Attendance

Ohio law specifies that a student is excessively absent from the public school the child is supposed to attend for thirty-eight (38) or more hours in one school month, or sixty-five (65) or more hours in a school year, unless medically excused. When a student has met that threshold, which will be reported as required by law, the District Truancy Plan will then be initiated. The parent/guardian will receive notification of an excessively absent student along with a copy of the District Truancy Plan.

Once a student meets the excessively absent threshold, any absences from that point forward requires medical documentation to be excused. A medically excused absence occurs any time a student is out of school due to illness or medical visit (physician, dentist, mental health, etc.). A medical excuse for personal illness will be accepted in the form of a doctor's note within five (5) school days of the absence.

A habitually truant student is “any child of compulsory school age who is absent without legitimate excuse for absence from the public school the child is supposed to attend for thirty (30) or more consecutive hours, forty-two (42) or more hours in one school month, or seventy-two (72) or more hours in one school year.

When a student meets the definition of habitually truant, the District is required to assign the student to an absence intervention team to develop a plan with the family. Only when those interventions are unsuccessful does the school or District file a truancy complaint.

When a student is Habitually Truant, the following will occur:

Within seven (7)  school days of the triggering absence, the district will:

• Select members of the absence intervention team (ORC 3321.19(C)(2)(e)); and

• Make three (3) meaningful attempts to secure the participation of the student’s parent, guardian custodian, guardian ad litem, or temporary custodian on the absence intervention team (ORC 3321.191(C)(2)(e)).

• Parents/Guardians will be notified in writing via a Habitually Truant Letter

Within ten (10) calendar days of the triggering absence, the student will be assigned to the selected absence intervention team (ORC 3321.19 (D)(1));

Within fourteen (14) school days after the assignment of the team, the district will develop the student’s absence intervention plan (ORC 3321,191(C)(2)(a));

Within seven (7) calendar days after the plan is developed, the district shall make reasonable efforts to provide written notification to the student’s parent or guardian (ORC 3321.191(C)(2)(a)).

Students late to school must report to the office to sign in before reporting to class. Parents/Guardians must provide an explanation for the tardiness. Excessive tardies that are unexcused will result in disciplinary action by the office. If the school does not receive an explanation of the tardiness within three (3) school days, the tardiness will automatically be considered unexcused.

Whenever a pre-planned absence for family travel is requested, the parent/guardian must discuss it with the principal and complete the Planned Absence Form. The length of absence should be made clear, and those involved should have an opportunity to express their views on the potential effects of the absence. During this time period, the student may be given approximate assignments to be completed. We strongly discourage any planned absences during the last week of any grading period or during statewide testing. The time missed will be counted as an authorized, unexcused absence but shall not be a factor in determining grades unless the make-up work is not completed.

Students who are absent 38 hours in a month or 65 hours in a school year with or without legitimate excuse​ are now considered Excessively Absent. These students will receive a letter from the District and will be required to follow the District Truancy Plan. These hours include approved planned absences. Planned absences will not be approved if your child has already met or will meet (based on this request) the absence threshold for Excessive Absence and/or Habitual Truancy. The school district may be obligated to report the parent/guardian to the Franklin County Juvenile Court System and file charges of lack of compliance with the compulsory education rules. 

College Visits

Juniors and Seniors may go to a college visit for up to three (3) days each year. These days will not​ count towards an Excessive Absence or Habitual Truancy if the student brings a signed and/or dated document from the college​; general brochures will not be accepted.