(1) In estimating regular attendance for purposes of the compulsory attendance provisions of ORS § 339.005 to 339.030, 339.040 to 339.125, 339.137 and 339.420, the principal or teacher shall consider all unexcused absences. Eight unexcused one-half day absences in any four-week period during which the school is in session shall be considered irregular attendance.

(2)(a) An absence may be excused by a principal or teacher if the absence is caused by:

(A) The pupil’s sickness, including the mental or behavioral health of the pupil;

(B) The sickness of some member of the pupil’s family; or

(C) An emergency.

(b) In addition to the reasons identified in paragraph (a) of this subsection, a principal or teacher:

(A) Shall excuse not more than seven days of absences during the school year if the pupil is a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is on active duty or who is called into active duty. For the purpose of this subparagraph, ‘Armed Forces of the United States’ includes:

(i) The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard of the United States;

(ii) Reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard of the United States; and

(iii) The National Guard of the United States and the Oregon National Guard.

(B) May excuse absences for other reasons when satisfactory arrangements are made in advance of the absence.

(3)(a) Any pupil may be excused from attendance by the district school board for a period not to exceed five days in a term of three months or not to exceed 10 days in any term of at least six months. Any such excuse shall be in writing directed to the principal of the school that the pupil attends.

(b) When calculating the number of excused absences under this subsection, any absences excused under subsection (2)(b)(A) of this section shall not be counted. [1965 c.100 § 281; 1973 c.728 § 4; 1987 c.158 § 57; 1993 c.45 § 114; 2019 c.207 § 1; 2019 c.393 § 1; 2021 c.597 § 69]

[Repealed by 1963 c.544 § 52]