(NewsNation) — One Tennessee college district will no longer accept doctors’ notes to excuse an absence regardless of objections from mother and father.
Lawrence County College System officers said the school is instituting the policy to show college students work ethic and reliability, saying that college students might be anticipated to go to work sick or injured as adults.
It’s also meant to deal with chronic absenteeism, outlined as lacking 10 % or extra of tutorial time. Within the 2023-2024 college 12 months, Lawrence County had a 14 % price of persistent absenteeism.
With no federally mandated sick go away, many Individuals do go to work when sick, however public health officials advise against it. Staying house when sick can cut back the unfold of viruses just like the flu and COVID-19 and defend susceptible folks in the neighborhood.
The new attendance policy says college students will merely be marked absent or current, with no choices for docs to confirm a toddler is absent as a result of they’re sick or injured, want to remain house to get better or to forestall spreading contagious sicknesses to their classmates.
The coverage is supposed to assist enhance attendance charges, however mother and father have objected, noting that an absence for an sickness just like the flu may now imply a referral to the Lawrence County Juvenile Court docket for truancy.
Youngsters who get sick at college or are sent to school sick and despatched house by a nurse might be counted as tardy. Three tardies will equal an absence.
The brand new coverage additionally says faculties will begin intervention after simply three days, and eight or extra days marked absent will lead to a courtroom referral.
Different penalties may embrace failing a category or grade, not being allowed to take part in commencement or get a driver’s license or allow.
There might be exemptions for college students with documented persistent sicknesses and emergencies out of the coed’s management, in addition to allowances for deaths within the household and a few non secular observances.
The college district despatched a letter to medical suppliers asking them to emphasise regular school attendance and warning that medical notes may suggest college students ought to keep house even after their well being improves.