It is expected that for students to achieve their full potential at ACHIEVE Academy, regular and timely attendance is essential. In addition, in order to comply with attendance requirements of the State of Ohio related to the number of contact hours to award credit and/or promotion to the next grade level, the following guidelines have been established to deal with attendance issues.



Out-of-School Suspensions are considered unexcused absences. Students serving out-of-school suspensions may receive credit for work missed during the suspension time. Any student who receives more than 7 unexcused absences in a given quarter must see Curriculum Coach.



An accumulation of more than 12 absences from school or a class per quarter, excused or unexcused, may result in failure for the quarter unless a physician’s statement is provided to document the reason.



Absences must be reported by telephone to the school office by 9:00 AM each morning ,or 5:00pm for Evening HS. A written note from a parent or doctor’s office should follow up any absence from and tardy to school as documentation for an excused absence. However, the attendance officer can document the phone contact as proof of the absence as long as she believes the call to be from the parent or guardian and not the student. If a note or legitimate phone call is not received within 5 days after the student returns to school, the absence will be considered unexcused. Only written documentation from a doctor’s office can excuse an absence after the 5-day time limit.



Students who are absent from school, without proper notification regarding their absence for 4 consecutive days, will be reported to the truancy officer of Lucas County. ACHIEVE Academy, in accordance with Ohio Law and Board policy also reserve the right to report any signs of excessive absence from school, whether excused or unexcused, to the proper authorities.



According to Ohio State Law, the school in which a child is attending has the right to fully withdraw a student and report that student truant after 5 consecutive days, 7 days in a month, or 12 days in one school year.



Tardiness is also harmful to the learning process. Therefore, the following will apply:

• Each time a student accumulates four unexcused tardies to a class, it will be counted as one unexcused absence. Teachers may give other consequences earlier in an attempt to encourage timeliness.



• A student who is unexcused tardy by more than 25 minutes to a class may be considered unexcused absent.



• Periodic Lockouts will be conducted for students. Students, who are out of placement when a lockout is called, will be assigned to the Lockout Room and considered unexcused absent from that particular class.



• Excessive tardiness will result in further disciplinary action.

Unanticipated absences or tardies which fall into one or more of the following categories and which are reported in accordance with the Administration’s established procedures shall be recorded as "Excused":

• illness or injury;



• natural or family disasters;



• serious injury or illness in the family;



• verifiable extreme weather conditions;



• reportable vehicle accidents;



• public transportation failure;



• other reasons as may be approved by the Administrative Director.

Anticipated absences or tardies that fall into one or more of the following categories and which are reported in accordance with the Administratons established procedures shall be recorded as "Excused":

• Family Learning Leave* approved by the Administration



• family and religious obligations (weddings, funerals, religious holidays and services);



• court appearances;



• medical, dental, or professional appointments (when every effort was made to schedule such appointments during quarterly breaks or after school hours).

Anticipated absences and tardies should be reported as soon as possible by phone or written notice. This allows teachers to assign homework or independent study work in advance if appropriate.



Any absences or tardies that fall into the following categories may be recorded as unexcused:

• all absences or tardies (regardless of reasons) which are not authorized by notes from parents/legal guardians or a medical office in advance or upon return to school;



• a previously approved Family Learning Leave* when a student fails to complete the learning project obligations satisfactorily;



• personal vehicle failure;



• oversleeping or resting up from strenuous or late night activities;



• any trips or anticipated absences not approved by a Administration in advance.

*A Family Learning Leave is defined as an absence from school for one or more days to attend a family or other significant event. The parent must inform the school in writing at least five school days in advance. The student must work with his teachers and the Administration to establish a project or activity related to the event that qualifies as educational in nature. This project must be completed and submitted or presented upon return from the authorized leave or within the time frame approved by the Administration at the time of the application for Leave. Doing this will excuse the absences but not the missed work from school. The student is still responsible for any missed work.