COVID and School Attendance

COVID and School Attendance

COVID continues to be a concern in our community and schools.  The following protocols are in place for the 2022-2023 school year to address COVID and school attendance:

A student that is at school and is symptomatic with a fever will be sent home and given 2 days of excused absences by the school nurse.  If the child is not better after the two days, he/she will be required to be tested for COVID.  This can be done in the doctor’s office, by the school nurse, or a home test.  If the test is completed by a doctor, the school nurse MUST have verification from the doctor that the student tested positive.  This can be in the form of a doctor’s excuse stating that the child has tested positive.  If the test is completed at home, a picture of the positive test MUST be sent to the school nurse.  If the test is positive, the student’s absences will be coded as excused absences (including the two days mentioned above).   The student will only be allowed five (5) days of excused absence unless a doctor’s excuse extends the time.  Please note that if the child is sick over the weekend, those days are included in the five days.  If the test is negative, the student must return to school.  If the child does not return to school, the absences will be counted as unexcused.  Any further missed days after the two-day period without a doctor’s excuse or positive test results will be counted as unexcused absences. 

If a child is at home and becomes symptomatic and does not attend school, the parent/guardian may call the school stating such.  However, the parent/guardian must provide proof that their child has tested positive for COVID (please see the paragraph above.)  Proof of the positive test results will result in the student being allowed five (5) days of absences.  The student will only have five (5) days of excused absences unless a doctor’s excuse extends that time.  Please note that if the child is sick over the weekend, those days are included in the five days.  If a parent/guardian chooses not to test, all absences will be counted as unexcused. 

Information released in September from the TN Department of Education states that absences due to being COVID positive will count towards chronic absenteeism.  Chronic absenteeism means that a student is absent (excused or unexcused) 10% or more of the number of days that he/she is enrolled in school.  Absences due to being COVID positive will not count towards truancy.

There will be no contact tracing or quarantine for exposed students.  Students will not be placed on homebound due to COVID. 

All school employees must use sick leave for all COVID related absences.  All employees must have proof a positive test result in order to avoid requiring a doctor’s note for four or more consecutive days.  This must be attached to the absentee form.