How much of your child's illness is a parent required to divulge to school staff?

[HelenePA]

Because how can they predict the kid will incur a greater number of days in the following semester? It's the fact that he is now at 8 additional days missed after having missed 7 the previous semester. At 7 the first time they aren't going to say anything..add 8 more days to it and it becomes a pattern and raises concerns. It also puts him only 2 absences from the max for the semester..also a red flag.

my dd is ONE day away from the max per school year ut oh...

I'm so glad this school year is almost over!!!

 

[Coconut36]

but they have all been excused... The child gets sick a lot takes a day off here and there but hasn't reached the max for the allowable school year? but now we need to know why he was off 8-9 months ago? come on who can remember that far back and how they were feeling... if your going to change the rules you better do it in a reasonable time frame.. and not only for those close to the max but to EVERYONE in the school.. sorry you can't just make rules up for certain kids...

Nobody is changing any rules. Why do you keep saying that? The OP knows very well that 10 days is the most they can miss per semester and her son is at 8 right now. They are trying to determine if the child was genuinely ill or just being truant (often required by law for an investigation to happen) before he hits the max number of days.

So you feel it is better to wait until the kid reaches the max days..that depending on state laws would mean retention, mandatory summer school or legal intervention than step in and address the problem before that? That seems silly to me.

 

[Kathi OD]

Don't know about where you live but where I live you acknowledge the policy and procedures of the school and by enrolling your child agree to adhere to those policy and procedures. A free and appropriate public education comes with rules, regulations and policies..it's not a free for all where you get to decide for yourself.

You may be asked to acknowledge them, but you are not required to adhere to them. The school district may not require you to adhere to policies in order for a child to be enrolled. Your child has to be enrolled by the district even if you don't agree to adhere to the policies. The only rules, regulations, and policies that must be followed are those set forth by the state and federal law. Local policies can be, and often are, successfully challenged and changed. In fact, so are state and federal education laws. In the meantime, your child is still entitled to a free public education.

A free and appropriate education is provided for the child..that doesn't mean the child can miss 1/2 the school year and the parent isn't held accountable for it.

Except, no one is talking about 1/2 the school year. We're talking about 15 days, which fall within the school system's stated policy on absenteeism.

Again..in general these laws are at a state/county level and the school is the middleman. Here it is the county Juvenile Court system that oversees truancy. They will call a hearing, they will require documentation and they take action if you can't provide valid reasons for your child missing a set number of days of school. The school will often step in as the student approaches the max days to try to prevent it from going to court and get the documentation in order.

They laws are made at the state level as part of the state education statute. They are usually handled at the county level. However, courts generally only get involved IF the district determines that a student is truant and notifies the court of said truancy.

Having worked in school districts in several states, I can tell you not one of them has gone to court to declare a student who has missed a total of 15 days over the course of a school year, as is the case with the OP's child, truant.

Besides, the real problem isn't with the OP's school district asking for reasons why her son was absent, but that they are asking 9 months after the event.

 

[mamacatnv]

My DD is the Princess of puke due to ongoing anxiety issues.
We moved 5 weeks ago and so far she has missed 1 day a week.
I have a pre-printed note that I hang on the side of the fridge where I fill in date of absence and it says DD was ill.

New school calls me regarding my preprinted notes. They tell me "a note is acceptable but a Dr's note is better"
I told them they would not be getting a Dr's note, she is not sick, she is vomiting over anxiety and I would gladly make her go to school with her plastic puke bag but that is in violation of their policy.

DD has always missed a lot of school. We know what the issue is, we know she is not ill and if I had my way she would wander the halls with her puke bag. School is not in support of that idea as it is I send her back the next day and technically she has not gone 24 hours without puking.

 

[HelenePA]

Nobody is changing any rules. Why do you keep saying that? The OP knows very well that 10 days is the most they can miss per semester and her son is at 8 right now. They are trying to determine if the child was genuinely ill or just being truant (often required by law for an investigation to happen) before he hits the max number of days.

So you feel it is better to wait until the kid reaches the max days..that depending on state laws would mean retention, mandatory summer school or legal intervention than step in and address the problem before that? That seems silly to me.

why do I keep saying that? because if the kid had that many UNexcused days you can bet your little coconut something would have been done a LOT sooner than this... a month left in school, come on... I would still like to know how you were feeling on Aug 22, 2011 I mean it should be easy for you to recall.. this is what your asking for the OP to remember.

 

[Kathi OD]

They are not changing anything from the way I read it.

sure they are! Up until this point, it has been ok to send a note in that her child is ill, had a cold or the flu. Now they want to know specific symptoms, and not just specific symptoms from his most recent absences, but those from an absence 9 months ago!

They are taking steps BEFORE the kid reaches the max (that as other posters have stated in their state/district can result in retention or required summer school). Would it be better that they wait until the kid hits 10 and then step up and say "can you provide us with documentation for these days" as they are taking action through the state truancy program or setting in motion retention/summer school for the kid? Me, I would rather they address it before it gets to that point.

Then the policy should require specific details for all absences. You don't send a note home 3 weeks before the end of the school year asking for the specifics of an event that occurred 9 months prior.

In most states, before a student identified by a school district as truant ends up in a court hearing, there is a process that must take place to try and rectify the truancy. Court is the last place a school district wants to end up with its good students, even those who miss more days than set in district policy.

I'd also guess that if the child has managed to keep his grades up, retention/summer school is really more of a threat than a reality. Why would a school district or state want to go that route with a good student? You know those are the statistics that make schools and state educational programs look REALLY bad...much worse than absenteeism.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HelenePA

lol my dd9 just stayed home yesterday for a "personal day" but on her note it will say she wasn't feeling well. my dd11 was sick a lot this year in the start of the year so no personal days for her this year!

Or my favorite excuse, (you can't really say it). I have eye problems, I can't really see myself coming in today.

LOL!!! thiss one really got me!! No pun intended, right??!! snicker


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[aprilgail2]

I was brought up being told that school was my job, and to treat it as preparation for the real world. What message is a parent sending to a child when they tell him or her it's okay to take a day off every other week for a sore throat or the sniffles? How does this prepare a child to take college seriously or get his or her butt to work?

I thought my parents were too strict when I was a kid. They would have laughed in my face if I asked for a personal day. But you know what? I owe them a big thank-you.

School is their job just like work is my job--and at my job I get 12 sick days a year, 5 weeks vacation,12 paid holidays a year and 7 personal days a year- I don't have an issue with my kid taking 2-3 personal days a year from school- as long as there is not some big test or project due that day its no problem. She stays home when she is sick and takes a couple personal days yet still manages to take AP classes and pull in a 98.75 average in them. Sometimes the stress of it all does get to them and they need a day to "regroup".

 

[jrmasm]

I have to say, I am shocked that a parent would allow a student to miss 18 or more days out of a 180-day school year when no illness is serious enough to require a doctor. That's one day out of 10 - or one day every two weeks. I was brought up being told that school was my job, and to treat it as preparation for the real world. What message is a parent sending to a child when they tell him or her it's okay to take a day off every other week for a sore throat or the sniffles? How does this prepare a child to take college seriously or get his or her butt to work?

I thought my parents were too strict when I was a kid. They would have laughed in my face if I asked for a personal day. But you know what? I owe them a big thank-you.

I'm not shocked. I have coworker that misses that much work. She is highly respected in my office for her reliability and work ethic.

 

[Christine]

I'm not shocked. I have coworker that misses that much work. She is highly respected in my office for her reliability and work ethic.

Yep. Got some of those too. I have people in my office that, in the almost 5 years that I've been there, have yet to make it through one, 2-week pay period without calling in sick. It's always something. Either a headache, the think they are coming down with a cold, stomach issues, and what have you. Now, I realize that things happen. But every two weeks? And I do realize that some people just have issues--heck, I'm one of them especially with digestive concerns that impact me into my personal life and stop me from doing things I'd like. But not these people. They absolutely cannot make into work, yet they can go to Europe for 2 weeks, Disney for 10 days and never suffer a headache, stomach cramps, or anything else. I don't doubt that they feel bad at least once per pay period. I sure do, but somewhere along the line they've lost their work ethic and are no longer reliable. We just know that we have certain employees that we cannot count on.

 

[Pigeon]

Sorry but that is the reality of life. Either that or homeschool your child or pay to enroll them in private school. You don't get to say "sorry I bought this house so I get to decide what school rules and policies I follow or don't follow because I don't want to or can't move". Doesn't work that way.

My oldest is now in high school. We follow the sensible policies and ignore the ludicrous ones. It's worked just fine, actually, and that's the "reality of life." Both kids are on the high honor roll and the oldest received the school's highest award when she moved up to high school.

Some of the policies the school has chosen to adopt are actually illegal. They tried to force one of my kids to say the Pledge. What is hilarious is that dh and I went to high school (in the same district my kids now attend) with a kid who refused to do this in the seventies, and ended up taking the administration and school board all the way to the Supreme Court and the kid won.

They also try to force the kids to take the DARE program, without the specific parental consent they are obliged to obtain. They didn't do so well in that instance either.

The OP has stated that her kid does well in school. If the administration wants to get its knickers in a twist over this and waste a bunch of money and effort that would be better applied elsewhere with a kid who is doing fine in school, that's their problem. But my guess is that since the kid still hasn't actually violated the attendance policy at this point, just telling them it's none of their business will make them decide this is a battle that is not in their best interests.

 

[Mkrop]

From a parent perspective, it is nosy and intrusive. The school doesn't make decisions about when a child is sick enough or not sick enough to attend. The parent does.

Asking for symptoms is ridiculous, and not likely to result in any tangible benefit other than alienating parents. As you can read through the responses here, most folks on the DIS who were inclined to respond would just lie and make something up. How does that encourage parents and teachers to work together?

I'm not unsympathetic to the plight of teachers. It is a tough situation. Dh is a public school teacher and he has chronically truant students. In general, they do tend to suffer academically. In the case of the OP, she stated that her children are doing fine academically. Her child's absences have not exceeded the district maximum as per their own policy, and the school year is pretty close to being over.

In dh's experience, it's the kids who have parents who allow them to take endless "personal days" that have problems, moreso that kids who are genuinely ill. But those parents are just going to make up symptoms to keep the administrators happy.
And until the school is paying the medical bills for all students, it is unreasonable for everyone to have to bring in a doctor's note. In fact, our doctor often won't schedule an appointment for a bad cold or a fever.

How is the school to know the difference btw these two type of students, one who is genuinely ill and whose parents are writing genuine notes, and the parent who is just writing the notes to stay out of jail but doenst really care about their kids' academics I think the school is damned if they care about attendance and damned if they dont...like how could you let my poor baby not graduate.

Sorry..I feel absolutely the opposite. You don't get to pick and choose the rules and policies you follow when you choose to enroll your child in a school..especially a public one. You either follow the policies set forth or you don't send your child there. By all means..advocate for change via the proper channels but things like truancy are generally outside the hands of the school and are laws set forth by the state or county you live in so your fight would be with them.

I love how some parents seem to pick and choose which rules and policies they want to follow, heaven forbid an IEP or some other policy isnt followed to the T....

 

[chamonix]

Once your medical information gets into the hands of the school FERPA does apply. Usually, this medical information is related to educational activities. For example IEP or individualized Education Plans. Also, school nurses who do have your actual medical information are not bound by HIPAA, they are bound by FERPA.

http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/doc/ferpa-hipaa-guidance.pdf
V. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
1. Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule apply to an elementary or secondary school?
Generally, no. In most cases, the HIPAA Privacy Rule does not apply to an elementary or
secondary school because the school either: (1) is not a HIPAA covered entity or (2) is a HIPAA
covered entity but maintains health information only on students in records that are by definition
“education records” under FERPA and, therefore, is not subject to the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

quote from above website

My point Chamonix is that your medical record "become" educational records when the information is obtained by the school system. Thus HIPAA no longer applies.

Yes, that was my point as well, which is why I wrote:

As long as you don't release medical records to be placed in your educational record, neither will apply in this case.

 

[Pigeon]

How is the school to know the difference btw these two type of students, one who is genuinely ill and whose parents are writing genuine notes, and the parent who is just writing the notes to stay out of jail but doenst really care about their kids' academics I think the school is damned if they care about attendance and damned if they dont...like how could you let my poor baby not graduate.



I love how some parents seem to pick and choose which rules and policies they want to follow, heaven forbid an IEP or some other policy isnt followed to the T....

How is the school to know that a parent who sends in a note listing a bunch of symptoms isn't making the whole thing up? That seems to be what the majority of posters here would do. Maybe the principal should show up at your door with a polygraph? The school has to trust the parents to determine whether the child is sick enough to attend school. A note saying the child was ill does that just as well as a note with random symptoms.

 

[HelenePA]

I love how some parents seem to pick and choose which rules and policies they want to follow, heaven forbid an IEP or some other policy isnt followed to the T....

the policy WAS followed, they were excused absences... what dont people get about this.. now the school is changing things up 8 months later on her... My dd has an IEP.. maybe I should change it up with out telling the school and then demand they follow it? seems okay for the school to do according to you.

 

[tvguy]

Under HIPAA the school may not ask the nature of the illness. They could require a Doctor's note if too many days are missed. No different that the work place. Where I work if someone calls in sick, we are supposed to notify everyone that it impacts that they are "out" for the day. We are not allowed to even say they are out sick because that could be a HIPPA violation.

 

[badblackpug]

I am thinking that the school audited their attendance records and noticed that the OP's son had excessive absences. I don't know their reason for knowing the specifics of the absences, maybe they doubt their veracity, maybe they are doing some board of health tracking, I am also not sure what the OP wrote as an excuse in his earlier letters. Possibly she wrote a "diagnosis" such as "flu" and they need that changed because and actual infectious disease would require medical clearance to return to school. Perhaps they are looking for "fever and sore throat" instead.

However, in the absence of a chronic medical problem, that is an excessive amount of absences. These absences aren't, necessarily, "excused." In our school district we are allowed 10 "allowable" absences a YEAR. An allowable absence is one with a mommy note. We have "allowable" absences (mommy note) "Excused" absences (doctor's note, death in family, court date, college visit) and "truant" (no excuse at all)

After 10 "allowable" absences you are referred to social services. If it is a high school student and their grades are passing they must attend summer make up sessions in order to be promoted. If their grades are failing they must attend summer school.

I guess I'm saying 15 absences without a doctor's note or visit seems excessive. Maybe this is the school's not-so-subtle way of telling the OP that she needs to make her son suck it up and go to school, or if he really is that sick, see a doctor.

 

[ols386]

School is their job just like work is my job--and at my job I get 12 sick days a year, 5 weeks vacation,12 paid holidays a year and 7 personal days a year- I don't have an issue with my kid taking 2-3 personal days a year from school- as long as there is not some big test or project due that day its no problem. She stays home when she is sick and takes a couple personal days yet still manages to take AP classes and pull in a 98.75 average in them. Sometimes the stress of it all does get to them and they need a day to "regroup".

Is it written in your child's school policy that she gets 2-3 personal days a year?

If not, then you are teaching your child that it's ok to take days off, that she is not entitled to.

The fact that she takes AP classes has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Also, the fact that you get a certain amount of vacation days, personal days, and holidays for your job, has nothing to do with it.

 

[aprilgail2]

Is it written in your child's school policy that she gets 2-3 personal days a year?

If not, then you are teaching your child that it's ok to take days off, that she is not entitled to.

.

Well the fact is that I am in charge of my child, not the school so if I tell her that she is entitled to 2-3 personal days a year then she IS entitled to 2-3 personal days a year.

 

[Becky2005]

Of course, with school attendance policies you have the catch-22 problems. Here you have to be fever free for 24 hours -- so basically they get a freebie day off without being sick because the school says so. Work places don't have that in place as far as I know....

You run a fever on Monday - you call out but you feel fine on Tuesday - you go to work.

In the school world -- You run a fever on Monday - you call out but you feel fine on Tuesday -- you have to stay home, not allowed to go back until Wed.

Therefore, to me the argument that it is "just like the real world of work" doesn't quite cut it.

There is always the argument of you send your child to school sick and let them get everyone else sick & wait for the school to send them home or not....not like they are really going to learn anything if they feel awful anyway.

Of course, my kids would think they should get paid if it were like real workplace & in reality....it all boils down to the school wants to get paid by the state for the number of kids in class. If it weren't for that no administration in their right mind would make the kids go to school for 1 hour on the last day of school -- NOBODY wants to be there for that -- I can guarantee you the teachers don't want to be there any more than the kids but alas...if the kids are at school for 1 hour it can count as a 1/2 day if I recall. Therefore, they get their funding.