What Biloxi parents should know about Mississippi’s new attendance rules

Biloxi families are heading into the 2026-27 school year under new Mississippi attendance rules that change how schools count absences, partial-day attendance and chronic absenteeism.

The relevant law took effect July 2, 2026. The attendance provisions apply as students return to school, including Biloxi Public School District students whose first day is July 28 for transitional grades and July 29 for all grades.

Five excused absences per semester

Mississippi’s new framework generally limits students to five excused absences per semester. That does not mean every absence after the fifth automatically becomes unexcused. Additional absences may be approved by the district superintendent or a designee when there are extenuating circumstances, such as a prolonged illness or injury supported by medical documentation, extended religious observances or qualifying educational travel.

For illness or injury, the law requires a written excuse from a medical provider after the third absence. Medical and dental appointments also require documentation from the medical provider. Biloxi Public Schools highlighted the medical-note requirement in a July 15 parent notice and said parents will be notified after a student’s third absence.

Partial days will matter more

A student must attend at least 66% of the school day to be counted as present for a full day for compulsory-attendance purposes. That replaces the previous 63% threshold.

The law also says that, for absenteeism reporting, an absence lasting more than 33% of the student’s school day is treated as an absence for the entire day. Biloxi’s parent notice separately warns that students may not participate in activities if they are absent for more than 33% of the day. Families should ask the school how partial-day absences are recorded, especially when a student arrives late or leaves early.

School activities are treated differently

School-sanctioned activities, including athletics, band, choir and other approved events, are not counted as absences under the new law. School-sanctioned academic and club events also are excluded.

That is different from an ordinary absence for a family appointment, illness or travel. Parents should make sure the school has the correct information when a student is away for an approved school activity.

Chronic absenteeism and local policy

The law defines chronic absenteeism as missing at least 10% of a student’s school days, whether the absences are excused or unexcused. Districts must monitor attendance, notify families when a student is at risk, offer parent conferences and support services, and develop attendance-success plans or other interventions when needed.

By November 1, 2026, Biloxi Public Schools must adopt and implement a locally tailored attendance policy by board action. That policy will establish documentation standards, deadlines for submitting excuses, limits on parent notes before third-party documentation is required, privacy protections and family-engagement procedures. The district’s local policy should provide more detail than the July 15 summary notice.

What Biloxi parents can do now

• Keep medical documentation for illness-related absences, particularly after a student’s third absence.
• Check attendance records regularly and ask how late arrivals and early departures are coded.
• Confirm that school-sanctioned activities are recorded as exempt from absence counts.
• Watch the Biloxi Public School District website for its locally tailored policy and additional guidance before November 1.
• Contact Biloxi Student Services with case-specific questions about attendance records or documentation.

The statewide law establishes the framework, but the district’s policy will determine many of the day-to-day procedures Biloxi families must follow. Families should rely on the controlling state law and the district’s later policy for case-specific decisions.

Sources

• Mississippi Senate Bill 2103 as sent to the governor
• Biloxi Public Schools: “New Attendance Law” notice
• Mississippi Legislature: 2026 legislation summary