La. public school attendance policies changed

Five members of the Louisiana Department of Education met with the Special Review Committee in mid-August and approved 11 requested changes to Bulletin 741, the state attendance policy, for the 2011-2012 school year.

Most of the alterations were made in attempt to standardize the policies.

“We’re having to go back right now and make some revisions simply because they weren’t very clear and many of the districts are interpreting some of the rules and regulations in different ways,” said Michael Coburn, director of student and school learning support with the DOE. “So we’ll have to find a way to be consistent so that all districts understand we have a uniform policy that everyone will adhere to.”

Lafourche Parish Supervisor for Child Welfare and Attendance Frank Pasqua chaired the Louisiana Association of Child Welfare and Attendance Personnel committee, which requested 15 changes.

“They treated us very well,” Pasqua said. “We appreciated the open dialogue and hope it stays that way. About two-thirds of the requests were accepted.”

Pasqua previously expressed his displeasure with section 1103J of the bulletin, which could imply that students with a doctor’s note must miss at least three consecutive days to have the absences temporarily excused.

In 1103J, it reads that a student will be excused for extended physical or mental illness, hospital stay, recuperation from an accident or contagious disease within a family “in which a student is absent for three or more consecutive days as verified by a physician or dentist licensed in the state.”

In section 1105B, it excuses absences “of two or fewer consecutive school days incurred due to personal illness or serious illness in the family,” but offers no guidelines on how the absences should be verified, whether it is by a doctor or parental note.

“LACWAP is concerned about the negative ramifications of only accepting a notice from a physician for three or more consecutive school days.

There is much concern that this will lead to additional absences occurring to meet the attendance exemption requirements so that the absences would not count against them at the end of the year or semester in order to earn grades or Carnegie credits,” reads an aside in the LACWAP’s recommended changes to the DOE.

The confusion in the rule may lead to inconsistencies in how it is applied.

“If it’s not spelled out in 741, it’s up to the districts individually how they classify excused or unexcused absences for less than three days,” Coburn said. “As a former superintendent, I would excuse that.”

The changes in policy, including the clarification on doctor’s notes, will be in place for the 2011-2012 school year pending a meeting with the Superintendents’ Council and final approval from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, which Coburn expects to happen.

“I think they will be adopted,” Coburn said. “Several members of the BESE board have been calling. They have been concerned and getting a lot of calls. We are only a few issues away from agreement on everything, so I’m thinking very positive.”

Although the changes will not affect this school year, Pasqua said he will use his authority to waive absences of one or two days with a doctor’s note. Terrebonne Parish Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance Linda Joseph said she would do the same.

The DOE also approved excusing absences for visitation with a sibling who is either on leave or deploying overseas with the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard. Previously, the policy only excused absences for parents.

Suspended students will be classified as absent, but they will be assigned schoolwork to complete during the suspension.

The Louisiana Department of Education agreed to 11 changes in the state attendance policy for the 2011-12 school year. Most of the changes were made to clarify the guidelines. FILE PHOTO