How many Ohio school absences are too many? Here’s when parents could face jail time

If you think your school-aged child can skate by with a few too many sick days, Ohio law may have other ideas. Missing too much school isn’t just a bad practice, it could land parents in big trouble.

Parents may think they have the final say when it comes to how much school their children can miss, but if a parent allows too many absences without valid reasons, they are subject to truancy laws and could face some serious repercussions.

Ohio has compulsory education laws that require children, ages 6 to 18, to attend for a minimum amount of hours. Students in grades 1 through 6 must receive a minimum of 910 hours of instruction, while students in grades 7 through 12 need at least 1,001. A student is considered truant after missing 30 hours of instruction, which is roughly five days.

What does Ohio consider truancy?

• 30 or more consecutive hours of missed school
• 42 or more hours in one school month
• 72 or more hours in a school year

What happens when you exceed the maximum number of absences?

Once a student reaches or exceeds these thresholds, the following interventions are required:

• Parents must be notified, in writing, of the student’s absences within seven days of the triggering event.
• An Absence Intervention Team is assembled and an intervention plan is developed
• Student has 60 days to comply with the intervention plan.
• Without compliance, the school will file a complaint in juvenile court on the 61st day

What are the penalties for excessive absences in Ohio?

Once the child has exceeded the allowed absences, it becomes a legal matter for the parents. The consequences for truancy can be quite serious and escalate the more days that are missed.

For parents/guardians:

• Charges of contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child
• Charges of nonsupport of dependents
• Fines up to $1,000
• Imprisonment for up to 180 days
• Mandatory parenting classes
• Community service
• Court-ordered counseling
• Involvement of Child Protective Services
• Removal of child
• Permanent criminal record

For students:

• Probation
• Fines
• Completion of alternative education programs
• Counseling
• Drug or alcohol testing
• Community service
• Removal from home and placement in the foster care system
• Loss of their driver’s license

What is the difference between excused and unexcused absences?

The criteria varies from state to state, but in Mississippi excused absences are those set forth by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and HB 410.

The following circumstances are usually considered excused absences:

• Personal illness or quarantine
• Illness or death in the immediate family
• Religious holidays
• Medical or dental appointments
• Emergencies deemed necessary by school principals

It is really important for parents to educate themselves about their rights and responsibilities when it comes to school attendance. Although parents have some discretion in excusing absences, there are limits to what the school or district can allow.

Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.