New School Attendance Policy

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HOULKA, Miss. (WCBI) -Simply, showing up for first period is *not* enough. Students need to be on campus for more than half the day, *or* they could cost their school Mississippi Adequate Education Funding.

Now, the halls are quiet, and the seats are empty, but educators are coming up with incentives to encourage better student and teacher attendance for the upcoming school year.

“Funding is a great deal. We’re under funded as it is and if we’re not meeting that ADA and getting that full funding from that you know it really puts a bind on the school district,” said principal Bo Seago.

Schools need to keep up their average daily attendance up in order to receive the money they need. There’s no set amount of days a student can miss to pass or fail, but missing school can cost the district.

“As far as excused absences you’re looking at doctors, dentist appointments, funerals for immediate family, court appearance with documentation but now they’re still counted absent. And we still will not receive funding for those kid, we don’t get to count them that day,” said principal Bo Seago.

Now educators say if a student isn’t present 63% of the school day it can effect there funding, limiting resources, school supplies and even bus transportation.

“This day and age accountability is the name of the game and we know test scores are a big deal. It effects our resources and having a different products we can buy, such as study items, certain work books for the kids and we need them here everyday,” added teacher Seth Burt.

“Students need to be at school all day, everyday in order to gain the most from their education,” added English Department Head, Melinda Kopp.

Principal Seago says parents will be notified of the new policy in this years handbook.

“It’s important we have the students here so we can provide an education, teach them, If they’re not here we can’t teach them,” said Seago.

Classes resume next week at most Mississippi Schools.