Taking attendance the virtual way
August 2, 2020
How do schools take attendance when doing distance learning? The Oklahoma School Code requires students to meet minimum levels of attendance. The State Department of Education has determined that an instructional day is required to offer a minimum of six hours of instructional activity per day. School funding is also based on student attendance.
During the special meeting Wednesday, the Alva Board of Education adopted a virtual attendance policy to address this issue. District Curriculum Director Shane Feely told the board that attendance will be based on completion of each day’s assignments.
Each teacher will create a learning plan based on a template provided by the district that will be updated each week no later than Monday morning. This plan will have assignments for the coming week labeled for the day or days that it will take to complete. Attendance will be determined by completion of that day’s assignments. Then attendance will be determined on a weekly basis.
Feely said if a student decides to do all the week’s math assignments in one day and the English assignments on another day, attendance will be counted for the entire week in both assignments. The curriculum applications Edgenuity and Exact Path will show how long a student is logged on and will also monitor activity.
Students are permitted to have two days out of a seven day period when there is no educational activity. If there are three or more days during that seven day period, an unexcused absence will be documented.
Like in person instruction, excused absences will be granted for personal or family illnesses, medical appointments, legal matters, observance of holidays required by student’s religious affiliation or extenuating circumstances deemed necessary by the principal. Parents are expected to communicate with the teacher or school secretary about absences.
All mandatory state testing will require students to be in the school building, and attendance will be recorded only if the student is present.
Truancy will be determined after 15 days of not meeting the daily expectations or assignments.
Check the school’s website for further information at http://www.alvaschools.com under the COVID-19 Information tab.
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