Upper Arlington City School District
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.

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 of Education reserves the right to verify such statements and to investigate the cause of each single absence or prolonged absence.

The Superintendent considers the following factors to be reasonable excuses for time missed at school:

 A.personal illness (a written physician’s statement verifying the illness may be required)
 B.illness in the family necessitating the presence of the child
 C.quarantine of the home
 D.death in the family
 E.necessary work at home due to absence or incapacity of parent(s)/guardian(s)
 F.observation or celebration of a bona fide religious holiday
 G.such good cause as may be acceptable to the Superintendent
 H.service as a precinct officer at a primary, special or general election in accordance with the program set forth in Policy 5725

A student will be considered habitually truant if the student is absent without a legitimate excuse for five (5) or more consecutive school days, for seven (7) or more school days in one (1) month, or twelve (12) or more school days in one (1) school year.

A student will be considered chronically truant if the student is absent without a legitimate excuse for seven (7) or more consecutive school days, for ten (10) or more school days in one (1) month, or for fifteen (15) or more school days in one (1) year.

Legitimate excuses for the absence of a student who is otherwise habitually or chronically truant include but are not limited to:

 A.the student was enrolled in another school district;
 B.the student was excused from attendance in accordance with R.C 3321.04; or
 C.the student has received an age and schooling certificate.

If a student is habitually truant and the student’s parent has failed to cause the student’s attendance, the Board authorizes the Superintendent to file a complaint with the Judge of the Juvenile Court and/or to take any other appropriate intervention actions as set forth in this Board’s policy.

If a student is chronically truant and the student’s parent has failed to cause the student’s attendance, the Board authorizes the Superintendent to file a complaint with the Judge of the Juvenile Court.

In order to address the attendance practices of a student who is habitually truant, the Board authorizes the Superintendent to take any of the following intervention actions:

 A.assign the student to a truancy intervention program
 B.request or require the student’s parent to attend a parental involvement program
 C.request or require a parent to attend a truancy prevention mediation program
 D.notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles of the student’s absences
 E.take appropriate legal action

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. Any parent who does not complete the program is to be reported to law enforcement authorities for parental education neglect, a fourth class misdemeanor if found guilty.

The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines that:

 A.establish proper procedures 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.establish 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.provide students whose absence has been excused an opportunity to make up work they missed and receive credit for the work, if completed;
 F.refer for evaluation any student who, due to a specifically identifiable physical or mental impairment, exceeds or may exceed the District's limit on excused absence to determine eligibility either under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or other appropriate accommodation.

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, guardian, or custodian of the record of excessive absence 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 absence.

R.C. 3313.664, 3321.01 et seq., 3321.13(B)(2), 3321.19, 3321.191, 3321.22
R.C. 3501.22
A.C.  3301-47-01, 3301-51-13

Revised 3/10/08