Widely Varying Guidance Leads to Nationwide Epidemic of Chronic School Absences
Trenace Dorsey-Hollins, a mother from Fort Worth, Texas, found herself in a confusing situation when her daughter was repeatedly sick last year. Following school guidelines, she kept her daughter home until she was completely better. However, the school called her in to discuss her daughter’s frequent absences. The problem is that no one has clarified whether the rules regarding sick children have changed since the pandemic.
The confusion around when to keep children home from school has fueled the nationwide epidemic of chronic school absences. Different school systems and advocates have varying guidelines, making it difficult for parents to understand what should be done. Some schools, like those in California, are now encouraging children to come to class even with minor illnesses like a runny nose, lice, or pinkeye.
Attendance Works, a national nonprofit, has issued its own guidance stating that children should be sent to school if they can participate in daily activities. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends staying home only when there’s a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or if students are unable to participate in class.
However, many school districts go beyond these recommendations and have extensive lists of symptoms that should rule out attendance. For example, the Fort Worth Independent School District advises staying home for a cough, sore throat, or rash, and Austin Independent School District lists “eye redness,” “undetermined rash,” and “open, draining lesions” as reasons to stay home.
The confusion surrounding school attendance guidelines has left parents feeling puzzled and unsure about what to do. Malika Elwin, a mother from New York, has been keeping her daughter home longer than necessary because she doesn’t want to expose other children or burden the teacher with her daughter’s cold symptoms. This uncertainty has contributed to the increase in chronic school absences, with more than a quarter of students missing at least 10% of the school year during the 2021-2022 school year.
Missing school has its own health effects, as students not only fall behind academically but also miss out on meals, socialization, physical exercise, and access to mental health counseling and healthcare. Additionally, high levels of chronic absenteeism in a class disrupt the learning of students who are present, as teachers have to spend time reorienting absent students.
California Takes a New Approach to Sick-Day Guidance
The state of California has taken a new approach to sick-day guidance this fall. Instead of only stating when a child should stay home, the guidance describes circumstances when a child might be slightly unwell but can still attend school. Students should stay home only when their symptoms prevent them from participating meaningfully in routine activities. Mild cold symptoms, sore throat, mild rash, and pinkeye are considered acceptable reasons to attend school.
This shift in guidance could have a disproportionate impact on low-income communities and people of color. These communities often face challenges such as living in multigenerational homes, crowded public transportation, and poor ventilation, making it difficult to contain illness and protect vulnerable loved ones.
Changing the culture around school absences requires more than issuing guidance. Some schools in San Diego County are still unaware of California’s new guidance, while others have adopted it and are actively encouraging parents to bring their mildly sick children to school. Tracy Schmidt, who oversees attendance for the county Office of Education, believes that as more schools and parents learn about the new guidance, students will miss less school.
Ultimately, the goal is to leave behind the mindset adopted during the pandemic and prioritize students’ presence in school. The impact of chronic school absences not only affects individual students but also the overall health and well-being of the entire school community.
