As final exams approach, students and families may have questions about why finals are required for all students this year. According to Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning Jen Hester, final exam days are counted as official student attendance days and are included in the 176 instructional days the district submits to the State of Illinois.

“The district submits the six final exam days (three first semester, three second semester) as part of the 176 required student attendance days to the State of Illinois,” Hester said. “Because the final exam days are student attendance days, students are required to attend school on these days.”

Attendance requirements, including how instructional days are defined and reported to the state, are governed by district policy approved by the OPRF Board of Education and implemented by school administration. Under the district’s published final exam guidelines, all classes meet during their scheduled examination periods and attendance is taken for every class, including study halls and physical education.

According to Oak Park and River Forest High School’s official Semester I Final Exams Information posted on the district website, “Teachers will take attendance. Students are expected to attend school on final exam days. If students are not able to attend school or any class period on final exam days, they will be marked absent for whatever period is missed.”