When You Miss School, You Miss Out!
Anytime a student misses school, valuable classroom instruction is missed. Students who are present in class have an advantage over students who are absent. Therefore, attending school is very important.
Of course, students with excused absences will be allowed to make up all assignments missed while absent. However, students with unexcused absences (truant) will not be allowed to make up homework assignments, quizzes, tests, etc. The more often a student is absent, the more difficult it is to be academically successful.
Unexcused absences can result in a student failing the course or grade level. If a student is truant for ten percent or more of the required school days and has failed at least two subjects, the student will face retention. (Board Policy #5410 )
Students must bring a written excuse from a parent or guardian or be accompanied by that person when coming to school late. Any student arriving late to school is to report to the school office before going to class.
- Attendance is essential for a student’s success in school.
- Students are required and expected to attend all classes every day.
- The only time a student may be out of school is if prior arrangements have been made and the student is excused by a building administrator.
- Attendance is reported and recorded each day and during each class period.
What Do I Do If My Student Is Absent From School?
If a student is absent, the parent/guardian/family member must call the school as soon as possible to report that the student is absent from school and must send a note indicating the reason for absence with the student upon his/her return to school.
(A family member is defined as a legally-responsible member of the student’s family.)
What If My Student Has An Appointment During The School Day?
If a student has an appointment during the school day and will need to miss class, please send a note to the school. All absences, regardless of reason, shall be recorded on the student’s permanent attendance record.
What If My Student Has An Extended Medical Absence, Injury Or Communicable Disease (measles, mumps, etc.)?
The school administrator may require verification from a physician for absences due to health reasons. Students who have been absent because of injuries or communicable diseases may be requested to see a school nurse or health official prior to returning to school.
What Happens If I Don’t Send My Student To School?
School administrators are obligated to enforce Ohio law, which requires families to send their children to school. The District will contact local authorities if families do not send their child to school. Legal action could result.
What Is An Excused Absence?
An excused absence is one which has been excused by the building administrator under one of the reasons outlined below:
- Illness of the student*
- Illness in the immediate family
- Death in the family
- Religious holiday
- Quarantine for contagious disease
- Absence approved in advance by the Building Administrator for student participation in a District approved enrichment or extra-curricular activity
- Out of state travel approved in advanced by Building Administrator for educational/extracurricular event or activity (maximum of four (4) days annually)
- An act of God
Students who are absent for the above reasons will be permitted to make up school work.
*Note: Any student absent four or more consecutive days will require a doctor’s excuse. Failure to provide this excuse will result in these absences being considered unexcused.
What Is An Unexcused Absence?
An absence will be classified as “unexcused” if it does not fit one of the reasons listed above. A student’s absence will also be considered unexcused when he/she:
- Leaves school during school hours without permission;
- Does not attend class; or
- Fails to comply with proper District attendance procedures.
What Is Truancy?
A student is considered truant when he/she is not enrolled or attending school on a daily and consistent basis, as required by law.
What Is Habitual Truancy?
A student will be considered “habitually truant” under state law if the student is absent for thirty (30) or more consecutive hours without a legitimate excuse, forty-two (42) or more hours in one (1) school month without a legitimate excuse, or seventy-two (72) or more hours in a school year without a legitimate excuse.
What Are Excessive Absences?
Excessive absence is included in and counted as a habitual truancy and occurs when a student is absent for thirty-eight (38) or more hours in one (1) school month with or without a legitimate excuse or absent sixty-five (65) or more hours in one (1) school year with or without a legitimate excuse.
What If A Student Has Excessive Absences or is Otherwise Habitually Truant?
Upon exceeding the above number of absence hours thresholds for Excessive Absences or Habitual Truancy, a student will be declared habitually truant and assigned to an attendance intervention team to include the parent/guardian. The Attendance Intervention Team will create an attendance plan and the student must then comply with the plan. Failure of the student to comply with the plan will result in the School Attendance Officer filing a complaint with the Juvenile Court and may result in the filing of a complaint against the parent/guardian, resulting in a first degree misdemeanor conviction against the parent.
The Board of Education may begin the process to suspend driving privileges of any student under the age of 18 who has failed, without legitimate excuse, to attend more than sixty (60) consecutive hours in a single month or ninety (90) hours in a school year. Parents will be notified before this process begins and have the right to a hearing before the Superintendent to challenge the absence information. (Board Policy #5200 )