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Tennessee school won’t accept doctor’s notes for absences
LAWRENCE COUNTY, TENNESSEE, JUL 26 – The new policy targets chronic absenteeism, which was nearly 14% in 2023-2024, and includes interventions and juvenile court referrals after multiple unexcused absences.
- The Lawrence County School System announced a new attendance policy disallowing doctor's notes to excuse absences starting this school year.
- The policy seeks to tackle chronic absenteeism after state records indicated that around 14% of students in Lawrence County Schools were absent for at least one-tenth of their school days during the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Under the policy, schools will begin interventions after three absences and may refer students missing eight or more days to juvenile court unless an attendance plan exists.
- Director Michael Adkins said, "You can bring all the doctor's notes you want, but it is still unexcused," adding students with sniffles are expected to attend school and absences risk failing grades or court petitions.
- The new rules face opposition from some parents like Rebecca Sanchez, who said her daughter missed about 17 days last year and that the policy changed her stance on homeschooling.
17 Articles
17 Articles
School District Ditches Doctor’s Notes for Absences
The Lawrence County School System in Tennessee has recently implemented a hotly debated new attendance policy that has sparked significant debate among parents and educators, News9 in Chattanooga reported. The policy, under which doctors' notes will no longer be accepted to excuse student absences, aims to address chronic absenteeism and instill reliability and a work ethic in students. "Attendance is a key factor in student achievement, and the…
Tennessee School District Ends Acceptance of Doctor’s Notes for Student Absences - News Facts Network
A Tennessee school district is drawing criticism after announcing it will no longer accept doctor’s... The post Tennessee School District Ends Acceptance of Doctor’s Notes for Student Absences appeared first on News Facts Network.
Middle Tennessee school won't accept doctor's notes for absences
(NewsNation) — One school district in Middle Tennessee will no longer accept doctors' notes to excuse an absence despite objections from parents. Lawrence County School System officials said the school is instituting the policy to teach students work ethic and reliability, saying that students will be expected to go to work sick or injured as adults. It is also intended to address chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of instructio…
'Come to school': New Lawrence County school policy targets absenteeism
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Lawrence County will no longer have excused or unexcused absences starting this school year. The school board approved the change in late June. "This is important to come to school each and every day," Director of Schools for Lawrence County Michael Adkins said during the recorded meeting. "And if you have got the sniffles, that is fine; you are going to have them when you go to work one day." Tennessee lawma…
Tennessee school won't accept doctor's notes for absences
(NewsNation) — One Tennessee school district will no longer accept doctors' notes to excuse an absence despite objections from parents. Lawrence County School System officials said the school is instituting the policy to teach students work ethic and reliability, saying that students will be expected to go to work sick or injured as adults. It is also intended to address chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of instructional time. …
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