School Absences Add Up!

Whether your kids are missing school days because of illness, vacation, or because they simply don’t want to go, the end result is the same – they lose learning time. While all children and adolescents get sick and need time to heal, it is important to know when your child really should be staying home, and when they are better off making it to class. Missed school days add up quickly, and minimizing the number of absences is essential to your student’s success with learning and retention.Missed Days Add Up Quickly!• Just a few missed days each month can add up to several weeks missed in a school year.• Absences can make it more difficult for your child to keep up with other students, especially in math and reading, regardless of whether they are excused or unexcused absences.• Kindergarten and first grade are fundamental for your child. Missing school days during these early years can make it more difficult for children to learn in later years, and can lead to difficulty with reading by the end of third grade.Work with Your Child and Your School• As the parent, be firm with your child and do not let them stay home when it is not necessary. This will help your child succeed in the long run.• If your child has a chronic disease, make sure that the school staff is aware of the disease and that they are able to assist the student if he or she becomes ill. Important information about your child’s chronic disease should be noted on the school’s emergency or health information card.• For students with asthma, the school needs an Asthma Action Plan completed by your child’s doctor that includes permission to carry an inhaler while at school. Make sure that all supplies needed to manage your child’s asthma (inhaler, spacer, etc.) are on hand at the school.• If your child has diabetes, the school needs to have a Diabetes Management Plan completed by his or her doctor. Make sure that all supplies needed to manage your child’s diabetes (insulin, blood sugar meter, test strips) are available at the school at all times.• Be sure to communicate openly and frequently with school staff and teachers. The more knowledge the school has about your child’s health, the better prepared everyone will be to work together for your child’s success.Helpful Ideas:• Try to make appointments with the doctor or dentist later in the afternoon so that your child misses as little school as possible.• If your child can’t avoid missing school, make sure you receive his or her homework assignments and follow up with the teacher to see that the work has been completed and turned in.• As soon as you know your child will be absent for any period of time, call the school and tell staff why your child will be out and for how long.•Be prepared to get a doctor’s note when requested by school personnel, typically for extended absences or if your child has missed school for illness frequently.•,Most doctors’ offices have answering services 24 hours a day to assist you, so don’t hesitate to call if you need medical advice for your child outside of regular business hours.•If your child has an emergency medical need, call 911 and give as much information about the situation as possible.It can be difficult to decide whether or not your child should attend school, and letting your child decide about his or her ability to go to school may not always be the best choice. Children may claim they don’t feel well in the morning, but that may not be reason enough to hold them back from valuable class time. On the other hand, your child may feel physically well enough to go to school, but could be very contagious and in danger to infecting others. The chart below can be helpful to reference when making this morning decision. The important thing is that your child misses school only when it is truly necessary!See below which symptoms signify that your child should NOT go to school. This article was adapted from a flyer published by H.E.A.L. Health, Education, and Attendance for Life, and produced by Alameda County Public Health Department, Alameda County Center for Healthy School and Communities, Interagency Children’s Policy Council of Alameda County, and The Office of the District Attorney of Alameda County.