ATTENDANCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The State of Ohio (Ohio Revised Code 3321.01) states that all persons
between the ages of six and eighteen must attend school. Since school
attendance is vital to the academic success of each pupil, we believe
that 100% attendance should be the goal of each student and his/her
parents and/or guardians. The Missing Child Act requires that parents
notify the school if their child will not be in attendance, and requires
schools to notify parents if the child is not in school. In the event of an
absence:
1. The parent or guardian is to call the school prior to 9:00 a.m. at 3994656
(ext. 1111) to report the absence.
2. Upon returning to school, the student must bring a signed excuse
from parent/guardian, stating the reason for the absence. The note
is to be taken to the school office between 7:25 and 7:40 a.m.
Failure to do so may result in an Unexcused Absence.
3. A written parental excuse or verification (see descriptions) will be
honored for up to five school days after the absence. Failure to
submit a note within the five days may result in the absence being
considered as unexcused or truancy. The legal guardian or parent,
regardless of the student’s age, must write all notes.
4. Absences fall into three categories:
Excused Absence: Written parental excuse required.
a. Personal illness
b. Illness or death in the immediate family
c. Death of a close relative
d. Family emergency
e. Family Vacation (ask for the Vacation Request Form
available in the office)
f. Any Excluded Absence without verification
Excluded Absence: Verification required.
a. Doctor or medical appointment for student (verified by
doctor's excuse). Written verification must be received
within five school days after the absence.
b. Personal Illness for student (must be verified by a doctor's
note specifying the time/date the student is not medically
able to be in attendance at school)
c. Required court or legal appearance (verified by court
officer)
d. Funeral of immediate family member or close relative
e. College visitations if
proper procedures are followed;
ask for Visitation Form in the office.
Unexcused Absence: May be considered truancy (see note below)
a. Any absence which does not fit into the above categories
(e.g. oversleeping, missed bus, etc.)
b. An absence for which there is no written parental excuse
or verification
c. Any absence over ten total days (without verification as an
Excluded Absence)
d. Tardies to school may be considered truancy if chronic or
habitual.

Definition of Truancy: unauthorized and/or unexcused absence from
class or school. Habitual or Chronic Truants and their parent/guardian
will be referred to the Juvenile Court. Also, the student's driver's license
may be suspended for excessive absences (ORC 3321.13). Specific
definitions as per Ohio Revised Code 2151.011 are as follows:
Habitual Truant is a student with :
Five or more consecutive unexcused absences
Seven or more unexcused absences in one month, or
Twelve or more unexcused absences in a school year
Chronic Truant is a student with:
Seven or more consecutive unexcused absences
Ten or more unexcused absences in one school month
Fifteen or more unexcused absences in a school year

IMPORTANT NOTES ON ATTENDANCE:
· Final decisions regarding absences will be made by the Principal.
Administrative approval is necessary for special or unusual
situations.
· ATTENDANCE OFFICER: When any child of compulsory school
age does not attend school and is not properly excused from
attendance, the attendance officer must notify the parent or
guardian who must thereafter cause the child to attend the proper
school. (ORC 3321.15)
· If an absence is not excused or excluded, the student will not be
allowed to make up any work missed. An unexcused absence may
be viewed as truancy. Only ten absences without verification will
be excused during any school year. Any exception to this rule must
be cleared through the Principal’s office prior to the absence.
· Makeup
work is the responsibility of the student, and will involve
teacher/pupil cooperation. Students will be allowed the same
number of days to make up their work as the number of school
days missed. If makeup
work is not completed, no credit will be
given. In the case of an extended illness, special arrangements will
be made.
· Students arriving at school more than 2 periods after school begins
will be counted absent for onehalf
day. Students leaving school
more than 2 periods before the end of the school day will be
counted absent for onehalf
day.
· A student must be in attendance 1/2 day in order to participate in or
attend an extracurricular activity that day, unless prior
arrangements have been made with the school principal.
· Four full periods of school constitutes 1/2 day of school for
attendance purposes.
· The suspension of driving privileges for excessive absences may
be imposed according to Ohio Revised Code 3321.13 and Board
policy.

Leaving During the School Day
Permission to leave during the school day, for any reason, must be
secured from the Principal. Students who leave MUST sign out in the
high school office, and sign back in if they return during the same school
day. No student will be allowed to sign out
without parental permission, regardless of the student's age. If a
student must leave school due to illness or emergency, parents will be
notified at once. Permission must be granted by parent/guardian for the
student to leave school. Failure to comply with these rules may result in
a charge of truancy.
Any student who will be leaving school during the day due to a
scheduled appointment must present a note (signed by parent) to the
office in the morning before school. The note must state the nature and
time of the appointment, and a parent signature. You will be given an
Early Release Pass, and you must sign out in the office at the
designated time.
We urge parents to put forth every effort to schedule medical, dental,
and optometric appointments outside of school hours whenever
possible.
We do not operate a medical clinic at school. If a student is ill, a parent
will be called for permission to go home. Any student who is ill and
does not notify the office of his/her whereabouts will be subject to
disciplinary action.