Attendance and Family Engagement
COMING SOON: On April 15, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce will launch a new Statewide Attendance Dashboard at Attendance.Ohio.gov. This tool will provide parents and families, educators, and the public with clear and transparent attendance data for every school and district across Ohio. Updated regularly and easy to navigate, the dashboard will help communities quickly understand attendance trends and support efforts to keep students present, engaged, and on track for success.
Research consistently shows that students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve reading proficiency, perform well academically, and graduate from high school on time.
Ohio has committed to reducing its statewide chronic absence rate by 50% by the end of the 2028-2029 school year. This work requires collaboration among schools, educators, families, communities, and policymakers. The Department's School and District Support webpage includes resources that can help schools connect with others and learn effective strategies to improve attendance. Additional resources are available from the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network and Attendance Works.
Ohio law defines chronic absence as missing 10% or more of the school year for any reason. To more effectively address this urgent issue, state law now focuses on supporting early intervention for students at risk of becoming chronically absent. Schools and districts can learn more about this shift in this guidance from the Department.
Family engagement should be a priority for schools aiming to improve attendance outcomes, as the two are closely linked. Strong partnerships between schools and families build trust, improve communication, and remove barriers to attendance, ultimately supporting consistent participation and academic success.
Last Modified: 4/10/2026 10:44:47 AM