Attendance Information
City of Lakewood - Daytime Curfew
The ordinance states that:
No minor shall be in any public place within the City except for attendance at school during regular school hours on any day unless: (1) The minor has written proof from the school authorities that he or she is excused from school attendance at that particular time; or
(2) The minor is accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian or a responsible adult selected by the parent or legal guardian to supervise the child; or
(3) The minor is participating in a bona fide, approved work-study program during the hours of such work-study assignment; or
(4) The minor is on an emergency errand or conducting some other legitimate business
This includes students who are out of school on either out-of-school suspension or expulsion.
If a juvenile is found to be in violation of the ordinance police officers have the discretion and different options to handling the juvenile. If the juvenile is supposed to be in a Lakewood school arrangements can be made with the school and the juvenile can be transported to the school. If they are not supposed to be in school they will be transported to the police station or home to an adult if that option is present. Parents could also be held responsible if they knew the child was out or are disinterested in where they are.
Approved Reasons for Absence
The Ohio Revised Code lists only the following legal reasons for absence or tardiness:
• Personal illness or injury (written documentation from physician required after 10th day)
• Illness in the family (written documentation from a physician)
• Quarantine of the home (written documentation from a physician)
• Death in the family (written documentation)
• Religious holiday (written documentation from religious official)
Students who are absent from class are responsible for obtaining and completing any missed assignments upon return. Being absent from class does not excuse work completion. Although work may be completed, the instruction that occurs during the student absence will be missed.
Attendance Expectations and Regulations
Daily attendance is part of the permanent record. In order for the learning process to be most effective, daily attendance is imperative. The daily work in the classroom is important, and all absences are detrimental to academic success. Any time a student is absent from school there is a possibility that all the work missed cannot be made up. Discussions, lectures, guest speakers, labs, group work, audiovisual programs, etc. cannot be made up. As a result, the student falls behind in key educational concepts and experiences.
Punctuality and daily attendance are expected. Arrangements for dental and medical appointments, personal errands, etc. should be made outside of school hours, on Saturdays, or during school holidays.
Students are expected to attend classes regularly and to be on time in order to receive the full benefit from our instructional program and to develop habits of punctuality, self-discipline, and responsibility. Continuity in the learning process is seriously disrupted by excessive absences. In most situations, the work missed cannot be made up adequately. Students who have good attendance generally achieve higher grades, enjoy school more, and are more employable after leaving high school.
Absences from School
1. All absences must be authorized by the parent/guardian by phone call to the Attendance reporting voice mail line prior to, or the day of, the absence from school.
2. Written notice from a physician will be required to authorize any absence in excess of 10 days in a school year. It is recommended that ALL absences due to a doctor’s visit be documented by a written note from the physician and submitted to the school office.
3. Students with excessive and/or habitual absences will be required to participate in an attendance intervention process that includes parents/guardians, school administration, and school staff. The attendance intervention process is designed to improve attendance to levels required by law. In the event the intervention process is not successful, students will be referred to juvenile court for legal action.
Reporting Absences
Parents are asked to call the Attendance Office between 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on the morning of the absence. For the absence to be excused, parents must call the Attendance Office within 24 hours of the absence. When reporting an absence, please give the student’s name, reason for the absence, your name, relationship to the student, and date of absence. Partial day absences (e.g. doctor appointment) must be reported to the Attendance Office prior to the student’s release.
The Attendance Office will not accept written notes from parents to excuse absences. Again, written notice from a physician will be required to authorize any absence in excess of 10 days in a school year.
Early Release Permit
If the need arises that a student must leave the building during the school day (e.g. doctor appointment), he/she must obtain a school release permit from the Attendance Office or, if ill, be released through the Health Center. This permit verifies the reason for leaving the building. Students must report to the Attendance Secretary upon return. Failure to follow this procedure may result in the student receiving an unauthorized absence and possible disciplinary action.
Planned Absences
Family trips or vacations during the school year are strongly discouraged. Missed work will not be re-taught by the teachers. However, upon request, teachers will prepare a general list of assignments to be completed in advance of the absence or while absent if the following procedure has been followed: A Planned Absence form obtained from the House Office should be completed at least one week before the absence, signed in the proper order by the parent, all of the student’s teachers, counselor, and house principal, then returned to the Attendance Office.
Make-Up Work
Acquiring make-up work is the responsibility of the student. Make-up work should be completed within the number of days the student was absent plus one.
For example, a student absent for two days should complete and submit all make-up work in the following three days. Teachers may extend this timeline at their discretion.
Missed instruction will not be able to be re-taught by the teacher, but alternative arrangements may be made with the teachers for extended, consecutive absences. Full credit will be provided for work completed and submitted to teachers within these guidelines.
Building Level Attendance Procedures
In order to promote increased attendance and punctuality to school, the following protocol regarding absences from and tardiness to school will be followed in all buildings of the Lakewood City Schools:
Attendance Protocols per House Bill 410
School truancy and excessive absences are calculated by the number of hours a student is not in school. Tardiness to school as well as full and half-day absences are calculated into the overall number of time not in school. For a student to be deemed “habitually truant” the following triggering events occur:
a. Absent 30 or more consecutive hours without legitimate excuse,
b. Absent 42 or more hours in one school month without legitimate excuse, or
c. Absent 72 or more hours in one school year without legitimate excuse.
For a student to be deemed “excessively absent” the following triggering events occur:
a. Absent 38 or more hours in one school month with or without legitimate excuse, or
b. Absent 65 or more hours in one school year with or without a legitimate excuse.
The district will utilize a continuum of strategies to reduce student absence including, but not limited to:
• Notification of student absence to the parent/guardian
• Development and implementation of an absence intervention plan, which may include supportive services for students and families
• Counseling
• Parent education and parenting programs
• Mediation
• Intervention programs available through juvenile authorities
• Referral for truancy
Tardiness to School
Students who are not in their assigned seats prior to the tardy bell will be considered tardy to school. Students should arrive to school no later than 10 minutes before the start of their first class. Arriving early gives students time to go to their lockers, take care of personal needs and report to their classroom before instruction begins. Tardiness interrupts the learning of the student and the learning of others.
Students who are tardy to school may receive progressive disciplinary consequences:
a. 5th tardy to school: A detention may be assigned and parent/guardian notified
b. 10th tardy to school: A Saturday School assigned and parent/ guardian meeting may be required
c. 15th tardy to school: An In-School Assignment issued and an attendance intervention meeting with student, parent/ guardian, school administrator, and school staff may be required
Attendance and Extracurricular Activities
Students participating in or attending extracurricular activities may not be absent for more than four periods on the day that they plan to participate in that activity. Participation is defined as taking part in practice, attending events, rehearsal, performance, or contest. Students who serve in-school assignment are eligible to participate in all extracurricular activities. Students who are suspended out-of-school are prohibited from participating in or attending any school function or activity for the duration of their suspension. Administrators may deny a student’s participation in extracurricular activities due to their levels of tardiness and/or absence from class and school.
Transfer of Residence/Relocation
Students moving out of the school district/city of Lakewood during the school year should contact their House Office prior to moving. Failure to notify the school district of relocation could result in the student being charged tuition for attendance. Students moving, but remaining in the school district/city of Lakewood should also contact their House Office prior to moving to update address and telephone information. Students will not be withdrawn until it can be verified they have enrolled elsewhere.