The local school district is currently in the process of adopting an attendance policy that would allow 10 absences and then require a doctor's note in order for an illness to be excused.
Administrators presented the proposal last month, then revised it in a school board work session last Wednesday to account for suggestions that parents raised in a series of public forums. The revision eased some restrictions but retained the 10-day limit and left intact some points parents had disputed.
Still in place are rules that would make family travel unexcused for a student past the 10-day limit and a possibility that, in some cases, a school secretary's evaluation of a child's health could outweigh a parent's opinion. (Sioux Falls Argus Leader Nov. 13)
This is an ongoing problem in many school districts. While I would like to believe that all children in attendance WILL learn and that any child who does not attend will NOT learn, I'm afraid that just isn't true. I think it is more true in elementary school that chronic absence will affect learning. However, for high school students I am afraid that the truth is that students who are not successful in school miss more school than those who are successful. This makes me wonder if poor attendance causes low grades or do low grades cause poor attendance.
Many studies look at students' grade point averages and determine that students with better attendance records have better grades, and students with poor attendance have poor grades. Therefore, we conclude that improving attendance will improve grades. However, I think many students do not care about attending school because they feel hopeless, and keeping them in the classroom more than likely will not change that. While attendance is without a doubt an important factor, I believe other measures need to be taken to improve grades. I believe the ultimate truth is that once again NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND is driving this policy. Once again we have to do what is best for the policy, not what is best for the students!!!