Huron City Schools

Attendance Matters

Every school day is a chance to learn, connect with friends, and build the routines that carry students through graduation and beyond. Ohio updated its attendance laws recently. The biggest change is that all missed class time now counts toward a student's attendance record, whatever the reason. This page explains what changed, how time is counted, and how our schools will partner with your family.

What Changed in Ohio

Ohio's 2025 state budget (House Bill 96) shifted state attendance law away from a focus on truancy and toward early support. Here is what that means for your family:

Attendance is measured in hours, not days. Late arrivals, early pickups, and midday appointments all add up.
Every absence counts toward chronic absenteeism. That includes excused, unexcused, and medical absences.
Families hear from us sooner. Schools must reach out before a student has missed 5% of the school year.
Attendance can't be used to suspend or expel a student, and it's no longer a factor in whether a student is promoted to the next grade.

Chronic Absenteeism vs. Habitual Truancy

These two terms measure different things:

Chronic Absenteeism

A student is chronically absent after missing 10% or more of the required instructional hours in a school year, for any reason. That works out to about 2–3 days a month. Chronic absenteeism is an early warning sign, not a punishment. It helps us find students who may need support before they fall behind.

Habitual Truancy

Habitual truancy counts unexcused absences only. Under Ohio law, a student is habitually truant after missing, without a legitimate excuse:

30 or more consecutive hours (about 5 school days)
42 or more hours in one school month (about 7 school days)
72 or more hours in one school year (about 12 school days)

When a student reaches one of these thresholds, the district must notify the family in writing. Ohio law also requires the district to file a complaint with the juvenile court unless the student and family are making satisfactory progress toward better attendance.

How Missed Time Adds Up

Grade level	State minimum hours per year	5% (family notice)	10% (chronically absent)
Kindergarten through Grade 6	910 hours	About 45 hours	About 91 hours
Grades 7–12	1,001 hours	About 50 hours	About 100 hours

*A few examples of time that counts:

Arriving an hour late for a morning appointment
Leaving two hours early for a family commitment
Leaving midday and returning after lunch

Class field trips and other school-sponsored instructional activities count as time in school, not absences.

Reporting an Absence

If your student will be absent, late, or leaving early, contact the building attendance office as early as you can:

Woodlands Elementary School: 419-433-1234 x 3
McCormick Middle School: 419-433-1234 x 2
Huron High School: 419-433-1234 x 1

Planning Ahead

Some absences can't be avoided. When you know about one in advance, a little planning helps your student stay on track.

Appointments: Schedule them before or after school or on non-school days when possible.
Pre-planned absences: Let your student's school know ahead of time and ask about keeping up with classwork.
Religious observances: Ohio law allows up to three religious expression days per school year with written notice from a parent or guardian.
Driver education (high school): Students may be excused for up to 8 hours for a private driver education course. The limit is two hours per day on no more than four days, and the time can't be taken during a core subject class.
Ongoing health needs: If your student has a chronic physical or mental health condition, contact your building principal or school nurse.

How We Support Students and Families

When a student starts missing time, the goal is to understand why and help remove the barrier. Transportation, health, anxiety, and family changes can all affect attendance. Our absence intervention teams work with families of students at risk of becoming chronically absent, using support that grows with the level of need.

If attendance is becoming a struggle, please reach out early. Your student's counselor or principal is a good place to start.

Attendance