School Attendance Policy Rant

[Straycat]

I got a call from my son's school yesterday about his attendence. Seems as if they are wanting to FA him (failure due to abscence) in his last block class (science), a class he has an A average in.
Policy is that a student may miss 4 sick days per 9 week term which my son has missed as he has been sick alot this school year. But twice this year I checked him out of school during his last block because he was sick and i wanted to get him home to rest. Last year I did this with no problem several times.
On the phone, the dean tells me that the policy is that the student must be in the class for half the class to be counted present. I checked him out at about 3:05 both times, the halfway mark is 3:20pm. So for this 15 minutes, they are going to fail him in science?
So, i looked at the attendance policy that was in his 2002-2003 handbook and it does NOT mention this new policy. On the phone was the first i have ever heard of it. The policy says that a student must be in school for at least 4 hours to be considered present for the day. Jag was there over 6 hours before i checked him out.

Attendance Policy Here is the policy, what do you all think, shouldnt they back down and let him pass the science class or do I just have to accept an F on his reportcard which is what they want me to do?

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

So let's say a kid gets pneumonia and misses a week of school. Automatic failure? I think not. Will the school accept a doctor's note for the absences? I'd try that route.

I have a problem with attendance policies. I realize that school funding is partially related to attendance, however as a parent I have the right to make certain decisions that I believe to be in the best interest of my child and my family.

 

[Kermit]

Have you taken him to the doctor for any of the absenses? They have to excuse them if you have a doctor's note. (It says in the policy that you'll do that when you appeal.) I've never lived in Florida, but in most states, the number of absenses they say you can have are really unexcused absenses. They can't fail a child for being genuinely sick. I found that out when I got mono my junior year. I missed about half of the last 6-weeks grading period because I just couldn't stay awake for a whole day. I'd go for the morning one day and the afternoon the next. They had to send a formal note to my parents saying that I had gone over the limit, but we had already talked to them and knew that the note from my doctor would be all that we needed.

 

[peg2001]

That policy is bs. Failing your son because of absences due to illness is not acceptable, especially since he has kept his grade so high despite the absences.

Here's what you do, send a formal letter to the school explaining the situation and what you have been told so far; be as specific as possible with names of who you spoke to and the dates. Ask for a resolution to this problem and offer up something that you are willing to do. For example, if your son needs to be absent more than 4 times in any one class in any one grading period, you will provide a doctors note. Use expressions like, "this letter represents my attempt to resolve this problem in good faith."

Now, the most important part, cc: someone at the bottom. By sending a copy to someone, it gives the appearance that you are involving a lawyer. Don't SAY you are involving a lawyer unless you really are.

I have used this tactic a couple times when I could not resolve a problem (once with a laboratory and once with a doctor). It worked wonderfully each time. The school does NOT want the threat of a lawsuit. They are just bullying you and your son. Don't stand for it.

Peggy

 

[SeaSpray]

If it were my DS, I'd definitely fight the new policy. Did your DS see the doctor at all during those absences? If so, call and ask for a note to excuse those days out.

I know that the schools want to think they have our kids' best interest at heart, and I'm sure they do when it comes to the kids of parents who really don't care, but I really resent all of these rules and regulations that the schools are instituting, and which take away the ability to make (good) decisions, from parents.

 

[Straycat]

hi again,
i did not take him to the doctors while he was sick. I am not insured, my husband died last year and as a single mother back in college fulltime, i dont have the money to take him to a doctor when it is just a bad cold/or virus that is going around.
I am going to go up to the school now, and see if i can resolve this by showing them thier own attendence policy and making them show me where it says he has to be in class at least half the period. Wish me luck.

 

[Bumbles]

I don't see anything about being in class for at least half the time however I do see this:

All students must be in attendance a minimum of four (4) hours of instructional time to be considered present each day.

Um, if he's just missing that one class, I'm assuming he's in school at least 4 hours. Plus, he's keeping up his grades...don't put up with their BS!

 

[jipsy]

Out of curiosity, why would you check him out for the last 20-30 minutes of school? Does he have a chronic illness?

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

This doesn't make sense. Court dates and religious holidays automatically don't count toward the absence policy but you have to file an appeal for a medical reason to be valid?? I didn't see anything about 1/2 the period either.

When I was in school, I remember that if you were there for half the day, you were counted present, even if you missed the entire last class or two. I'm surprised this school system doesn't have a similar policy instead of being on a per-class basis from the way it sounds.

 

[Pam]

This policy is also in effect at our HS. Last year we took our kids along to Vail,. Colorado for a conference. They were to only miss 3 days. Then 9-11 happened and we got stuck. We ended up driving all the way home in our rental car. DD missed Monday-Thursday. We arrived home on Friday at 6:12 am, she was in school by 7:24 am that same morning!

We had called and left word with the principal on our situation when we were in Colorado. He told us not to worry, to just get home safely when we could.

In mid-October I received an interim from my DD's social studies teacher. It stated that she had a 98% but that if she missed more than 8 days in the semester, he could flunk her, regardless of her letter grade!

I immediately got on the horn with the guidance counselor, teacher, vice-principal and principal. DD did not go over her allotted amount of sick days.

Can he not just stick it out the remaining 20-30 mintes of class each day?
Pam

 

[TimeforMe]

I work in a middle school and track the students' attendance every day. You would not believe the number of students who get an early dismissal for routine dental/medical appts, sports, auditions, etc., etc. that can and should be arranged after school hours. It's really quite sad the example these parents are setting by letting their kids think that school is not the priority. I am NOT saying this is the case for your DS, but that the school may feel a need to keep these things in check for this reason and maybe your DS is feeling the brunt of this. I would speak personally to his guidance counselor (not sure what grade he's in) and keep an open communication. Why, however, would you allow him to go all day and take him out so close to the end of the school day to rest? Just curious....

 

[Straycat]

ok, i am back, here are the answers to your questions.
the reason i checked my son out at 3:05, and 3:10 is because he was still not feeling well at all those days. If i couldve, i would have kept him home those days, but we dont have the extra days to spare. His school lets out at 4:05 and by the time he takes a bus home, it is 4:30 before he walks in the door. I was trying to give him an extra hour and a half to rest so his body can get better. I was just trying to take care of him the best i know how. By the time i checked him out both times, he had already spent over a half an hour in the science class, he had gotten the days work and homework. If i would have known of the policy, i wouldnt have checked him out till the halfway mark. btw, this is block scheduling, the classes are 85 minutes long.
So, i went to see the head dean who is the one who called me yesterday around noon today, she was not so nice.
I brought with me the attendance policy in the student handbook, the same policy that is in my son's planner and asked her to show me where it says that he had to be in each class at least half the time to be counted present. She said it is not in there. I showed her the 4 hours statement, she says that it is for the elementry schools. I show her the cover of the handbook that says secondary schools on it, she blew that off as well, said they just change the cover for the different grades but the inside is identical for all schools. I asked how i am supposed to adhere to a policy that i have never heard of and is not stated anywhere. She blew me off again. Told me I have to appeal using the reasons i told her about, and that she will not change it before the report cards go out.
So, I hit a brick wall. Thank you florida school system.

btw, thank you all for your advice, i appreciate it.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Straycat,
This is a Brevard County School System problem, not a State of Florida problem. THis is the worst attendance policy ever. Makes me want to vote against everyone on the school board. Unbelievable that a kid can't even get sick and that you have to appeal to some stupid board. I am FUMING over this new policy. HATE IT, HATE IT, HATE IT!!!!!!

Edited to add: Even if you have a Doctor's note, it doesn't matter, 9 days is 9 days and you have to appeal to this special board.

 

[TimeforMe]

Sorry to hear you hit a brick wall with the Dean, but sounds to me like you have an excellent case. How can you adhere to a policy that is not stated in writing anywhere???? Is there someone over her head you can go to? Don't give up! I have dealt with administrators long enough to know that is exactly what they want--that if they can blow you off, they will. Her "explanation" doesn't hold water if she can't prove the policy. Stick to your guns!

 

[kamgen]

I am so sorry for your problems.
I am so angry at the public school systems in the country (blanket statement and I do not mean all )!!

As a former teacher, I am sure some of my old colleagues would flame me for this...BUT...who do schools these days think they are??????????? When did parents lose the control of what their children do????? I feel that it is up to the parents when children miss school, and by all means if you feel your child is too sick to go, keep them home. And for other reasons kids miss school (appointments, family trips, meetings, etc), it is up to the parents, not the school. I beleive that the politics that are the public school system is on a power trip. JMHO.
I feel that as long as a student completes their assignments on time and in a satisfactory manner, it should no matter how many days they miss school. I have known kids that missed 15 days of school and got all A's, while kids who were there all the time failed. Being physically "in school" doesn't mean they are "there" mentally.
had to vent!!!!
Kamy

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Here's the policy if anyone wants to take a look:

http://www.neola.com/brevardco-fl/policies/po5200.htm

 

[Dopey Sharon]

It amazes me the...who does the school think they are, they're my kids I'll do what I want...attitude of some people. Do you really think the school boards sit around and think up rules to hurt the kids? How about trying this...the next time your son calls you, because he's..ahem...sick...tell him to stick it out and pick him up when school is over. How many days did he miss school because he was really sick and how many days did he miss because of other reasons...like going on vacation, appointments, etc? School is the most important part of children's lives...when will some parents realize that?

 

[kamgen]

I don't want to turn this into a debate, but I do want to speak my feelings on this.
In my opinion, school is VERY important in a child's life, but it is not the MOST important thing. There are children who have no winter coats or no food....hard to say school is the most important thing in their life.
Also, if my child is ill, they should not be in school. Not only do they prolong their illness, but put other children at risk. Many times in my classroom, i would have students call their parents because I could tell they were ill.

Actuall, getting an education is VERY important, school is just the building in which most children receive their education. There is a lot to be said about home schooling and life experience as a means of learning.
JMHO.
Kamy

 

[minniecarousel]

Straycat - it sounds like you need to go the appeal route. I don't know how they can enforce a policy that parents are not made aware of! Now that you know what the policy is, I'm sure you'll avoid getting him into this negative situation. It's not worth the hassle! (It sounds like you'd win the appeal - if you don't, you've got a bigger problem!)

 

[wvjules]

I think if your son is ill that often, he needs checked out for something serious.