New school attendance policy explained by District officials

A new Mississippi attendance law (Mississippi Code Annotated § 37-13-91) takes effect this school year (starting July 1, 2026).  The new state legislative mandates are designed to bolster classroom engagement and academic performance for public school students. 

The Copiah County School District recently outlined the upcoming guidelines, which stem from the updated Mississippi state law and apply uniformly to every public school district across the state.

Under the revised standards, the minimum daily attendance required for a student to be marked present for the day is 66% of instructional time, and students may have up to five excused absences per semester—which includes both parent notes and medical excuses. Additionally, any absences due to illness or injury beyond the third absence require official medical documentation.

District officials shared a graphic designed to help parents and guardians understand the district’s policies, and they followed the graphic with a statement: “We would like to offer clarification to dispel much of the misunderstandings, speculation, rumors and misled information circulating from shared posts and opinions.”

“As the graphic previously posted shows, here’s exactly how the new attendance law works:

The three absence notice (whether excused or unexcused) is simply an early heads-up. At this point, we reach out to make sure you’re aware and to partner with you in supporting your child’s regular attendance. This step is preventive and supportive — not punitive.

The more serious referrals and interventions (starting at 5, 8, 12, and 15+ absences) only apply to unlawful absences (also known as unexcused absences).”

An “unlawful absence” (also referred to as an “unexcused absence”) is an absence for an entire school day or during part of a school day by a compulsory-school-age child, which absence is not due to a valid excuse for temporary nonattendance.

Officials say the attendance approach is “very consistent with the strong attendance practices our district has followed for years. The primary update required by the new state law (§ 37-13-91) is the earlier notification to families at just three absences, allowing us to work together proactively before issues escalate.”

Parents and guardians are encouraged to promptly submit doctor’s notes or other acceptable documentation whenever their child is absent. Proper excuses allow school officials to mark the absence as excused, “so it does not count toward the higher referral thresholds.”

District leaders also emphasized that “it is also important to note that funding is no longer tied to student attendance. Mississippi updated its school funding formula in 2024 with the Mississippi Student Funding Formula (MSFF), which replaced the old Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP).”

“[On the] old system (MAEP), funding was partly based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA). Lower attendance directly reduced state funding. [On the] new system (MSFF), funding is now primarily based on Average Net Enrollment (ANE) — basically the number of students enrolled, not how many show up every day.”

Families who are experiencing challenges with attendance are encouraged to contact their child’s school for support and resources.