Understanding Ohio’s New Attendance Law: What Families Need to Know
Part 1 of a series highlighting important policy and procedural updates for the 2026-2027 school year.
Every hour of learning matters. As Tipp City Schools prepares to welcome students back for the 2026-2027 school year, families will notice an increased emphasis on student attendance and the amount of instructional time students miss throughout the year.
The changes result from Ohio House Bill 96, passed in 2025, which shifts the state’s attendance focus beyond truancy to place greater emphasis on chronic absenteeism, prevention, early intervention, and family support. The goal is to identify attendance concerns sooner so schools and families can work together to keep students engaged in learning.
One of the most important changes for families to understand is that school districts are now required to monitor the total amount of instructional time students miss. This includes full-day absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals. Schools will continue to distinguish between excused and unexcused absences, but both count toward a student’s overall missed instructional time when determining chronic absenteeism.
Under Ohio law, a student is considered chronically absent after missing 10 percent of the required instructional time during the school year, regardless of the reason for the absence. Districts are also required to notify parents or guardians before a student’s missed instructional time reaches 5 percent of the school year, allowing families and schools to address concerns early.
It is important to understand that chronic absenteeism and truancy are not the same. Chronic absenteeism measures all missed instructional time, whether absences are excused or unexcused. Habitual truancy, however, continues to be based solely on unexcused absences and is governed by separate legal thresholds established in Ohio law.
The updated law does not change the expectation that students who are ill should remain home when appropriate. Rather, it reinforces the importance of communication, documentation, and understanding how missed instructional time can accumulate over the school year. Even occasional late arrivals, early dismissals, or excused absences can add up more quickly than many families realize.
Ohio law also continues to provide for excused absences related to sincerely held religious beliefs. Families requesting time away from school for religious observances, instruction, or activities must submit written notification to the building principal within 14 days of the start of the school year. This ensures students can receive excused absences and make arrangements to complete any missed work.
Families play an essential role in supporting strong attendance. Parents and guardians should continue to report absences promptly, follow their building’s attendance procedures, and provide appropriate documentation when needed, particularly for medical appointments, illness, or religious observances.
The purpose of these changes is not to increase penalties for students or families. Instead, they are intended to strengthen the partnership between schools and families by identifying attendance concerns early and providing support before they become barriers to learning. When attendance concerns arise, school staff will work collaboratively with families to understand the circumstances and connect students with appropriate resources and support. In some cases, this may include conversations about transportation, health concerns, anxiety, family circumstances, or other barriers affecting attendance.
Regular attendance remains one of the strongest predictors of student success. Students who are consistently present are better able to build strong academic foundations, develop meaningful relationships with teachers and classmates, participate in extracurricular opportunities, and fully engage in the educational experience.
At Tipp City Schools, we are committed to working alongside families to ensure every student is present, engaged, and prepared for success. Together, we can help every child benefit from the opportunities available in our schools while continuing our tradition of excellence.
Additional information about attendance procedures, reporting expectations, and available support can be found in student handbooks, on the district website, and through communications from each school building. Future articles in this series will provide additional details about attendance procedures, reporting requirements, and answers to frequently asked questions.