Attendance and Family Engagement
Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, Ohio families may receive new school and district communications about school attendance.
Ohio's attendance laws have shifted from focusing only on unexcused absences and truancy to supporting early intervention for all students at risk of becoming chronically absent. Chronic absenteeism is defined in Ohio as missing 10% or more of school for any reason.
A student just needs to miss 18 days throughout the year for any reason (excused or unexcused) to be chronically absent.
Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy
Chronic absenteeism is different from truancy.
When students miss school, they miss learning time. This happens whether the absence is excused or unexcused. Even small amounts of missed time (coming late, leaving early, stepping out for an appointment) count toward statewide attendance measures and impact learning.
However, excused absences do not count toward truancy, and families with students who are chronically absent do not face any penalties under Ohio law.
Being present in school helps students learn, build relationships, and stay on track academically. Research consistently shows that students who attend school regularly perform better in critical areas such as reading proficiency, overall academic achievement, and high school graduation rates.
When students begin missing instructional time, schools try to notice patterns early so families can receive support. The change in law supports community conversations about barriers to daily atttendance and reinforcing relationships among schools, districts, families, and students.
For more in-depth information on the attendance law, visit the Attendance Law FAQ page.
Ohio's Attendance Dashboard
Ohio committed to reducing its statewide chronic absence rate by 50% by the end of the 2028-2029 school year. Improving attendance requires strong, intentional systems that incorporate a community-wide approach.
Ohio’s statewide student attendance dashboard helps communities quickly understand attendance trends and support efforts to keep students present, engaged, and on track for success.
attendance.ohio.gov
To support school communities after they review the Dashboard, the Department developed action steps for schools and districts to use as a guide for their work. Aligned to Ohio’s Integrated Multi-Tiered System of Supports, these steps connect key focus areas for strengthening attendance systems with practical tools and resources.
Additional resources are available from the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network and Attendance Works.
Last Modified: 9/22/2026 11:55:55 AM