News

September is Attendance Awareness Month, and it’s important to remember that every day a student attends school counts! Improved attendance can lead to higher academic achievement, higher graduation rates, and improved opportunities in life. If your family is facing challenges that make regular school attendance difficult, we can help find solutions. Visit tulsaschools.org/attend to request assistance.

This September, students with a 95% average daily attendance rate or higher will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a Mega Ride Pass to the Tulsa State Fair!

We know attendance processes and policies can be confusing, and we want families to have clear information about what counts as an absence, how tardies work, and why every school day matters. Here are a few common attendance myths — and the facts families should know.

MYTH: Three tardies equal one absence.
FACT: Nope! Tardies do not automatically add up to an absence.

However, how much of the school day your student misses does matter. If a student arrives late or leaves early, it may affect whether they are counted present for part of the school day.

MYTH: If my student’s absence is excused, it doesn’t count toward chronic absenteeism.
FACT: An excused absence is still a day your student missed school. Chronic absenteeism includes all absences — excused, unexcused and suspensions.

Excused absences still count towards the chronic absenteeism calculator, but a documented excuse can help school leaders make informed decisions on grade promotion, course credit, transfer revocations, and eligibility for extracurricular activities. That’s why it’s important to keep your student’s school informed and provide documentation when needed.

MYTH: My student has to miss the whole day to be counted absent.
FACT: Not always. Students must be at school for at least two of the first three hours to be counted present for the first half of the day. They must also attend at least two of the last three hours to be counted present for the second half.

MYTH: I don’t need to contact the school if I already know why my student was absent.
FACT: Please let us know! Families should provide the school with a written or verbal explanation within 48 hours of their student returning to school. When possible, families should contact the school by 10 a.m. on the day of the absence.

MYTH: A few absences here and there won’t make much of a difference.
FACT: Missing school can add up faster than you may think. A student is considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of the school year, or 15 or more days.

More information and frequently asked questions can be found at tulsaschools.org/attend.