In December 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 410 to encourage and support preventive approach to excessive absences and truancy. The changes took effect at the beginning of the 2017/2018 school year.
Definition of a habitually truant student:
- Absent 30 or more consecutive hours without a legitimate excuse;
- Absent 42 or more hours in one school month without a legitimate excuse;
- Absent 72 or more hours in one school year without a legitimate excuse.
The phrase “without a legitimate excuse” indicates an unexcused absence.
Students who meet one or more of the habitually truant markers listed above will be contacted by the school and an absence intervention meeting will be held to determine barriers and will include supportive services for the student and family.
House Bill 410 also includes excessive absences. Excessively absent students are those who are:
- Absent 38 or more hours in one school month with or without a legitimate excuse;
- Absent 65 or more hours in one school year with or without a legitimate excuse.
It is important to note that ALL absences both excused and unexcused count towards the excessively absent markers listed above.
Students who meet one or more of the above markers will receive a letter from their school and may be contacted to complete an absence intervention meeting.
EXCUSED ABSENCES VS. UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
Excused Absences Personal Illness
Doctor’s Appointment (with signed note from the office)
Illness in the family
Death of immediate relative
Religious holidays
Trips and vacation (with prior administrative approval). | Unexcused Absences Oversleeping, shopping, baby sitting, missed the bus, car trouble, leaving grounds without permission, working, absence from school with no excuse offered, and other absences not covered above, as determined by administration.
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Regular attendance by all students is very important. In many cases, irregular attendance is the major reason for poor school work; therefore, all students are urged to make appointments, do personal errands, etc., outside of school hours. Parents are to notify the school before the school begins on the day of absence, to explain the nature of their child’s absence from school.
For further information please contact your child’s school.