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- Drop in total absences attributed to the passage and implementation of SB 2103.
A new state law on student attendance in public schools is showing promise, officials said Monday, with total absences demonstrating declines in the first couple months of the 2026-2027 school year.
According to data released by the Mississippi Department of Education, the total number of absences between the months of August and September last year compared to this year have fallen by 24%.
During those months of the 2024-25 school year, there were 1,012,946 total absences. This school year that number came in at 769,180 total absences, a decline of 243,766.
Excused and unexcused absences fell by 17% and 29%, respectively, MDE reported.
“We are excited to see absences drop across the state,” House Education Committee Chair Rob Roberson (R) told Magnolia Tribune. “I congratulate all of the parents who get their kids to school and help to keep unexcused absences down. The real winner in this is our kids.”
During the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers passed SB 2103, legislation that put new standards in place intended to ensure more of the state’s students are in class during the instructional day. It limits students to a total of 5 excused absences per semester and also allows students who are participating in school related functions outside of class to be counted as present.
MDE reports that the new law has resulted in students receiving 1.34 million more instructional hours than the same period in the previous year.
“Mississippi has raised expectations for school attendance, and students, families and schools have proven they can meet those higher expectations,” State Superintendent of Education Dr. Lance Evans. “Regular school attendance is so important because students who are not in school miss valuable instructional time they cannot get back.”
Prior to the passage of SB 2103, chronic absenteeism in public school students dropped from a rate of 27.6% in the 2024-25 school year to 26.5% during the 2025-26 school year.
Students who miss 10% of the school year or more are considered chronically absent.
Rep. Roberson told Magnolia Tribune the new law may be revised in the upcoming 2026 legislative session to address some minor issues, adding that unexcused absences should not be the reason students fall behind in their studies.
“We are aware that the legislation may have had some unintended impact for districts that are struggling with what is acceptable and what is not,” Roberson explained. “The Legislature may look at some of the outcomes that may not be appropriate.”
The bottom line is, Roberson said, lawmakers will continue to expect school-age children to be in school.
“It’s not fair to the students or teachers to plan instruction and see children fall behind because of unexcused absences,” he added.
