| Medina City Schools |
| Bylaws & Policies |
5200 - ATTENDANCE
The educational program offered by this District is predicated upon the presence of the student and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation. 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.
A student may not attend school if, in the opinion of the Superintendent, his/her condition is such that s/he cannot benefit from instruction, or his/her bodily condition is such as to prevent attendance at school or that s/he is receiving instruction at home from a person qualified to teach the courses in which instruction is required.
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 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.
Repeated infractions of Board policy on attendance may result in suspension or expulsion.
The Board considers the following factors to be reasonable excuses for time missed at school:
| A. | illness | |
| B. | recovery from accident | |
| C. | required court attendance | |
| D. | death in the family | |
| E. | observation or celebration of a bona fide religious holiday | |
| F. | such good cause as may be acceptable to the Superintendent |
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.
Whenever any student under the age of eighteen (18) has accumulated five (5) consecutive days or ten (10) total days of unexcused absence from school during a semester, s/he will be considered as "truant". The Board authorizes the Superintendent to inform the student and his/her parents of the truancy record and the District's intent to notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and the Judge of the Juvenile Court of the student's excessive truancy.
Whenever any student under the age of eighteen (18) has accumulated in excess of thirty (30) days of absence from school (i.e., excused or unexcused) may be considered as "habitually absent".
The Superintendent is also authorized to establish a parent education program for parents of students who are truant or habitually absent. Any parent who does not complete the program is to be reported to law enforcement authorities for neglect of parent education, a fourth class misdemeanor if found guilty.
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 who are absent have an opportunity to make up work they missed and receive credit for the work, if completed; | |
| 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.
R.C. 3313.664, 3321.01 et seq., 3321.13(B)(2), 3321.19, 3321.38, 3331.05
A.C. 3301-35-03(G), 3301-47-01, 3301-51-13
Revised 9/97
Revised 9/15/98
Revised 8/21/00