The Ohio Department of Education yesterday issued guidance on Ohio's new truancy laws, which beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, generally mandate that districts take an intervention-based approach to students who miss too much school.

Included in the guidance is an awaited ODE model policy framework, which ODE describes as "a general, high-level model policy," with additional details being decided at the local level. The guidance also includes ODE's answers to frequently asked questions about commonly used definitions, tracking and reporting attendance, districts' responses to habitual truancy and excessive absence, the role of the absence intervention team, and partnering with community agencies.

School districts should use the remaining summer weeks to adopt or fine-tune absence policies for the 2017-2018 school year, to the extent not already done.