Attendance Information

Good attendance results in success at school. Therefore, Valley View encourages regular attendance in accordance with the Ohio Compulsory Attendance Law and the Missing Children’s Act (ORC 3321.04). Parents are encouraged to call to report their child’s absence from school at 855-6571 for both the Primary School and Intermediate School before 8:30 A.M. each day of absence. The school will attempt to contact the parent of each absentee who is not reported. Students are to bring a note signed by a parent to the office before school upon their return. Failure to do so may result in an unexcused absence. Absences are either excused or unexcused. It is possible for a student to be unexcused even though a parent gives permission for the absence. Students arriving or leaving school for a doctor’s appointment must bring a doctor’s certification upon return to school.

No student will be allowed to leave school prior to dismissal time without either (a) a written request signed by the parent or guardian or (b) the parent or guardian coming to the school office to request the release or (c) via a parental phone call. No student will be released to a person other than a custodial parent(s) or guardian without a permission note signed by the custodial parent or guardian or verified parental permission or (d) a student may be released on his /her own only with verified parental permission (example-to walk home). Any parent dropping off students after 9:05 or picking students up before 3:40, will need to do so through the Primary Building office.

Following are some examples of what the school will consider legitimate reasons for students to miss school: Personal illness (chronic absence due to illness may require a doctor’s note); Quarantine of the home; Serious illness or death in the immediate family; Emergency circumstances, as granted by the principal; Authorized religious holidays; Approved school activities.

Following are some examples of what the school does not consider as excused absences: Truancy; Suspension ; Shopping; Trips not approved in advance; Missing the school bus; hunting, fishing; gainful employment; birthdays; Take Your son / daughter to Work Day, or other celebrations; hair appointments; Oversleeping; Any other absence deemed unexcused by the administration. Situations may arise that would be excused by the administration and will be considered on a case by case basis. Work missed due to an unexcused absence cannot be made up unless approved by the principal.

Students may miss up to five days of school per semester without a doctor’s note, provided the reasons comply with the above list of legitimate reasons for an excused absence. ALL absences beyond 5 days per semester MUST be accompanied by a doctor’s note, or will be treated as unexcused.

Any absences which are not excused or pre-approved, or are beyond the five days per semester limit without a doctor’s note or pre-approval, will be considered unexcused. Students will receive 0’s for any work missed from an unexcused absence unless approved by the principal. Students and parents may be cited to Miamisburg Satellite Court or the Montgomery County Juvenile Court for not attending school.

Unexcused absence from school (truancy) is not acceptable. Students who are truant will receive no credit for school work that is missed unless approved by the principal. A student will be considered habitually truant if the student is absent without a legitimate excuse for five or more consecutive school days, for seven or more school days in one month, or twelve or more school days in one school year. Furthermore, a student will be considered chronically truant if the student is absent without a legitimate excuse for seven or more consecutive school days, for ten or more school days in one month, or fifteen or more school days in one year.

Students who arrive at school after the school day has begun through the first 30 minutes will be counted tardy. Students arriving late to school are to report directly to the office for an admit slip. Students should bring a note explaining their reason for tardiness. Students may have two tardies to school per semester without penalty, but all other tardies will be counted as unexcused without a doctor’s excuse. Students who arrive at school after the first 30 minutes will be counted as one-half day of absence, as will those who leave school before 3:10.

Students arriving at school who are too ill to attend classes will not be permitted to participate in extracurricular activities or special in-school activities for that day. The only exception will be those students who bring in a doctor’s note or situations approved by the administration.

Habitual Absences/Tardy/Truancy Policy

A student’s excessive or habitual absence, tardiness, or truancy to school, will result in a requirement for their parent(s) to attend an Attendance Intervention Meeting in accordance with ORC 3313.663, ORC 2151.011(B)(17), and HB 410.

Legally a student is considered habitually truant if the student is absent without a legitimate excuse for:

• 30 or more consecutive hours (approx. 5 school days)
• 42 or more hours in a month (approx. 6 school days)
• 72 or more hours in a year (approx. 12 school days)

When a student becomes “Habitually Truant”, the parent may be required to attend a parent involvement program (Attendance Intervention Meeting) and an Absence Intervention Plan (AIP) will be developed. As mandated by Ohio law, failure of the student to make satisfactory progress per the AIP will require a court complaint to be filed.

If a student becomes habitually truant within 21 days of the end of the school year, a school official may be assigned to develop an absence intervention plan during the summer, or the school may reconvene the absence intervention process on the first day of the next school year.

NOTE: Hours of school missed due to tardies may be applied to the accumulated number of hours of unexcused absence in relation to ORC 3313.663, ORC 2151.011(B)(17), and HB 410 (mandatory attendance laws)

Class-Cuts

Class-cuts are determined by the administration and occur when a student misses all or part of an assigned class without permission. A student who leaves the school building or school grounds without permission will be considered truant. Truancy is an unexcused absence.

Pre-Excused Absences

Students are sometimes permitted to miss school for family vacations. These absences must have prior approval of the administration. The student should bring a parent note to the attendance office requesting the pre-approved absence at least a day in advance of the day s/he is leaving. The student will carry a form to teachers to receive missed assignments. These assignments are due the day the student returns to school. The administration will approve or not approve these requests based on the student’s academic standing, attendance record, and teachers’ input.