It’s been a while since I’ve been in school, but I can certainly remember how strict it was when I was absent! I remember my parents being real good about making sure my absence was excused when I was sick; they’d call in to the school and let them know, and if I went to the doctor they made sure to get a note. However, in one state that doctor’s note could soon mark your student as unexcused!
One school district in Tennessee has decided that sick days no longer cut it- even when backed by a physician! After just a few absences, students are flagged. Miss eight days? They’re headed straight to juvenile court for truancy. It’s a bold move aimed at cracking down on chronic absenteeism, but it’s also the kind of policy that raises a big question for Texas parents: would something like this ever fly here?
District officials say the change is meant to teach kids “reliability” and “work ethic,” arguing that a simple case of the sniffles isn’t reason enough to skip school. The district’s superintendent, Michael Adkins, said:…