Get a Doctor's Note or 30 Days in Jail

grannynurse FNP student · Jan 10, 2006

My son called me today, very concerned about a letter he has received from our local school authorities. My granddaughter is a typical six-year-old and is attending public Kindergarten. Well, as kids do, they come in contact with other sick kids and wind up getting sick themselves. He told me that she had recently contracted a strep infection. My daughter-in-law took her to her Pediatrician for treatment and obtained a excuse, which covered her absence for two days. However, my granddaughter remained sick beyond those two days and wound up missing five altogether. My daughter-in-law did not take her back to the Pediatrician to get another note to cover the remaining three days, because my son did not have the money to pay for another office visit. Now the authorities are threatening to have him jailed, if my granddaughter misses one more day of school without a doctor's excuse. I know that the schools are trying to enforce the truancy laws, but think it is rather unrealistic for them to expect a parent to haul their kid to the doctor in order to get an excuse every time they wake up throwing up. What do you think? Do those of you who work in Pediatricians' offices see a lot of visits for this reason?

It may be a county regulation and a misdemeanor. Or it could be a state law. I would suggest he check on-line. Most public libraries have free INTERNET access. And a research librarian to help him find out. Then he should take it from there. If it is an actual state law, suggest he contact the local ACLU.

Grannynurse:balloons:

Jolie, BSN · Jan 10, 2006

I don't know where your son lives or the laws in his state, but I suspect that this is simply a matter of money for the school district.

2 years ago, my youngest daughter experienced a very bad year in Kindergarten. She had approximately 25 absent days due to illness. All were properly called into the school, and followed up with notes upon her return. I was in constant contact with her teacher, the school counselor, and our pediatrician. I was a personal friend of the principal, and he knew I was an RN.

Near the end of the school year, I received a very condescending letter signed by the principal indicating that a minor illness was not sufficient reason to keep a child home, and it was in my daughter's best interests to come to school, even if sick. I hit the roof! I made an immediate appointment to see the principal, and let him know that my daughter's health was not open to his discussion, as he was NOT a healthcare professional. I had more than adequate evidence that she was under medical treatment for legitimate illnesses, and furthermore, despite her absences, she was performing at the top of her class. I insisted that he remove the copy of the letter from her file, and would not leave his office without an apology.

I got the apology, along with an admission that it was all about money, as the school district receives state funds based on student attendance. He stated that he signed a stack of identical letters, most of which went to students with no real attendance problem, just a number of illnesses.

It is possible that your son's state requires some type of reporting to truant officers, so I would not let this go without investigating it, but absences due to illness are NOT a valid reason to threaten parents with legal action.

Good luck to them!

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2006

It may be a county regulation and a misdemeanor. Or it could be a state law. I would suggest he check on-line. Most public libraries have free INTERNET access. And a research librarian to help him find out. Then he should take it from there. If it is an actual state law, suggest he contact the local ACLU.
Grannynurse:balloons:

He told me that in the letter he received stated that it was State law requiring mandatory school attendance. My daughter-in-law was supposed to take this matter up with the school today. Our school systems have gotten so paranoid about things, right down to suspending an honor student with a harmless key chain in her possession for ten days. The girl's parents got a lawyer, but it didn't do any good. There's a BIG difference between bringing a lethal weapon and a key chain to class, just as there is one being sick and being truant. Give me a break! :angryfire

grannynurse FNP student · Jan 10, 2006

He told me that in the letter he received stated that it was State law requiring mandatory school attendance. My daughter-in-law was supposed to take this matter up with the school today. Our school systems have gotten so paranoid about things, right down to suspending an honor student with a harmless key chain in her possession for ten days. The girl's parents got a lawyer, but it didn't do any good. There's a BIG difference between bringing a lethal weapon and a key chain to class, just as there is one being sick and being truant. Give me a break! :angryfire

Sounds like you live here in Florida. Mandatory school attendance is tie to state and federal monies. Your son needs to talk with the ACLU. They generally take an interest in this type of case. Or he can contact the state bar association and ask for a referral to three attorneys who specialize in this type of education law. They will meet with him, for a small donation, for one hour and advise him of what he can do.

Good luck

Grannynurse

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2006

I just don't understand it ! :angryfire I am so sorry for the predictment! I just don't understand the school systems. When my son is home sick from school I always write him a note explaining why he was absent. Is that good enough? H*** no. At the end of each semester we have to appeal the days by writting a letter to the school. Hello! Didn't I write a letter when he returned to school after a sick day, Hello!

When he goes to the doctor/orthodontist if we forget to bring back a note they have a fit and yes it has to be appealed also. This is my child !!!!!! My son is on the honor roll and misses very little school. I feel it's none of the schools business as long as we know where he is and his grades are good.

How do these laws apply to children that are home-schooled? I know alot of people do it and it works great for them but I am against it and think the school systems should be more concerned with those children. Please don't PM me concerning whether or not your children should be home schooled. This is only my opinion and my opinion doesn't matter.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2006

How strange this is. I received a letter today about my 5 year old who is in kindergarden not missing but being tardy 10 times this year. They say they will contact the authorities and it will go to court. I have been working alot and overslept some she has not been more than 10 min late at anytime. My thought is go ahead do it, kindergarden is not mandatory so Ill just pull her out. She was also sick some adding to the problem. To me the whole school system is just stupid, you cant be sick and rest, recover without fear of going to court and defending yourself. I know I need to be more responsible and get her to school on time but JAIL..... HHHHEEEELLLLOOOO

maolin · Jan 10, 2006

To simplify things, couldn't your son or DIL call the MD's office, explain that the child remained too sick to return to school and ask for an extension note to provide the school. That seems to be much easier and reasonable solution than hiring an attorney or getting ACLU involved (and hopefully much less red tape). It stinks that the school/state is making such a stink about this - how unreasonable. I would expect that the pediatritian's office has had similar requests from other patients if that is how the school handles absences.

Hope things work out for them and that your granddaughter is feeling better.

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2006

I don't know where your son lives or the laws in his state, but I suspect that this is simply a matter of money for the school district.
2 years ago, my youngest daughter experienced a very bad year in Kindergarten. She had approximately 25 absent days due to illness. All were properly called into the school, and followed up with notes upon her return. I was in constant contact with her teacher, the school counselor, and our pediatrician. I was a personal friend of the principal, and he knew I was an RN.
Near the end of the school year, I received a very condescending letter signed by the principal indicating that a minor illness was not sufficient reason to keep a child home, and it was in my daughter's best interests to come to school, even if sick. I hit the roof! I made an immediate appointment to see the principal, and let him know that my daughter's health was not open to his discussion, as he was NOT a healthcare professional. I had more than adequate evidence that she was under medical treatment for legitimate illnesses, and furthermore, despite her absences, she was performing at the top of her class. I insisted that he remove the copy of the letter from her file, and would not leave his office without an apology.
I got the apology, along with an admission that it was all about money, as the school district receives state funds based on student attendance. He stated that he signed a stack of identical letters, most of which went to students with no real attendance problem, just a number of illnesses.
It is possible that your son's state requires some type of reporting to truant officers, so I would not let this go without investigating it, but absences due to illness are NOT a valid reason to threaten parents with legal action.
Good luck to them!

Sure it is. My son did not miss ONE day of school until he was in the seventh grade, coming home with a fever of 103 degrees and throwing his guts up. He wound up being hospitalized for three days with pneumonia and dehydration. And even though I contacted his school the very FIRST day he missed class, I received a rather nasty phone message from them on the fourth day, demanding a meeting with me to "discuss my child's excessive absences from class". Well, I hit the ceiling. I called the Atttendance Office and blessed that woman OUT: "I have already called this office and told you that my son has been hospitalized, and he will back in school when he is cleared to do so, by his Pediatrician". She stammered and stuttered, apologizing: "We're sorry, but it's just that we are having to deal with so many truancies". "Well, my son is not one of them", I shot back, and hung up. :angryfire

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2006

To simplify things, couldn't your son or DIL call the MD's office, explain that the child remained too sick to return to school and ask for an extension note to provide the school. That seems to be much easier and reasonable solution than hiring an attorney or getting ACLU involved (and hopefully much less red tape). It stinks that the school/state is making such a stink about this - how unreasonable. I would expect that the pediatritian's office has had similar requests from other patients if that is how the school handles absences.
Hope things work out for them and that your granddaughter is feeling better.

Honey, my son would no more get involved with the ACLU than he would with the Democratic Party, for he is a STAUNCH Republican and HATES anything or anybody who has to do with a liberal agenda. We did discuss getting an extension to cover my granddaughter's entire absence from school, from now on. Frazzled, my son asked me if she was going to be expected to go to school throwing up, from now on, too. "Just take her on in and let her throw up on the Principal's desk", I sighed. "Maybe that will do, in lieu of a doctor's excuse".

He couldn't disagree with that suggestion. :rolleyes:

maolin · Jan 10, 2006

LOL - he could always attach the MD note to a stool specimen. :roll

Chaya, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2006

my son asked me if she was going to be expected to go to school throwing up, from now on, too. "Just take her on in and let her throw up on the Principal's desk", I sighed. "Maybe that will do, in lieu of a doctor's excuse".

He couldn't disagree with that suggestion. :rolleyes:

When my daughter was in school the nurses kept sending strongly worded notes home saying "Please keep kids home with fever, vomiting or diarrhea." (The sentiment was that those selfish working parents would send their kids to school half dead to avoid staying home with them for the day...)

That said, I have noticed a real increase in folks taking kids out of school for family vacations, sports competitions, getting hair and nails done for proms, etc, etc these last few years.