This is about Middle School and Absenteeism

oldmom4896
Thu, 23 Jan 2014 09:49:52 +0000

morkatmom, I agree that it could just be a bureaucratic thing, a letter automatically generated when a certain number of absences occur. I think your best bet is to talk to someone at the school with the most neutral attitude you can manage.

I believe that in NYC public schools, a doctor’s note is required after 3 consecutive absences. Perhaps you could ask the doctors’ office if they might be able to come up with a letter to retroactively respond to the absences. I know it can be a hassle, time- and money-wise to deal with a doctor’s office, but it’s very possible that the office has procedures to crank out these letters as necessary. But I agree that there is very, very little possibility of your daughter being left back.

If you reach a bureaucratic roadblock with the school, you might ask about home teaching, which many states require when a student is absent due to a chronic illness. Not that your daughter needs it or you want it, but it would probably be difficult for the school to arrange, and they may be more motivated to find a way around rigid attendance rules, such as a blanket letter from her doctor.

One more thing: if your daughter goes to public school in NYC, try to make sure that her attendance is recorded correctly next year because many desirable high schools look at the number of unexcused absences and latenesses in seventh grade in deciding which students they select for admission. It sounds like your daughter would be very competitive to attend some great schools and it would be a shame if your daughter’s absences were not recorded correctly. The high school choice system is anxiety-producing enough without having to worry about attendance and punctuality.