Many parents and guardians have shared questions about recent headlines regarding updates to Ohio’s school attendance laws. These changes come from House Bill 96, which was designed to shift the focus away from penalties and toward proactive support and prevention.
To help clarify what this means for your family, here are the key updates:
Tracking Missed Class Time: Districts are now required to track all missed instructional time, including full days, late arrivals, and early dismissals. While our school buildings still track excused and unexcused absences separately, both count toward a student's total missed class time when measuring chronic absenteeism.
Early Communication: Ohio law requires schools to contact families before a student misses 5 percent of the school year. Reaching out early helps us partner with you to identify any obstacles—such as health issues, family needs, or transportation challenges—before absences add up.
Understanding Chronic Absence: A student is considered chronically absent after missing 10 percent of total instructional hours for any reason. Chronic absence covers all missed time, whereas habitual truancy applies strictly to unexcused absences and follows different legal guidelines.
Illness and Expectations: House Bill 96 does not change the expectation that sick children should stay home when appropriate. The law simply highlights how quickly missed hours accumulate and emphasizes the importance of open communication and documentation.
Georgetown Exempted Village School District remains deeply committed to working alongside our families to support every student's learning journey. If you have any specific concerns or need support, please feel free to reach out directly to your building principal.