Reply to Chronic Absenteeism in APS

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Reply to "Chronic Absenteeism in APS"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Some of the absenteeism might be because of the stupid requirement that parents provide a doctor’s note for sick absences.

I’m not sure how much schools enforce it, but we were told at back to school night that we need a doctors note for a sick absence to be excused. The PIP on attendance suggests it too:

“Supporting documentation, such as a doctor’s note, must be provided promptly upon the student’s return to school for the absence to be considered excused.”

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/CEQL3R549F72/$file/J-5.1.30%20PIP-1%20Attendance.pdf

It’s stupid to take your kid to the doctor for every minor illness. It’s also difficult, especially for parents who don’t have flexible work schedules or good health insurance or willing doctors.

I figure there could easily be a year where my kids get a lot of colds, I don’t take them to a doctor for a stupid cold, and we get the “chronically absent” label. [/quote]
I have not experienced this being enforced at APS... and do not believe that it can be.  You ARE required to contact the attendance office and notify them of your child being out sick in order for the absence to be excused.  But let's be honest... this isn't why the kids are being chronically absent. Low-income families are increasingly not seeing the value in sending their kids to school... which is alarming, and will have terrible implications for academic achievement and rates of post-high school education for those kids.[/quote]

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