Dear Bunn Families,
The State of Ohio has passed a truancy law, Ohio HB 410,that all Ohio Schools are mandated to enforce. Good attendance at school is a vital part of your child's educational success. Paul C Bunn Elementary School strives to reduce truancy through cooperation with our families. Our team will be working to reduce absences with the use of strict guidelines in regard to tardiness and unexcused absences. Ohio HB 410 requires us to take the following steps in an effort to reduce truancy:
Attendance tracking has changed from days of school to hours of school.
Habitually Truant
Absent 30 or more consecutive hours without a legitimate excuse;
Absent 42 or more hours in one school month without a legitimate excuse; or
Absent 72 or more hours in one school year without a legitimate excuse.
Excessive Absences
Absent 38 or more hours in one school month with or without a legitimate excuse; or
Absent 65 or more hours in one school year with or without a legitimate excuse.
Once a student has met the threshold of habitual truant the school will form an Absence Intervention Team. The team must consist of two school representatives (one of which must be familiar with the child), the child's parent/custodian, and the child. Team members may include a member of a public/private agency who is providing assistance to lower absences. The student and parent are required by law to be active participants on an Absence Intervention Team and follow any subsequent plan to improve school attendance. Failure to participate and comply will result in the truancy filing on the student and possible filing against the parent/guardian through juvenile court. Additionally, if the parent/guardian fails to participate, it may result in a mandatory referral to Mahoning County Children Services Board.
Please be sure to report your child(ren)'s absences to the school by contacting them directly and by sending in a written note the following day.
