To report a students absence, early leave, doctor's appt. etc.
Call the attendance office at: 682-4115 and select option "3"

RECORDING OF ABSENCES, TARDIES AND EARLY LEAVES:
The following guidelines will be used to record absences, tardies, and early dismissals from school:

Arrivals		Dismissals
after 7:15 until 12:20	Tardy	before 9:19	absent full day
before 7:21	Late to class	after 9:20	early leave
after 12:21	late to school

Attendance Procedures and Student Absences/Tardies
Regular attendance by all students of the Lakota Local School District is very important. Students that have irregular attendance tend to have poor academic success. For this reason it is important that parents and students make every effort possible to make appointments and personal business outside of school hours. Situations may arise that cause a student to miss part of all of the school day. A student is considered EXCUSED for the following reasons:

1. Personal Illness
2. Illness in the family
3. Death of a Relative
4. Quarantine of the Home
5. Work at home due to the absence of parents or guardians
6. Religious Reasons
7. Emergency reasons that must be considered to have good and sufficient cause for absence. (Court appearance, Suspensions, Etc.)

A student is considered truant if he or she is absent or tardy from school without a legitimate excuse. UNEXCUSED absences include but are not limited to:

1. Missed Bus
2. Overslept
3. No parent Note or Excuse Offered

The State of Ohio has recently passed legislation regarding school attendance (Senate Bill 181)Senate Bill 181. The student with five or more unexcused absences on consecutive school days, or seven or more unexcused absences in one school month, or 12 or more unexcused absences in one school year, may be considered "habitual" truant, under Section 3321.191 of the Ohio Revised Code. A student with seven or more unexcused absences on consecutive school days or 10 or more unexcused absences in one school month, or 15 or more unexcused absences in one school year, may be considered a "Chronic" truant, under Section 3321.191 of the Ohio Revised Code. *In the case of either "habitual" or "chronic" truants, the Lakota Local School District Board of Education may:

• assign the student to an alternative school
• require the student to participate in a truancy prevention program
• require the student to receive appropriate counseling
• require the parent, guardian or other persons having care of the student to attend a parental involvement program under Section 3313.472 or 3312.63 of the Ohio Revised Code
• require the parent, guardian, or other persons having care of the student to attend a truancy prevention mediation program
• notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles of a habitual truant under Section 3321.13 of the Ohio Revised Code
• take legal action under Section 2919.222, 3321.20, or 3321.38 of the Ohio Revised Code

Students who are "habitual" or "chronic" truants may receive citation to to the appropriate court.

ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL PROCEDURES

1. On or before the day of the absence,a parent/guardian should call the attendance line before 8:00a.m. at 682-4115.
2. If the school has been notified of an absence,it it not necessary to present a note to the attendance office. If a parent or guardian has not been notified the school of an absence, the student must present a note stating:
1. date(s) of absence(s)
2. reason of absence
3. signature of parent or guardian
4. phone number where parent/guardian may be reached
3. Students who are 18 years of age or older are required to follow this same procedure. Students participating in the late arrival option must follow the same procedures.
4. If the appropriate school officials are not notified of an absence, the student will be considered "unexcused." Students will not receive any academic credit for the period of time the absence is considered unexcused, and they will not be granted credit for missed class work, assignments, or exams. Students have 24 hours from their return to school to provide documentation to change an unexcused absence to an excused absence.
5. Students with absences in excess of six (6) days in either semester will be recorded as an unexcused absence unless a doctor's note is presented to attendance officials for each additional absence during the semester.
6. Teacher records will be used to verify absences from school and class and will supersede attendance office records when attendance questions arise.

TARDY GUIDELINES
Tardy to School: Students who arrive less than five minutes late to first period should report directly to class and will be marked tardy to class. Students who are five or more minutes tardy to school must report to attendance window and sign-in to receive an admit slip. Failure to sign-in to avoid a tardy could result in disciplinary action. Students are allowed two excused tardies per quarter. The third tardy will be unexcused and the fourth tardy may result in disciplinary action and the suspension of parking privileges.

TARDINESS TO CLASS AND SCHOOL

Tardy to Class:

1. More than 5 minutes late to class without a pass will count as an unexcused absence from the class.
2. Students are allowed two excused tardies per quarter. The third tardy will be unexcused and the fourth tardy may result in disciplinary action and the suspension of parking privileges.

Tardy to School:

1. Students arriving after the established start time will be considered tardy to school.
2. Students are allowed two excused tardies per quarter. The third tardy will be unexcused and the fourth tardy may result in disciplinary action and the suspension of parking privileges.

EARLY LEAVE:
While we hope that medical and/or legal appointments can be scheduled after the school day ends, we realize that is not always possible. A student may leave school before the day ends provided the parent/guardian writes a note indicating that the student has a medical or legal appointment. This note must be given to the attendance office before 7:15 a.m. Notes must be verified through phone conversation with the parent or guardian.The student must sign out in the Attendance Office before leaving school. Failure to comply with any or all steps of this process will result in disciplinary action. Students leaving school because of illness must report to the clinic. The clinic personnel will notify the parent/guardian. The student will sign out through the Attendance Office. Students who do not drive are to remain in the clinic until their parent/guardian picks them up. Students who fail to comply with attendance office sign-outs will be referred to their administrator for disciplinary action.

COLLEGE VISITS, VACATIONS, EXAM ATTENDANCE

COLLEGE VISITS:
Seniors and second semester juniors will be given reasonable time ( 3 times ) to visit colleges where they have applied, intend to apply, or there is a valid reason for such a visit. Students should bring written permission to visit a college campus to their assistant principal's office. This note must be presented at least two days prior to the visit and must contain the following information:

1. The name of the college you wish to visit.
2. Date the visit will take place.
3. Name of parent to contact and correct phone number.
4. Signature of parent/guardian.
5. Students will not be allowed to leave school without completing this process. Student who are 18 years or older must comply with this process and may not present notes written or signed by themselves.

VACATIONS:
Students are excused from school to participate in family vacations. The procedure for requestion a vacation from is:

1. Present a written request for family vacation to the assistant principal's office at least three (3) days prior to the vacation. This request must include the dates you intend to be absent, parent signature, and phone number where parent may be reached to confirm request.
2. Family vacations must be approved prior to the absence. Failure to follow proper notification procedures may result in the absence being unexcused.
3. Students who are 18 or older are required to comply with this same process and may not present request written or signed by themselves.

EXAM ATTENDANCE:
Students may not be absent during final examination unless a physician's statement (or appropriate documentation for other absences) is presented to an administrator. Make up exams will be scheduled for those students only. NO FINAL EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN EARLY. First semester exams for Grades 10-12 will be held on (exam dates). First semester exam make-ups must be completed within 10 school days. Second semester exams for grades 10-11 will be held on (exam dates). Second semester make-ups are done by appointment only and must be completed prior to the Fall semester.

ATTENDANCE AND YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE:
It is the intent of the Lakota Board of Education to encourage productive school attendance for all students, to discourage school drop-outs, and to utilize all effective measures to discourage the illegal use of drugs and alcohol among the youth of the community. Because of this, in the following circumstances, action will be taken that will result in the suspension of your driver's license.
Please read this information carefully:

1. Withdrawal from school:

   A student who withdraws from school for a reason other than a change of residence and who is not enrolled in and attending an approved program to obtain a diploma or its equivalent will have his/her name submitted to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Butler County Juvenile Court by the superintendent.

2. Excessive Absences:

   student who is excessively absent from school (absent without a legitimate excuse for 10 consecutive school day, or at least 15 total school days during any semester) will have his/her name reported to the authorities listed in point

3. Expulsion:

   A student who is suspended and/or expelled from school for the use or possession of drugs or alcohol will have his/her name submitted to the authorities listed in point A. Notification of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles regarding withdrawal, excessive absences, or suspension/expulsion, as outlined above, shall result in the suspension of the student's driver's license until age eighteen. If the student has not been issued a temporary driving permit or a driver's license, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles shall deny such permits or license until the student becomes eighteen years of age. It is extremely important that you follow all attendance regulations and procedures in order to keep your driver's license or temporary permit.