Doctor’s notes no longer excuse absences in Tennessee schools

Toughen up!

An overly strict new attendance policy for a Tennessee school district says a doctor’s note no longer excuses a student’s absence — and threatens to send kids to juvenile court after just eight missed days.

Under the new rules all absences are treated the same, whether a student is out with strep throat or just skipping class, the Lawrence County School District announced in June. Even kids who are sent home by the school nurse are marked tardy, and three of those equal a full absence.

“There’s a real danger of that alienating kids and families,” said Hedy Chang, executive director of Attendance Works, a national nonprofit focused on attendance policy. “It shows schools are not responsive to the real issues and challenges kids face.”

The district claims the move is aimed at tackling chronic absenteeism and teaching students work ethic and reliability.

“If you have the sniffles, that is fine,” Michael Adkins, Lawrence County’s director, said during a June school board meeting. “You are going to have them when you go to work one day.

“We have all gone to work sick and hurt and beat up.”

Doctor’s notes are still accepted under the new policy, Adkins told The Post, but they “do not remove an absence” or exempt students from being counted in federally required attendance reports.

Many parents see the rules as punitive and out of touch.

Once a student accumulates eight absences, they can be referred to juvenile court. Other penalties include failing a class, losing access to school events like prom and graduation, or being denied a driver’s license.

Exemptions exist, but they’re narrow. 

Students must have a documented chronic illness, a death in the family, a religious observance or another emergency beyond their control, according to the policy. Even then, families are expected to make special arrangements with the school.

“I know where I won’t be ever sending my children,” one parent wrote on the district’s Facebook post announcing the new policy.

Lauren Graves, another local parent, is planning a protest.

“We will not stand for our children being punished for being sick, having disabilities or needing mental health days,” she wrote in a Facebook post last week. “They want attendance?! They’re about to get it.”

Chang warned that early referrals to court don’t just fail to improve attendance — they can actually make it worse. 

She cited research showing that legal action often increases absenteeism rather than curbing it, particularly when schools skip over more effective, lower-cost steps like outreach and support.

“We have to have a system that allows us to notice when kids miss 10% or more school and then build a relationship to find out why they’re missing school … and what’s going to motivate them to show up,” Chang said.