Important Terms

A school-wide measure calculated by dividing the total hours all students attended school by the total hours all students were expected to attend. It indicates the average percentage of students present each day.

Missing 10% or more of the required instructional time during the school year for any reason, including excused absences, unexcused absences, medical absences, and out-of-school suspensions. Learn more here.

An absence approved by the school because of a legitimate reason, such as illness, medical or dental appointments, a death in the family, religious observance, quarantine, or other reasons permitted under district policy. Learn more here.

A student's right to engage in sincerely held religious activities or observances, such as observing religious holidays or expressing religious beliefs, without discrimination, as permitted by state and federal law. Schools must excuse absences for qualifying religious observances according to Ohio law and local policy. Learn more here.

An excused absence that allows a student to visit a college, university, technical school, military program, or other postsecondary institution to explore future educational opportunities, when permitted by district policy. Learn more here.

School-sponsored activities that occur outside the regular academic curriculum, such as athletics, clubs, student government, music groups, theater, and academic competitions. Participation supports student engagement but is not part of required classroom instruction. Learn more here.

A student of compulsory school age who is absent without a legitimate excuse for 30 or more consecutive hours, 42 or more hours in one school month, or 72 or more hours in one school year. Habitual truancy is based only on unexcused absences. Learn more here.

A disciplinary action in which a student is temporarily prohibited from attending school. In Ohio, OSS counts toward chronic absence because instructional time is missed, but it does not count toward habitual truancy because it is considered a legitimate reason for the student's absence. Learn more here.