JPS Confirms Higher Attendance Threshold Under New State Law
Earl Burke, Jackson Public Schools' chief financial and operations officer, told the Jackson City Council Finance Committee on Aug. 19 that the change stems from a new state law affecting attendance requirements. "In the past, a student had to be present for 63% of the day. And now the new law is that they must be present for 66% of the school day," Burke said during his presentation to the committee.
He indicated the district has been working to prepare for the shift, including communicating with parents and attendance staff ahead of implementation.
The change reflects a state-level mandate that local school districts must now put into practice, adjusting how student presence is measured for attendance purposes. A three-percentage-point increase in the threshold can affect how absences are recorded, with potential implications for state funding formulas tied to attendance and for how discipline around absences is handled at the school level. Burke's remarks came as part of a broader finance committee briefing on district operations.