Attendance Procedures
Jackets Attendance Matters
Every hour in school matters. Regular attendance helps students stay connected, keep up with learning, and build relationships with teachers and classmates.
Why Your Student’s Attendance Matters
- Studies show that regular school attendance is directly related to student success.
- Students who attend school regularly experience fewer interruptions in learning, spend less time on make-up work, and benefit from increased interaction with faculty and peers.
- Regular school attendance is required by law at all grade levels.
Know the Chronic Absence Thresholds
Chronic absenteeism looks at all missed time—including excused absences, unexcused absences, medical leaves, and suspensions—because all missed hours impact classroom learning.
5% of Total School Time Missed
Action: Notification letter sent to inform families that their student has missed 5% of the school year to date.
10% of Total School Time Missed
Action: An Absence Intervention Team (AIT) meeting is scheduled to address underlying attendance barriers.
Beyond 10% of Total School Time Missed
Action: Absence Intervention Team will collaborate with the family to implement individualized, intensive support interventions.
Know the Truancy Thresholds
Truancy focuses strictly on unexcused absences (e.g., unexcused tardies, unexcused full days).
30+ Unexcused Hours
Action: Attendance notification letter sent to the family.
42+ Unexcused Hours
Action: An Absence Intervention Team (AIT) meeting is scheduled to create a support plan.
72+ Unexcused Hours
Action: Student is formally designated as truant. An attendance letter is sent to parents and truancy charges are filed with the Knox County Juvenile Court.
Chronic Absenteeism
Ohio defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10% or more of instructional time - roughtly 2 to 3 days per month - for any reason.
Chronic Absenteeism tracks all missed school days - excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions - when a student misses 10% or more of the school year. This includes medically excused absence.
Habitual Truancy
Ohio defines habitual truancy as:
- 30 consecutive hours unexcused
- 42+ unexcused absence hours in a month
- 72+ unexcused absence hours in a school year
Truancy specifically measures only unexcused absences, and high levels may trigger legal or court action.
Absence Intervention
The State of Ohio requires an Absence Intervention Plan.
When a student reaches specific absence thresholds, Ohio law requires school districts to partner with families to create an Absence Intervention Plan. This plan is designed to identify the root causes of missed school days and put personalized strategies in place to support your child's regular attendance.
Excused Absences
Excused absences may include:
- Illness of the child
- Illness of the family necessitating the presence of the child
- Quarantine of the home
- Death of a relative
- Medical or dental appointment
- Religious holiday
- College visitation
- School field trip
- Absence due to homeless status
- Absence due to a change in foster care or court proceedings related to foster care
- Emergency — Superintendent approval
Reason Does Not Matter: Excused, unexcused, and medically excused absences, as well as suspensions and tardy minutes, all accumulate toward the Chronic Absenteeism threshold.
Pre-Planned Absences
All pre-planned absences must follow the new attendance guidelines.
Questions About Attendance
If you have questions about an absence, attendance requirements, documentation, or your student's attendance record, please contact your child's school.