SW Insider

Heading into the 2026-2027 school year, schools across Ohio are implementing new state requirements for attendance as a part of Ohio House Bill 96. One of the key policy shifts under HB 96 is how schools and juvenile courts respond when students become habitually truant.

“Students only need to miss 2-3 days a month to be considered Chronically Absent,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine at the launch of the state’s new school attendance dashboard earlier this year. “Chronic Absenteeism is not just a school problem,” DeWine continued. “It is a community problem, it is a state problem, it is also a parent problem. Attendance is everyone’s responsibility and schools simply cannot do this work alone.”

According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, during both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, over 25% of Ohio’s students missed 10% or more of school.

As students and families return to campus August 19th, it is our hope they will encounter a culture of “Every student. HERE. Every day” where every staff member is a tool and a resource to work with families to address any barriers to daily school attendance.

While we know there will be days students will be sick –

What does this mean for Students, Parents, and Schools in South Western City Schools? What has changed?

The first major impact of the new attendance legislation involves an increase in the frequency of parental notifications. Expect to hear from the district more frequently and more often.

Ohio law requires that all schools, not just South Western City Schools, must communicate about attendance concerns no later than when a student has missed five percent (5%) of the minimum number of hours for any reason. This is when approximately 45-50 hours have been missed depending on a student’s grade level. State law also mandates that such notifications will need to happen independent of excused medical, religious, or out-of-school suspensions for each child. That is not to say that families will no longer be able to have absences excused, but the notifications will be a necessity moving forward – regardless of the reason behind the absence – as a necessary opportunity for each school and each family to closer monitor absences and work together to reduce their occurances.

The second major impact of the new attendance legislation creates a new Tiered System of Intensive Interventions and Supports. South Western City Schools utilizes a multi-tiered system of support to proactively address attendance and student engagement concerns before they become chronic issues. 

• At the Tier 1 (Universal) level, schools focus on creating a positive school culture where every student feels welcomed, connected, and valued. Universal supports include consistent communication with families about attendance expectations, identifying students who may feel disconnected from school, building attendance teams within each building, and promoting opportunities for involvement and engagement. The goal at this level is prevention and establishing the message that “Every School Day Matters.”
• At Tier 2 (Intentional), schools begin providing targeted supports for students who may show early signs of attendance concerns or disengagement. Staff members work closely with families to identify barriers that may be affecting attendance, monitor attendance trends, and implement strategies to improve school connection and consistency. Schools may also provide structured re-entry support for students returning after absences to help them successfully reconnect with learning and routines.
• At Tier 3 (Individualized), schools provide intensive, personalized interventions for students experiencing chronic absenteeism or truancy concerns. School teams collaborate with students and families to create individualized Absence Intervention Plans (AIPs) that identify root causes, coordinate school and community support, and establish clear intervention strategies. 

Throughout all tiers, the district’s focus remains on partnership, communication, and support for students and families with the shared goal of improving attendance, strengthening engagement, and helping every student succeed academically and socially.

Say it with us “9 is not fine.”

Re-examining the long standing myth that SWCS students get ‘9 free days’ to miss.

One of the most common misconceptions about school attendance in South Western City Schools is the belief that students are automatically allowed to miss “9 days” of school without concern or consequences.

Simply put: “Nine is not fine.” There is no Ohio law or district policy that allos students to miss up to nine “free” absences each year. Every absence matters because students miss valuable instructional time whenever they are not in school, whether for a full day, partial day, tardy, or early dismissal. We know this will be a sizable shift for families; however, with HB 96 the state law is clear: Every student. HERE. Every day.

South Western City Schools encourages families to think about attendance proactively and avoid the mindset that a certain number of absences are automatically acceptable.

Consistent attendance plays a critical role in academic success, student engagement, relationship building, and long-term outcomes. Our goal is to partner with families early, communicate clearly, and provide support whenever attendance concerns begin to arise.

What stays the same with Attendance expectations in SWCS?

While HB 96 introduces updates to attendance laws and procedures, the core principles guiding our work with students and families remain unchanged. 

• Our commitment to student learning and support
  SWCS will continue to prioritize high-quality instruction and provide supports to help students succeed. This includes monitoring attendance, identifying barriers, and offering interventions or resources to re-engage students when attendance concerns arise. The focus remains on ensuring every student has access to meaningful learning opportunities each day.
• Student safety and accountability
  Accounting for every student remains a critical responsibility. Schools will continue established practices to verify student presence, follow up on absences, and ensure students are safe. Timely communication and accurate attendance tracking are essential parts of maintaining a secure learning environment.
• Partnerships with families
  Collaboration with families continues to be a cornerstone of attendance practices. Schools will work closely with parents and guardians to communicate expectations, address attendance concerns, and document absences in accordance with state law and district policy. This includes recognizing and recording approved absences while supporting families in meeting compulsory attendance requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions Guide

With this year’s updates to Ohio’s school attendance laws, we know students, parents, and guardians will have questions. To assist with answering these specific scenarios we have put together a rolling FAQ document on our website (click the link here).

Within the FAQ we address the following and more:

• Why is daily student attendance important?
• What has changed with recent legislation (House Bill 96)?
• What stays the same with Attendance?
• What are excused absences?
• What are unexcused absences?
• What is the benefit of taking the time to report my child’s absence if the new state law counts all absences towards Chronic Absenteeism totals?
• What are planned absences?
• What is habitual truancy? What is the district’s truancy process for filing with the court?
• What happens when a student becomes habitually truant from school?
• What is an absence intervention team (AIT)?
• How do I submit documentation after my child has missed school so that it can become an approved absence? What documentation is needed?
• Can I submit absence documentation electronically?
• Addressing the myth of “I know my child can miss 9 (nine) days…….”
• My child’s bus was running behind and was late to the school. Is that counted against their attendance?
• My child’s bus was running late to the bus stop so I took my child to school – arriving late as a result. Is that counted against their attendance?
• Do absences caused by suspensions count toward habitual truant triggers?
• How should schools and districts handle absences due to religious expression?
• Do school-sponsored extracurricular events (e.g. sports, arts, clubs) which take place during the day count toward chronic absence?
• What must schools and districts allow when students attend private driver education courses?
• Are there attendance considerations or excused absences available for military families or students preparing for military service?
• I have heard school attendance can impact prom. Is this true?
• How does school attendance impact participation in athletics, competitions, performances, and extracurricular activities?

For more information visit: www.swcsd.us/attendance.aspx.