What do you do when a school is accusing of truancy when a child is absent because of illness?

Question

My daughter is 5 and has asthma; so every cold that she gets settles right in her chest and makes for a very nasty cough. Well this is my daughters first year in public schools and I have received a letter in the mail yesterday and a phone call from the counselor today regarding her absenteeism. Do you think the schools should be more concerned with a childs attendence if there is a valid medical condition that is prohibitting them from attending school or the individual childs health? my irritation comes from the question the counselor left me "what can we do to have your daughter here every day?" well if there was a pill to cure her asthma or magically make her immune to colds by all means! she'd be there everyday; but there isn't and as a mother my concern and my first priority is that my child is healthy; if she's not whats the point in sending her to school if she's sick and not able to retain whats being taught! What do you think?

i do care about her education and i don't particularly care for someone assuming that I'm not sending her to school just because... and there will be a note from her pediatrician sent to the school but i know of instances where it doesn't count. so what next?!

I had just assumed that as a parent it was my call whether or not my daughter was well enough to attend school and when i say that she is sick and that was the reason for absence that should suffice. but i think to avoid this in the future i will be getting a note each time she's absent more than 1 or 2 times a month from he doctor to avoid this in the future. it's frusterating to me to be accused of this when my daughter is my life.

Answer 1

The "counselor" is likely a jackass. Report him to the principal or the district superintendent. There is no qualification for counselor in many school districts except a degree, and many shouldn't be allowed near real, live kids. The school may also be playing a numbers game: they get state funds depending on the total number of days kids are in class, so it means money to them to get as many little butts in their seats as possible every day. A responsible counselor wouldn't be willing to go along, if that's what's happening. At best, what's needed is a plan for keeping your girl's studies up to par with her classmates. That should be the school's only concern.

Your daughter's condition isn't contagious, but most illnesses are. It gripes me no end when little Typhoid Marys get a gold star for perfect attendance after sending the rest of the school to the hospital!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

In our state, their are truancy laws. The schools must abide by them. The parent is to call in by nine am and report the reason for illness. If a child misses three days in a row without a call from a parent or a doctor's excuse then it is within the means of the school to send the truancy officer and to report it as neglect on the parents part. If the child misses too much school, which is probably a month within a year, it is very possible that the child will not be passed on to the next grade. Especially if the child is already behind academically.
If the school is aware of the asthma, and a doctor has sent all the transcripts etc. then the school nurse should address the issue with you so that you can fully explain the circumstances.
Probably one fourth of the students in our school are asthmatic. Inhalers are present at school, teachers and other staff are trained in preentative measures to take to insure the safety of the child, asthma classes are taught, asthmatic children are given classes during their lunch hour in order to better understand the illness and what to do, etc.
I think you are feeling as if the school thinks that you are a bad parent when in reality they only have your child's best interest at heart. They want to help and will work cooperatively with you. It\s their job. They don't want to make your life harder. They want to insure that your child will be successful at school. Meet with the counselor, principal, and teacher and explain the situation and make up a plan to pickup your child\s homework while she is out ...not after she returns. You don't want your child to get behind in the academics. Missing a day of school can never be replaced. Homework and make up work does not begin to compare to the learning and instructional time that is given at the school.

Answer 4

This happened to my best friend. Here in Washington the school can report it if they feel it is a problem but if the school knows the extenuating circumstances surrounding the absenteeism then they shouldn't be harassing you about it. My best friend was Pregnant and it was the end of the school year and the month before school got out she got the letter that her kids had been absent and it was a problem, she went down there after she had her daughter and told them what is wrong with you people you know I am pregnant and my kids have been sick as well and I wrote a note for each time they were absent. They aren't flunking in school so I don't think that this Becca Bill is legit for me. She had to go to court because of it and found out that the school doesn't have to report it if there is a good and legitimate reason. Your daughter has a reason and you need to go down there and tell them that they don't need to be sending you these letter because they know the reason for her absence. If you have to go to court bring letters from her doctor stating her asthma and that she will miss school if she gets sick because it's not like the flu it is a life or death thing.

Answer 5

I can understand why you would not send your child to school if she is sick due to her asthma. We had that problem with my grandson ( he lives with us)

In kindergarten, he missed several days because he got bronchitis when he got a cold.

Now -in first grade --the same thing was happening. His doctor now has him on three different medications to control the asthma. He is doing much better now.

When he was missing so much school, I made sure to get a note from the doctor stating when he could return to school. I also called the school to get some of his work for him to do at home.

School personnel are interested in "the bottom line" They have to maintain a certain level of attendance in order to meet standards. The whole "No Child Left Behind" thing has schools more focused on statistics than on individuals.

Keep your child home if you need to --but be sure to get a statement from your doctor each time. And keep a copy for yourself, in case you need it.

Answer 6

I would call and schedule an appointment with the principal and her teacher so that you can explain the situation face to face. Always have documentation from your pediatrician, and you may want to ask your child's doctor to write a note explaining that it is common for children with pronounced Asthma to get sick often and future absences are likely and unavoidable.
Then I would ask your child's teacher for a game plan when sickness strikes again. Can you pick up work for your child to do? Can you call and get an overview of that weeks lesson plans so you can help keep your child up with the class. Mainly your child's school is trying to make sure you are an involved parent and not someone who is neglecting a child's needs over their own. I know it is hard not to take offense, but unfortunately they need to be that way to help the kids who are in that position.

Answer 7

I would think if your child is genuinely sick then you could easily get a doctor to confirm this to the school.....unfortunately their are parents who do not seem to care about where their children are during school or do not send their children to school and your daughter may just have gotten caught in the middle.....i don't believe your daughter is being targeted .....just caught in the middle of protecting children who are kept out of school when there is no need for them to be.....even if your child is sick I know that you can request that work can be sent home for her to complete at home so she doesn't get left behind....the school counselor is not the enemy here and really is trying to get the best education for your child

Answer 8

Unfortantly the schools can call a truant officer. I would get to the doctors and have them write a note explaining the issue. Remember that the more school she misses the farther behind she falls. Ask the teacher if she can do the school work at home when she's sick. They should provide you with some work she can do.

Answer 9

If she has been absent alot and you never provided a note, they are totally in the right to contact you. I even think that they HAVE to contact you. Many schools have policies set forth by the board of Education. If a child is absent for more then 2 or 3 days, a doctors note has to be provided.

Since you did not provide any notes...what are they supposed to think? They want to make sure she is absent for a real medical reason provided by a doctor and not being kept home by an irresponsible parent or even an abusive one.

Answer 10

Ask your daughter's pediatrician to write a letter to the school stating your daughter's condition and ask for homeschooling during periods of extended abscences. Most school districts have a plan they can put into play during these situations.