• JECE: Student Withdrawal from School

    Policy

    Withdrawal of Students

    The Board recognizes that it is in the best interest of both students and the community that they complete their educational program. Graduation from high school equips students with necessary skills and increases their chances for a successful and fulfilling life beyond school.

    A student's enrollment ceases on the date when any of the following occur:

    • The District receives documentation from a parent terminating enrollment of the student
    • Another public or nonpublic school provides the District documentation of a student's enrollment in another public or nonpublic school
    • The student, without a legitimate excuse, is continuously absent from school for 105 consecutive hours of learning
    • The District must do so for another reason under State law

    Kindergarten Students

    A child under six years old and enrolled in kindergarten is compulsory school age unless the student's parent or guardian, in consultation with the student's teacher and principal, believes that it is in the student's best interest to withdraw the student from kindergarten formally.

    Students Under Age 18

    The District does not permit a student under 18 to withdraw without a parent or guardian's written consent.

    Students Over Age 18

    Whenever an 18 or older student chooses to withdraw, the District makes an effort to determine the underlying reason for such action. In addition, the District assists the student in reaching their career goals by use of the following methods:

    • Makes exit interviews available to any student choosing to withdraw
    • Assists the student in defining their own educational life goals and helps plan the realization of those goals
    • Informs the student of alternative programs
    • Advises the student of their right to return to school before age 22
    • Provides for the return of all District owned supplies and equipment possessed by the student

    Students over 18 are no longer of compulsory school age and are no longer subject to the jurisdiction of the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. The District may withdraw these students from school for excessive unexcused absences at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer. The student must miss seven consecutive school days, ten or more school days in one month, or fifteen or more school days in one year for the District to involuntarily withdraw the student.

    Before any action to withdraw such students from school, the principal must document that the school has made substantial and reasonable efforts to contact the student and the student's family to ascertain the reasons for the student's nonattendance. If such efforts have failed to result in the student's return to school, the principal proceeds to withdraw the student over 18. Should the student return to school after their withdrawal, the principal must immediately re-enroll the student in school.

    Students in Custody of Ohio Department of Youth Services

    Only the appropriate staff identified by the Chief Executive Officer may process the withdrawal of students placed in the Ohio Department of Youth Services custody.

    The District maintains documentation, including, but not limited to, copies of court orders or communication from the Ohio Department of Youth Services, in a manner prescribed by the Chief Executive Officer.

    Students in Juvenile Detention Facility

    The withdrawal of students placed in the custody of a juvenile detention facility or a community-based correctional facility, when applicable, shall be made by the appropriate staff identified by the Chief Executive Officer. The District retains documentation, including but not limited to copies of court orders or communication from the applicable facility in a manner prescribed by the Chief Executive Officer.

    Students in Residential Treatment Facility

    The withdrawal of students placed in the custody of a residential treatment facility, when applicable, shall be made by the appropriate staff identified by the Chief Executive Officer. Documentation, including, but not limited to, copies of court orders or communication from the applicable facility, shall be retained in a manner prescribed by the Chief Executive Officer.

    Documentation of Withdrawals

    Schools ensure proper documentation is received and recorded to withdraw any student. Therefore, the school must keep hard copies of all documentation in the student files. In addition, withdrawal documentation must comply with State and Federal law, Education Management Information System (EMIS) protocols, and District guidance.

    After receiving the required documentation, the principal signs the withdrawal form and submits it to the District for compliance review. The District forwards the documentation to the appropriate office for processing, and a copy of the withdrawal must be kept in the student's file and the District records.

    Expulsions

    Under Board Policy JG (Student Rights and Responsibilities), the Chief Executive Officer initiates expulsion proceedings against a student who commits an act that warrants expulsion under Board policy, even if the student withdraws from school before the hearing or decision to expel. The District imposes any resulting expulsion for the same duration had the student remained enrolled. The District retains all documentation, including but not limited to copies of the determination by the District's Office of Hearings and Appeals, in a manner prescribed by the Chief Executive Officer.

    Notifications to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court

    The Chief Executive Officer or their designee provides written notice to the Registrar of Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court when a student of compulsory school age withdraws from school for a reason other than a change of residence and is not enrolled in and attending an approved program to obtain a diploma or its equivalent. The District makes this notification to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court no later than two weeks after the student's withdrawal.

    After receiving such notice from the District, the Registrar of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles suspends the student's temporary instruction permit or driver's license. If the student does not have a temporary permit or license, the Registrar does not issue a temporary permit or a license. Any denial of driving privileges remains in effect until the student reaches 18 or until the denial of driving privileges is terminated for another reason allowable under State law. A student with suspended driving privileges can file a petition with the Juvenile Court seeking reinstatement of driving privileges.

    Records Retention

    The District maintains all documentation required under this policy, State law, and Federal law following the District's record retention schedule adopted by the District's Records Commission.

    Administrative Guidelines

    The Chief Executive Officer develops administrative guidelines for withdrawal from school and as otherwise directed by this policy. Such guidelines shall include procedures to ensure enrollment occurs in another school or district.

    History

    • Adopted: March 25, 2014
    • Amended: August 19, 2014; June 28, 2022

    Legal References