Attendance
As a public charter school, consistent attendance is expected for all students. For the
purposes of attendance, instructional activities are defined as:
purposes of attendance, instructional activities are defined as:
• Completion of course assignments that are used to record a grade for a student
that is factored into the student’s grade for the term in which the assignment
is completed
• Instructional meetings with a teacher
• Testing
• School-sanctioned field trips
• Orientation
For the purposes of attendance, on pace for course completion is completing weekly
course work as assigned, which must be done while logged into the student account,
in order to have successfully completed the course by the end of the grading period.
1. For the purposes of attendance, a student attending OVCA shall be considered
in attendance for a quarter if the student:
a. Completes instructional activities on no less than ninety percent (90%)
ofthe days within the quarter;
b. Is on pace for on-time completion of the course as defined by the board
of education of OVCA; or
c. Completes no less than seventy-two instructional activities within the
quarter of the academic year.
2. For a student who does not meet any of the criteria set forth in paragraph 1 of
this policy, the amount of attendance recorded shall be the greater of:
a. The number of school days during which the student completed the
instructional activities during the quarter
b. The number of school days proportional to the percentage of the course
that has been completed; or
c. The number of school days proportional to the percentage of the
required minimum number of completed instructional activities during
the quarter.
3. To the extent a student has experienced a significant medical condition causing
chronic absenteeism as defined by OVCA’s policy or state/federal law, the
student’s attendance shall be adjusted on a proportional basis without
consideration of the days that the student was experiencing a significant
medical condition; or other type of chronic absenteeism that is an excused
absence.
For students attending OVCA for less than the full quarter, the attendance shall be
determined based on a proportional amount of the required attendance policy
provisions set forth herein based upon the date of enrollment of the student. For
students enrolled in less than a full-time OVCA course load, including but not limited
to part-time seniors, concurrently enrolled students, and students enrolled in career
tech, the attendance shall be determined based on a proportional amount of the
required attendance policy provisions set forth herein based upon the number of OVCA
courses in which the student is enrolled.
See OVCA Board Policy 3010. Attendance Policy
This information is from the Board-approved OVCA Handbook for SY 2023-2024, revised January 2024.
Additional Information can be found on the Attendance Matters page of the OVCA Hub.
ILLNESS/EXTENDED INABILITY TO PARTICIPATE/EXCUSED ABSENCES
If an unexpected situation should arise and there is an extended leave of three days or more needed from courses, students must follow these steps:
- Determine if internet access is available (through libraries, etc.);
- Contact teachers and Community Family Advisor to explain the situation;
- Discuss class alternatives with the teacher;
OVCA excuses student absences from school due to a physical or mental condition that makes instruction inexpedient or impracticable for more than three school days. To be eligible for the excused absence policy:
- Provide a doctor’s note from your physician for any illness that requires you to miss school for more than three days. Doctor’s notes should have specific dates of absence, including a date the student can resume schooling full-time.
- If a doctor’s note is not provided before the 10th consecutive school day of no-login, the student will be withdrawn.
- Contact school staff to inform of religious observances which are preventing daily schooling
- Absence as related to deployment activities
- A student whose parent or legal guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined by the compact, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be granted additional excused absences at the discretion of the local education agency superintendent to visit with his or her parent or legal guardian relative to such leave or deployment of the parent or guardian.
TRUANCY/EXCESSIVE ABSENTEEISM
Students are expected to complete all weekly assignments by Sunday at midnight. Assignments are monitored daily to ensure appropriate and ongoing engagement. Students that do not login for multiple days will be contacted by school staff. If a student is not in attendance for an extended period of time and has not submitted proper documentation for an excused absence, OVCA will take necessary action to ensure the well-being of our students. This may include contacting the appropriate authorities or reporting the student as truant.
In order to ensure the safety and academic progress of all students, Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy monitors participation on a daily basis. Students that do not engage in assignments on a consistent basis may be referred to a state authority, may be considered truant, and may face withdrawal from OVCA. A petition for truancy may be filed in the family’s district court of residence. The truancy case may remain open until the student re-engages in OVCA; or, the OVCA registrar receives either a confirmation of enrollment from another public school district, or the parent completes the Intent to Homeschool form. A student who is reported for truancy two (2) times in the same school year shall be withdrawn and prohibited from enrolling in the same virtual charter school for the remainder of the school year. The resident school district will be notified of the withdrawal.
This information is from the Board-approved OVCA Handbook for SY 2023-2024, revised August 2023.
Additional Information can be found on the Attendance Matters page of the OVCA Hub.
VACATION POLICY
Since schoolwork can be completed anywhere, students who travel for vacation or other family circumstances are encouraged to maintain a regular schooling schedule during their travels. If the travel schedule prohibits regular schooling, students may request an alternate schedule or special accommodations for extended travel from their teachers. If a student has consistently not met the attendance requirements, school staff should carefully evaluate the family’s request for flexibility. Assignments due during a family-scheduled vacation must be completed prior to the vacation, so it is the student’s responsibility to contact his / her teachers prior to this absence. There are no exceptions to this policy. Assignments that are completed late due to a family- scheduled vacation during school are subject to the late work policy. Alternate schedules will not be approved during the standardized testing windows or during high school lock dates at the end of each quarter.
WITHDRAWALS
If a parent chooses to withdraw from OVCA he/she should contact their CFA to begin the withdrawal process. The Community Family Advisor will discuss with family the reason for withdrawal and future schooling options for student. OVCA should be informed of the name and address of new school that the student will enroll with or the parent should sign an Intent to Homeschool Form. Once the withdrawal has been confirmed with the parent, the CFA will submit the completed withdrawal form including final grades to the Registrar for processing. Due to compulsory attendance laws, the student must immediately enroll in another school or complete the Intent to Homeschool form.
Students that do not complete adequate work in a timely manner or engage in two- way communication with OVCA for an extended period of time may be considered by OVCA to be withdrawn as no longer intending to be enrolled at OVCA. OVCA will determine on an individual basis, based on a totality of the circumstances, whether a student will be withdrawn. OVCA staff will work to contact the student until the student re-engages in OVCA; or, the OVCA registrar receives either a confirmation of enrollment from another public school district, or the parent completes the Intent to Homeschool form.
Approximately one week after the withdrawal, you should receive a reclamation package from K12® with directions and return shipping labels.
This information is from the Board-approved OVCA Handbook for SY 2023-2024, revised August 2023.