Amendment No. am_136_1788

H. B. No. 125

As Introduced

__________________________ moved to amend as follows:

In line 1 of the title, delete "3321.043" and insert "3321.044"

In line 2 of the title, delete "excused absences from" and insert "attendance at"; delete "to"

In line 3 of the title, delete "participate in 4-H and FFA programs" and insert "during participation in district-approved activities"

In line 4, delete "3321.043" and insert "3321.044"

Delete lines 6 through 26

After line 26, insert:

"Sec. 3321.044. (A) A school district shall consider a student in any of grades kindergarten through twelve present at school during school hours when the student is participating in scheduled school-sponsored or workforce preparation activities approved by the district. Approved activities shall include 4-H and FFA activities or programs, athletic tournaments, field trips, internships, shadowing opportunities, and any other activity approved by the district.

A school district may require an educator affiliated with the activity or the student's parent to submit written documentation, including the hours of participation, to a school principal or attendance officer as proof of participation in the approved activity.

The district shall give the student the opportunity to make up any school work missed during the student's participation in an approved activity under this section.

Class grades for the student and the chronic absenteeism calculation for the district or school shall not be adversely affected by the student's participation in an approved activity under this section.

(B) Notwithstanding division (A) of this section, a school principal or a designee of the school principal shall consider a student absent under this section if the student's participation in an activity occurs during either of the following:

(1) A scheduled administration of state assessments;

(2) Any period of time for which the student has been disciplined, suspended, or expelled, if the terms of such punishment would preclude the student from otherwise participating in an educational field trip or extracurricular activity."

The motion was __________ agreed to.

SYNOPSIS

Attendance at school during district-approved activities

R.C. 3321.044

Requires a school district to count a student who participates in a district-approved, school-sponsored or workforce preparation activity during school hours as being present at school.

Requires a district to approve, at minimum, 4-H and FFA activities or programs, athletic tournaments, field trips, internships, and shadowing opportunities.

Permits a district to require an educator affiliated with the activity or the student's parent to submit written documentation as proof of student participation in an approved activity.

Requires a district to give a student the opportunity to make up any school work missed during participation in an approved activity.

Prohibits a student's class grades or the chronic absenteeism calculation for the district or school from being adversely affected by the student participating in an approved activity.

Requires a school principal or the principal's designee to consider a student absent if the student's participation in an approved activity occurs during either of the following:

- A scheduled administration of state assessments;

- Any period of time for which the student has been disciplined, suspended, or expelled, if the terms of such punishment would preclude the student from otherwise participating in an educational field trip or extracurricular activity.