[DistrictEmisCoordinators] HB 214 - Religious Expression Days

[Angela Luttrell]

Good Afternoon!

I wanted to pass along additional information that I received in regards to reporting Religious Express Days...

In case anyone needs it, below is the response from DEW (Patrick Hickman, Ohio's Attendance Advisor) on how to handle the religious expression absences. In your SIS, you handle it the same way as you would the medically excused absence. The SIAC committee has been debating whether or not to add an additional qualifier (checkbox) or to simply change the medically excused indicator to include both medical and religious. In the meantime, they can just use the medically excused option (even if they create a new absence type and name it differently), since both are treated the same way in the software and EMIS.

How should schools and districts handle absences due to religious expression?
Ohio law<https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3320.04> allows students up to three religious expression days per school year for reasons of faith or religious or spiritual belief system provided that the parent or guardian provides written notice to the school or district. Schools and districts should collaborate with families to accommodate these absences. Review department guidance<https://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Student-Supports/Attendance-Support/Ohio-Attendance-Laws-FAQs/District-Policies/How-should-schools-and-districts-handle-absences-d/Religious-Expression-Holiday-List.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US> for more explanation and examples of major religious holidays.
The days are still marked as an absence, specifically excused, and those hours missed do not contribute to the 65 hours to determine if a student is excessively absent. If the district has a specific way of coding medically excused absences, which also follows this logic, that may be a helpful model to use. Any day outside these three should follow district policy on marking excused absences.


Angie Luttrell, CEP
EMIS Support Specialist
Miami Valley Educational Computer Association
888 Dayton Street, Suite 102
Yellow Springs, OH  45387
937-767-1468  ext 3111
FAX:  937-767-1793

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