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As we start the new school year, Oakwood Schools is updating how we track, support, and talk about student attendance. Under a recent Ohio law, House Bill 96, districts must now track attendance as a percentage rather than total hours and intervene earlier to help students who miss school. Our main goal is to work with families to keep every student’s attendance at 90% or higher, because consistent attendance makes a difference in how well students learn and grow.

To stay aligned with state rules, we are implementing clear tracking guidelines and using a simple, transparent communication plan to keep families in the loop all year long.

Key Policy Updates

Under state law, missing 10% or more of school time, about two to three days a month, puts a student in the "chronically absent" category. The biggest change under the new law is that every hour missed counts toward this percentage, whether the absence is excused, unexcused, or for a medical reason. The only exceptions are official school activities, such as field trips or athletic events.

Parents and caregivers can excuse up to 65 hours of absence per year for any reason. After reaching that limit, official medical notes are required for an absence to be marked as excused. A helpful tip is to turn in doctor or dentist notes early in the year, so you save your 65 caregiver hours for when you really need them. Also, state law allows up to three days of excused absences for religious holidays, provided you send a written note to the building principal within 14 days of the start of school or your child's enrollment date.

Partnering With Families Through Communication

To help families easily monitor attendance, Oakwood Schools will send automated informational email updates twice per quarter. These check-ins will show your child's attendance percentage alongside overall building and district averages so you can see where things stand.

We know numbers don't tell the whole story. A short illness early in the term can make an attendance percentage look alarming when it isn't (for example, missing two out of the first 10 days shows up as an 80% rate). Our staff will always review individual circumstances before reaching out. If a team member calls or emails you about attendance, please don't worry that your student is in trouble. Our goal is simply to check in, help arrange makeup work, and offer support long before formal consequences enter the picture.

For complete details, answers to common questions, and helpful resources, please visit our Attendance Information webpage.

Oakwood City Schools is proud to announce that nine Oakwood High School seniors have advanced to Finalist standing in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Please join us in congratulating Matthew Drummond, Ethan Ha, Neil Heckman, Cameron Lindsey, Riley Robb, Ben Sayer, Anna Weaver, Emmanuel Williams, and Harry Zheng.

These seniors will now continue in the nationwide competition for roughly 6,900 National Merit Scholarships, worth nearly $26 million in total.

The final Merit Scholar designees will be chosen this spring. Selections are based on the students' skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in college.