with the student and parent/guardian to identify student/family barriers to attendance and support improving academic success and attendance for the student.

Parents are responsible for ensuring their students attend school each day. Oklahoma City Public Schools works in partnership with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD Truancy Division).  Oklahoma City police officers are responsible for providing intervention supports and issuing tickets to students and parents who violate compulsory education laws. 

The Attendance Advocacy Coordinator at the district level works as a liaison between schools and OCPD. School Attendance Advocates assist students and parents with Attendance Improvement Plans (AIP), including linking families with internal and external resources.  The Attendance Advocacy Coordinator will attend court as needed and will advocate for students and parents. 

Parents, legal guardians, and students are responsible for compliance with applicable truancy city codes set by the local city government in which they reside, including potential citations, tickets, and monetary fees associated with neglecting, refusing, or failing to compel students to attend school.