“Through the DOI process, we were able to compile a plan that focused on the educational needs of our students and its staff members in alignment with Katy ISD’s vision and mission statements and its beliefs and goals,” said Sherri Ashorn, the district's discipline and school health and related services administrator. "Three [exemptions] are very familiar. They're from our plan from five years ago, renewed and improved."
The new DOI plan approved in January will impact student suspension, attendance for class credit or final grade, and excused absences related to college visits to its list of exemptions, bringing the total to six exemptions.
"[The student suspension exemption will give] us the opportunity to suspend [students] on a very limited, very strategic basis," Ashorn said. "Students who are in, you know, intense situations or maybe we need [more time] to investigate a little bit more."
The other exemptions will give the district more flexibility regarding student absences.
"[The attendance for class credit or final grade exemption] also gives us the opportunity to continue with attendance for credit, cost credit or final grade," Ashorn said. "[That refers to the] 90% rule that says if [a student is] absent for more than 10% of a course, they have to complete a principal's plan. We know we have a lot of students who have absences for, you know, good reasons or extracurriculars. ... And then the third new one is excused absences as it relates to excused absences for visiting institutions of higher learning, but we'd also expand that, expand that to technical school and military visits."
