Karen: My question is can I have that my daughter be given excused absences for attending her psychiatric appointments? My superintendent and high school principal say they are unexcused and that they count toward absences that will assist in determining if she will have to take her finals at the end of the semester. Students in our district are given a “free / excused” day if they go to an IHSA finals event as long as they check-in with the teacher in charge. In many instances, these students check in and then leave for the day to do whatever they want, but my child can’t go to a psychiatric appointment or counseling appointment without it counting against her. The school has written medical documentation of her anxiety disorder and sleep disorder, but still will not excuse her. They say the finals rule is an incentive and that they aren’t discriminating against her, but it sure doesn’t feel fair.
States typically have rules about absences, & districts can add additional rules, as long as they do not contradict the state rules. You can check with your state education agency or parent training & information center. http://www.parentcenterhub.org/find-your-center/