According to a report by WSMV, the Lawrence County School System in Tennessee has implemented a new attendance policy that no longer accepts doctor’s notes to excuse student absences, aiming to address the district’s 13.8% chronic absenteeism rate from the 2023-2024 school year. Under this policy, students are marked simply as absent or present, with interventions starting after three absences and a juvenile court referral for eight or more missed days, potentially leading to consequences like failing a grade, missing graduation, or losing driving privileges.

While exemptions exist for verified chronic illnesses, the policy emphasizes teaching students reliability and work ethic, with Director of Schools Michael Adkins stating that minor ailments like sniffles should not keep students home, as adults often work while sick. The district also sent letters to medical providers discouraging notes excusing absences for multiple days.

However, this policy has sparked concerns among parents like Rebecca Sanchez, whose daughter missed 17 days last year due to illness and now faces truancy referrals for fewer absences.

Other nearby districts, such as Metro Nashville and Williamson County, continue to accept doctor’s notes, and their chronic absenteeism rates vary widely, from 8.6% in Williamson County to 27.8% in Metro Nashville. Sanchez and other parents are frustrated, feeling the policy undermines their ability to make health decisions for their children, with some considering homeschooling as an alternative.