Four years ago we (should have) learned that you should stay home when you’re sick to protect others. Requiring a doctor’s note for an excused absence will result in even more kids going to school sick so they aren’t at risk of truancy.

Wow this is wild 😔 And so unbelievably sad. You are absolutely right, this is completely in favor of the school system and not in favor of families who can’t afford those kinds of expenses for every stomach ache or fever. Do they not think this inflation level is really impacting anyone? The cost of groceries alone has increased by 30%. What kind of money do these state governments think we have 🧐🧐

I remember my dad yelling at the school that he's the family doctor (not a doctor) when I was sick a bunch growing up and the school wanted a note. We didn't have health insurance most of my childhood.

And on top of paying for a dr visit, some families don’t have transportation to get to the dr, or may have to miss extra work to do that

What happens if you don’t comply?

Oh, no! I can guarantee your teachers do not want the vomiting kid in their classroom! Excused or not!

My kids high school requires a Dr note after 8 absences, regardless of the reason. My son had Covid in the fall last year which ate up 7 of his allotted days. They were threatening us with truancy after the 10th absence (which was only 3 more days other than Covid) because I wasn’t going to the dr to get a note when he was absent with a migraine or stomach issues. I’m not bothering the pediatrician office with that nonsense. It’s ridiculous.

Doctors hate having to waste everyone’s time and money on this nonsense. There are also jobs - usually minimum wage with no benefits - that require a doctor’s note for any absence. My feeling is that, if an employee is found to be sick, the requiring company has to pay for the visit.

Just another way to low-key criminalize being poor

Also, being from MO, I’m pretty convinced that any effort like this is ultimately backed by the “school choice” for-profit charter school people. People like public schools, and they’re trying to destroy that goodwill.