High School Attendance

Section 3321.04 of the Ohio Revised Code provides that every parent, guardian or other person having charge of any child of compulsory school age must send such child to a school which conforms to the minimum standards prescribed by the State Board of Education for the full time the school attended is in session.  Such attendance must begin within the first week of the school term or within one week of the school term or within one week of the date on which the child begins to reside in the district.

The statutes governing school attendance are very specific and leave little option for school authorities to excuse children from school.  The Ohio Revised Code classifies absence from school as excused or unexcused.  The following conditions constitute reasons for excused absence from school:

1. Personal illness

2. Illness in the family necessitating the presence of the child

3. Quarantine of the home

4. Observance of Reglious holidays/Absence for Religious reasons

5. Death of a relative (up to 5 school days)

6. Absence during the school day for professional appointments

7. Work at home due to absence of parents or guardians (must be over 14 years old)

8. Family emergency (up to 5 school days)

If a student is absent from school, a parent must call the school attendance office within one hour of the start of the school day to report his/her child’s absence from school.

If the school is not contacted by the parent, the school will make every reasonable attempt to contact parents at home or at work.  PLEASE NOTE:  It is the responsibility of the school, not the parents, to determine when an absence is excused.

Additionally, students must bring written notification of the absence from the parent on the day of his/her return. Failure to supply written documentation of the absence will result in an unexcused absence and the student may be considered truant.  Additionally, once a student accumulates ten days of absence in the school year, only a doctor’s note will be accepted as written documentation of an excused absence.

Unexcused Absences:  Absences by consent of the parent or with the parent’s knowledge for a reason not acceptable to the school or absences that are not followed by written documentation from the parent or doctor.  Unexcused absences may receive no credit for schoolwork.  Examples could include:  music lessons, hair appointments, oversleeping, traffic delays, Drivers Ed appointments, etc.

Habitually Truant: A student who is absent

• 30 or more consecutive hours without a legitimate excuse

• 42 or more hours in one month without a legitimate excuse

• 72 or more hours in one year without a legitimate excuse

Excessively Absent: A student who is absent WITH OR WITHOUT A LEGITIMATE EXCUSE

• 38 or more hours in one school month

• 65 or more hours in one school year

Students are permitted to go on vacation during the school year without penalty. The purpose of this administrative guideline is to accommodate parents who must take their vacations during the school year because of company (industry) policies and the desire to enjoy that time as a family.

1. Whenever a proposed absence-for-vacation is requested, parents must discuss it with the principal or his/her designee. 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.

2. The student may be given approximate assignments and materials and pages to be completed.

3. The time missed will be counted as an unexcused absence under HB410, but shall not be a factor in determining grades unless make-up work is not completed. If lengthy, time missed may cause the student to become “excessively absent” under the HB410 attendance law.

Truancy:  a deliberate, unauthorized absence from school.  Truancies are subject to discipline as described in the Student Code of Conduct and can only receive up to 75% credit for schoolwork missed.  Continued truancies could result in less credit being awarded based on an agreement between the teacher and administration.

Tardy:  Any student late to school must report to the attendance office. A student will be considered tardy if they arrive at school up to 90 minutes after the school day begins, any time after this the student will be considered absent for their time missed. If a student comes to school and goes home ill. P.M. tardies occur when a student leaves before the end of the school day. These tardies are tallied with A.M. tardies. Tardiness for reasons other than those listed in Ohio Revised Code in the attendance section is unexcused. 

Continual tardiness to school will result in disciplinary action at the third infraction of each quarter.  Further disciplinary action will be taken if tardiness persists.  Failure to sign into the attendance office will also result in disciplinary action. Tardies to school may result in loss of driving/parking privilege or loss of privileges.

Students who are more than 15 minutes late to school should bring a note from their parents or they will be considered truant.

For students determined to be habitually truant:

1. Written notice will be provided to the parent/guardian

2. Student will be assigned to an absence intervention team

3. If the child fails to make progress after 61 days on the personalized absence intervention plan, the district will file a complaint in juvenile court

4. Counseling will be provided

5. The student's parent or guardian will be asked to attend parental involvement programs or truancy prevention mediation programs

6. As applicable, the registrar of motor vehicles will be notified

7. Children Services will be notified as deemed necessary

For students determined to be excessively absent:

1. Written notice will be provided to the parent/guardian

2. The student will follow the district's plan for absence intervention

3. The student and family may be referred to community resources

State law requires districts with a chronic absenteeism rate above 5% to establish an Absence Intervention Team for students who are habitually truant. The school based absence intervention team will establish a student-centered absence intervention plan by identifying specific barriers and solutions to attendance problems. 

Membership of each team should vary based on the needs of each individual student, but each team is required to include: 

1. a representative of the school or district.
2. another representative from the school or district who has a relationship with the child.
3. the child's parent/guardian.

The Absence Intervention Team may also include: 1. school psychologist, counselor or social worker. 2. representatives from a public or non-profit agency. 3. a case worker from Children Services if there is an open case or if the child is in foster care.

Dublin City Schools recognizes the need for individualized opportunities to customize a student’s schedule to meet their unique learning goals. Early Release & Late Arrival is an opportunity to support this and is seen as a privilege with requirements. Early Release and Late Arrival must serve a purpose in a student’s plan toward graduation and College & Career Readiness. Students must complete and submit the Early Release & Late Arrival Form to their counselor. Any student not passing, or at risk of not passing, a required course may not be permitted to leave school early under the Early Release & Late Arrival program. That student may be assigned to an intervention period until the report card shows a passing grade.

Students will be given the option to request a late start and/or early release if they meet the following criteria:

• Student and Parent/Guardian must read and sign the Early Release & Late Arrival Request form (including 18-year-old students) and turn in to their counselor for approval

• Student must be a junior or senior meeting academic eligibility requirements: on track and eligible to graduate, and passed all State mandated graduation assessments

Options for Release Eligibility - students must select at least one of the following:

• Graduation Seal Requirements - Students participating in activities necessary for their selected graduation seal(s) (ex. service hours, performance practices, work-based learning, volunteer hours, etc.) must have on the necessary digital form

• DCS Virtual - Students participating in DCS Virtual courses must be enrolled in the course during the semester of Early Release or Late Arrival

• Advanced Course Load - Students are currently enrolled in and participating in college-level work (AP, IB, CCP)

• Work-based Learning - Students that are employed must provide a current check stub from their employer and those participating in an internship must provide a letter from their supervisor when submitting this form

Failure to attend an assigned class/homeroom without permission is considered truancy and will result in disciplinary action. Such failure to attend class/homeroom/school-related activity will also result in an absence under the attendance policy and will be an unauthorized, unexcused absence.  Truancy may result in loss of parking/driving privileges.

Students participating in any extracurricular activities must attend school during the day to participate in any event.  Students who are absent from school for more than one-half day on the day of a game, match or event will not be permitted to participate.  This policy does not apply to activities which occur on a weekend or on a day when school is not in session.

Any student late to school must report to the attendance office. A student will be considered tardy if they arrive at school up to 90 minutes after the school day begins, any time after this the student will be considered absent for their time missed. If a student comes to school and goes home ill they will be counted absent for their time missed. P.M. tardies occur when a student leaves before the end of the school day. These tardies are tallied with A.M. tardies. Tardiness for reasons other than those listed in Ohio Revised Code in the attendance section is unexcused. 

Continual tardiness to school will result in disciplinary action at the third infraction of each quarter.  Further disciplinary action will be taken if tardiness persists.  Failure to sign into the attendance office will also result in disciplinary action. Tardies to school may result in loss of driving/parking privilege or loss of privileges.

Students who are more than 15 minutes late to school should bring a note from their parents or they will be considered truant.

Students are responsible for arriving promptly to every class.  Students who are tardy will be admitted to class.  Those with valid passes will be excused.

Students who arrive tardy will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the school policy administered by the teacher.  Continual or persistent tardiness will be brought to the attention of the appropriate administrator.  Class tardies may result in loss of privileges.

All requests to leave school before the close of school hours must be made in writing by a parent or guardian.  All such requests should be given to the attendance office prior to the first period class.

Prior to leaving the building or school property, students must sign out in the attendance office.  Students returning during the day must also sign in when they return.  Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action and loss of privileges.

Students will be granted an excused “religious absence” on days they miss school due to observing a religious holiday consistent with their truly held religious beliefs.  The excused absence shall not result in academic or extracurricular consequence.  In addition, the district has worked with faith-based community leaders to identify holy days for religions recognized within our school district community.  To the extent possible, teachers will avoid tests and major assignments on the holiday and day following for all students. For more information please visit: 

https://www.dublinschools.net/resources/calendars/religious-holy-days.

It is the district’s policy to permit juniors and seniors planning to go on to college to have leave from normal school classes in order to visit colleges they anticipate attending.  Arrangements for such visitations must be made well in advance to ensure that permission is granted for an excused absence.

The following procedure must be completed prior to permission being granted:

1. Seniors have no more than three (3) college visitation days that are to be used during the first three quarters of the school year.

2. Juniors have no more than two (2) college visitation days that are to be used during the last two quarters of the school year.

3. The student must complete a form, which can be obtained from the attendance office.

4. All requests should be submitted a minimum of two (2) school days prior to the visitation.

5. No requests will be honored two (2) school days prior to and/or after a school vacation or holiday.

Upon returning to school, a student must provide written verification of their visit from the college admissions office.

High school sophomores and juniors are permitted to leave from normal school classes to shadow individuals who are employed in career areas that are of interest to students.  Arrangements for such experiences should be made well in advance to ensure that permission is granted.  The following procedure must be completed prior to permission being granted:

1. Sophomores, juniors and seniors have up to two (2) days each year to shadow a community professional.  Students may use the community resources file in the Guidance Information Center to select a resource person or they may use their personal resources to identify a professional.

2. The student must complete a form, which can be obtained from the guidance office.

3. The request form must be returned to the appropriate school counselor who then submits the form to the attendance office.

4. All requests should be approved a minimum of two (2) school days prior the visitation.

5. No requests will be honored three (3) school days prior to and/or after a school vacation or holiday.

Assignments and class work missed because of absences shall be made up within a period of time equal to the same amount of time of absences.  An exception to this would be when a major assignment has been announced prior to the student’s absence, in which case the student would be expected to submit the assignment upon returning to school.  When a test is missed, the student should either make-up the test or make appropriate arrangements with the teacher upon returning to school.

1. Excused absences shall receive up to 100% credit for makeup work.  An absence will not be considered excused until written notification of the absence has been provided to the attendance office. 

2. Unexcused absences and truancies could receive less credit for makeup work.  Please refer to page 19.  

3. Students who fail to complete makeup work in the allotted time will be assigned a failing grade for the assigned work.

4. Students who are on out-of-school suspensions are eligible to make up work for 100% of the credit for daily work missed as a result of the suspension.

The statutes governing school attendance are very specific and leave little option for school authorities to excuse children from school. The Ohio Revised Code classifies absence from school as excused or unexcused. Listed above are the eight (8) conditions for excused absence as defined by the state of Ohio. If the reason you wish to take your student out of school does not fall under these eight (8) conditions, the absence will be classified as unexcused. 

If the absence is less than five (5) days, the teacher(s) may provide assignments and collect the completed work for full credit. For absences more than five (5) days, teachers will not be expected to provide individual instruction, as providing remote support is unsustainable for extended periods of time. Details can be discussed with your child’s principal or teacher(s). 

In the State of Ohio, House Bill 410 outlines what makes a student "chronically absent" or "habitually truant."  Using information in HB 410 and our Board of Education policy 5200, extended international travel is not considered an excused absence, even if it is pre-arranged. After the child is unexcused 30 or more consecutive hours, or 42 hours in one month, or 72 hours in a year, they are considered "habitually truant." 

If you wish to avoid your child being considered habitually truant, an absence intervention plan, and a file made in juvenile court, you should plan to withdraw your child and re-enroll with Dublin City Schools when you return to the country.

As it relates to removing a student from school while classes are in session, the following procedure shall be followed:

1. Attendance office receives a note from parents at least three (3) days prior to first day of absence.

2. Students obtain prearranged absence form (5200 F2).

3. Students take form to their teachers to be completed.

4. Students have parents sign form.

5. Students return form to the attendance office with the dates of and the reason for the absence.

Parents are encouraged not to take their child out of school for vacations.  When a family vacation must be scheduled during the school year, the parents should discuss the matter with the principal or his/her designee to make necessary arrangements.  It may be possible for the student to receive certain assignments that are to be completed during the trip.

Attendance for Emerald Campus runs through the home school attendance office and follows similar district protocols and procedures.  Similar to the home school, failure to attend an assigned class/homeroom without permission is considered truancy and will result in disciplinary action. Procedures:

• If a student is absent from school, a parent must call or email the home school attendance office within one hour of the start of the school day to report his/her child’s absence from school.

• Tardy/Late to school: If a student arrives late to Emerald Campus, they have to sign in at the Emerald Campus school front desk. A class admittance pass will be issued, and the teacher will allow students to enter class.

• Leaving Early: If a student needs to leave Emerald Campus while scheduled to be there, a request in writing must be made in writing by a parent or guardian. All such requests should be given to the attendance office prior to the first period class. The note should be sent to the home school attendance office or can be given to the Emerald Campus attendance office if that is the location of the first period class

  1. Prior to leaving the building or school property, students must sign out in the attendance office. Students returning during the day must also sign in when they return. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action and loss of privileges.

• Any notes or emails provided to the Emerald Campus attendance office will be sent to the home school. The home high school attendance office will maintain all official student records.

• When students are absent or arrive late, students should also submit a signed note from a parent or guardian with the reason to the home school attendance office. If this is turned into Emerald Campus, the note will be sent to the home school to be put in the student’s file.