CLSD celebrates its diverse community and accommodates the sincerely held religious beliefs and practices of individual students with regard to all absences, examinations or other academic requirements for reasons of faith, religious or spiritual belief systems in accordance with State law.  

In accordance with Board Policy JEDC, students in grades kindergarten through 12 will be excused for up to three religious expression days per school year to take holidays for reasons of faith or religious or spiritual belief systems, or participate in activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church or other religious or spiritual organization. No academic penalty will be imposed on a student who is absent for such reasons in accordance with this policy and all requirements of State law. The number of hours for which a student is absent on an approved religious expression day is not considered in the calculations for determining absence hours for the purpose of parental notification under Ohio Revised Code 3321.191(C)(1). 

CLSD follows the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce's (ODEW) Non-Exhaustive List of Major Religious Holidays. This list includes many significant observances shared by community members and is meant for informational purposes.

Parents or Guardians must submit a written request to the school principal within 14 days of the start of the school year or within 14 days of a student's enrollment.  The request must specify the religious expression day(s) to be approved.

Once the days have been approved, the Principal will ensure that each teacher schedules a time and date for alternative examinations or other academic requirements that conflict with the student's absence.  Students may participate in interscholastic athletics or other extracurricular activities on days in which the student is absent for religious expression.

For more information, please refer to Board Policy JEDC.