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Greenville Schools
Attendance
Matters
Many of our youngest students miss 10 percent of the school year –
about 18 days a year or just two days every month. Chronic absenteeism
in kindergarten can predict lower test scores in later grades,
especially if the problem persists for more than a year. It is
important for every student to attend school every day. Missing too
much school has long-term, negative effects, such as lower achievement
and lower graduation rates. Showing up for school on time, everyday
helps students succeed. Research shows that children who miss 10% (18
days) or more of the school year are far more likely not to be good
readers in 3rd grade. If children don’t show up for school regularly,
they miss out on fundamental reading and math skills and the chance to
build a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and
careers. The Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 410 last December
to encourage and support districts in a preventative approach to
excessive absences and truancy. Districts must amend or adopt policies
that outline their interventions and plans for students with excessive
absences. The legislation emphasizes parent engagement and
accountability as part of a student’s absence intervention plan.
In the past, attendance was counted by days absent. This new
legislation counts attendance as the numbers of hours a student is
absent or tardy. All absences, excused or unexcused, must be counted in
hours. A child is deemed to be Excessively Absent if they miss a total
of 38 or more excused or unexcused hours in a month, or a total of 65
or more excused or unexcused hours in a school year. Students will be
considered Habitually Truant when they miss: 30 or more consecutive
hours, 42 or more hours in a school month, or 72 or more hours in a
school year without a legitimate excuse.
The new bill limits the number of excused and unexcused absences a
student can have. A student will be considered absent if they are not
in school during school hours. It is important to understand that
leaving early, late arrivals, doctor visits will also count towards
absence hours. Part of HB 410 requires schools to form a truancy
intervention team that includes the parent to determine why students
are missing school and to put interventions in place to improve
attendance. After the truancy intervention plan is in place, the
district is required to file a truancy complaint in court against the
parent if the student’s attendance does not improve in 60 days.
Greenville City Schools will be closely monitoring students’ absences
to determine who are at-risk for missing multiple hours of school.
Greenville City Schools recently revised the number of excused vacation
days from 10 to 5 days. The recently revised Handbook states, student
tardiness and absences will be counted in hours and will accumulate
throughout the school year. Even excused absences count towards these
hours. Research studies have shown a strong connection between good
school attendance and student achievement. We strive to provide an
outstanding education to our students. We will be working closely with
parents and the community to provide resources and interventions that
allow for optimal attendance. We ask all parents and guardians to send
your children to school on time and on a regular basis and to make
every effort to get students in school. Together we can make great
things happen!
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