(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CHRONIC OR HABITUAL TRUANT. A child subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days.
DROPOUT. Any child enrolled in grades 1 through 12 whose name has been removed from the district enrollment roster for any reason other than his or her death, extended illness, graduation or completion of a program of studies and who has not transferred to another public or private school.
RELIGION. Includes all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief.
TRUANT. A child subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for a school day or portion thereof.
TRUANT MINOR. A chronic truant to whom supportive services, including prevention, diagnostic intervention and remedial services, alternative programs and other school and community resources have been provided and have failed to result in the cessation of chronic truancy, or have been offered and refused.
VALID CAUSE FOR ABSENCE. Illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, and shall include such other situations beyond the control of the student as determined by the board of education in each district, or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of the student.
(B) Truancy prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of 18 enrolled in a public, private or parochial school, to absent himself or herself from attendance at school without parental permission.
(C) False excuse prohibited. It shall be an offense under this section for a parent or person in loco parentis to knowingly submit to the proper school authorities a written excuse under division (B) above that contains false information.
(D) Permission parameters. Parental permission shall include permission from a person in loco parentis, and shall be given for reasons only of personal illness, serious family illness, death in the family, serious home emergencies, necessary and lawful family support employment, religious convocation classes, principal’s permission and compelling family reasons.
(1960 Code, § 30-1-44) (Ord. 5427, passed 5-15-1995; Ord. 7504, passed 7-5-2011; Ord. 7966-2016, passed 7-5-2016) Penalty, see § 130.99