| Leipsic Local School District |
| Bylaws & Policies |
5200 - ATTENDANCE
The Board of Education as an agency of the State is required to enforce regular attendance of students. The Board recognizes that regular attendance and promptness are marks of a good student and a good citizen. In school, as in other facets of life, punctuality and regular attendance are necessary for success.
Attendance shall be required of all students enrolled in the schools during the days and hours that the school is in session or during the attendance sessions to which s/he has been assigned unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Superintendent that the mental condition of the student is such that s/he cannot benefit from instruction, or that the bodily condition of the student is such as to prevent attendance at school, or that s/he is receiving instruction at home from a person qualified to teach the branches of education in which instruction is required.
A student absent for observation or celebration of a bona fide religious holiday shall be excused from attendance on that holiday.
In accordance with statute, the Superintendent shall require, from the parent of each student of compulsory school age or from an adult student who has been absent from school or from class for any reason, a written statement of the cause for such absence. The Board reserves the right to verify such statements and to investigate the cause of each single absence.
The Board may report to appropriate authorities infractions of the law regarding the attendance of students below the age of sixteen (16). Repeated infractions of Board policy requiring the attendance of enrolled students may result in the suspension or expulsion of the student from the regular school program.
The Board considers the following factors to constitute mental or bodily unfitness for school:
| A. | illness | |
| B. | illness in the family necessitating the presence of the child | |
| C. | recovery from an accident | |
| D. | required court attendance | |
| E. | achieving age of majority | |
| F. | work permit | |
| G. | quarantine | |
| H. | marriage and/or pregnancy | |
| I. | service as a precinct officer at a primary, special or general election in accordance with the program set forth in Policy 5725. |
Attendance need not always be within the school facilities, but a student will be considered to be in attendance if present at any place where school is in session by authority of the Board.
It shall be the policy of the Board to consider the effectiveness and appropriateness to the student's needs of the educational program that is offered each student who habitually and repeatedly absents himself/herself from such program.
The Board authorizes the Superintendent or principal to suspend a student from a particular class or from school if sincere efforts by the staff and parents cannot rectify the pattern of absence.
The Superintendent may excuse a student over fourteen (14) years of age from attendance at school for a future limited period for the purpose of performing essential work directly or exclusively for his/her parents or guardians. Such excuse should not exceed five (5) days and may at the discretion of the Superintendent be renewed for five (5) additional days. At no time, however, shall such excuse cause a student to be absent from school for a period of more than ten (10) consecutive days.
At the discretion of the Superintendent or his/her designee, a student may be excused for a longer period of time than ten (10) days if a child's parent or guardian has recently died or become totally or partially incapacitated and there is no older brother or sister living in the home who is out of school. (The Superintendent may request a certificate of a physician attesting to the physical condition of the parent or guardian.)
The Superintendent is authorized to establish an educational program for parents of truant students which is designed to encourage parents to ensure that their children attend school regularly.
The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines that:
| A. | ensure proper procedures are established so the student and his/her parents are provided the opportunity to challenge the attendance record prior to notification and that such notification complies with R.C. 3321.13 (B)(2); | |
| B. | ensure a school session which is in conformity with the requirements of the rules of the State Board; | |
| C. | govern the keeping of attendance records in accordance with the rules of the State Board; | |
| D. | identify the habitual truant, investigate the cause(s) of his/her behavior, and consider modification of his/her educational program to meet particular needs and interests; | |
| E. | ensure that students absent for any excusable reason have an opportunity to make up work they missed; | |
| F. | ensure that any student who, due to a medically-documented physical or mental impairment, exceeds or may exceed the District's limit on excused absence is referred for evaluation for eligibility either under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or other appropriate accommodation. |
Such guidelines should provide that a student's grade in any course is based on his/her performance in the instructional setting and is not reduced for reasons of conduct. If a student violates the attendance or other rules of the school, s/he should be disciplined appropriately for the misconduct, but his/her grades should be based upon what the student can demonstrate s/he has learned.
Whenever any student of compulsory school age has ten (10) consecutive days or a total of fifteen (15) days of unexcused absence from school during any semester, s/he will be considered habitually absent. The Board authorizes the Superintendent to inform the student and his/her parents of the record of excessive absences as well as the District’s intent to notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, if appropriate, and the Judge of the Juvenile Court of the student’s excessive absences.
R.C. 3313.664, 3321.01 et seq., 3321.13(B)(2), 3321.19, 3321.191, 3321.22
R.C. 3321.38, 3331.05
A.C. 3301-35-03(G), 3301-47-01, 3301-69-02
Revised 9/90
Revised 10/14/92
Revised 5/93
Revised 5/96
Revised 4/00
Revised 7/17/07
Revised 5/12/08