Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 3321 | School Attendance
Section 3321.141 | Contacting Parent, Guardian, or Other Person Having Care of Any Absent Student.

Effective: April 5, 2019
Latest Legislation: House Bill 66 - 132nd General Assembly
(A)(1) Within one hundred twenty minutes after the beginning of each school day, the attendance officer, attendance officer's assistant for each individual school building, or other person the attendance officer designates to take attendance for each school building shall make at least one attempt to contact, in accordance with division (A)(2) of this section, the parent, guardian, or other person having care of any student who was absent without legitimate excuse from the school the student is required to attend as of the beginning of that school day.
(2) An attempt to contact a student's parent, guardian, or other person having care of the student shall be made through one of the following methods:
(a) A telephone call placed in person;
(b) An automated telephone call via a system that includes verification that each call was actually placed, and either the call was answered by its intended recipient or a voice mail message was left by the automated system relaying the required information;
(c) A notification sent through the school's automated student information system;
(d) A text-based communication sent to the parent's, guardian's, or other person's electronic wireless communications device, as defined in division (G)(1) of section 4511.204 of the Revised Code;
(e) A notification sent to the electronic mail address of the parent, guardian, or other person;
(f) A visit, in person, to the student's residence of record;
(g) Any other notification procedure that has been adopted by resolution of the board of education of a school district.
(B) If the parent, guardian, or other person having care of a student initiates a telephone call or other communication notifying the school or building administration of the student's excused or unexcused absence within one hundred twenty minutes after the beginning of the school day, the school is under no further obligation with respect to the requirement prescribed in division (A) of this section.
(C) A school district, or any officer, director, employee, or member of the school district board of education is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly arising from an employee's action or inaction in good faith compliance with this section. This section does not eliminate, limit, or reduce any other immunity or defense that a person may be entitled to under Chapter 2744. or any other provision of the Revised Code or under the common law of this state.
(D) This section does not apply to either of the following:
(1) Students who are in home-based, online, or internet- or computer-based instruction;
(2) Instances where a student was not expected to be in attendance at a particular school building due to that student's participation in off-campus activities, including but not limited to participation in the college credit plus program established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code.