Cara: Is it really legal for a school to NOT accept a doctors note – of ANY kind, to be excused from absence / hours.. my children’s middle school has a policy of…
MISS 2 DAYS IN ONE QUARTER = COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS even with an excused note from the dr. what are children supposed to do when they need their BRACES checked or adjusted, etc. This is down right WRONG to me. Its intimidating to the children to even go to a dr when sick, bc they are scared of having to OWE community service. I need to know, before I contact the school. My daughter was threatened if she missed 1, yes 1 more hour, she would owe…WHAT?!
Contact your state education agency. State truancy law usually have language like this:
6.Students should not be subject to sanctions for failure to attend school if lack of attendance is beyond the control of the student. Some absence should be excused without disciplinary penalty. Illness, school sponsored trips, or “unavoidable” occurrences would be examples of excused absences. It is also reasonable to require a doctor’s verification of the illness in some circumstances. It is not reasonable to do so in every case since to do so may work a hardship on families with limited or no insurance or families with working parents.
There should be district policy that aligns with state law on “excused absences”. Find out what your district policy says, & if campus is following it. If necessary you can appeal the campus decision up the “chain of command”.