Excused absences and unexcused absences count against exemptions. As the Jarrell High School principal has stated: "Funerals, doctor notes, hospital stays, and illnesses all count against exemptions." This is NOT right and is such an unfair policy. What's the point of having excused absences if they don't matter or keep you safe from exemptions? Funerals should be excused as it has to do with a death in the family. Hospital stays are for serious illnesses and those count against us? Out for a portion of a school day and bringing a doctor note, appears to not count against you. Bringing a doctor's note and being out all day, appears to count against you? 

This policy indirectly expects the students to NOT get sick. COVID-19 related issues should be excused for ALL days of quarantine and should NOT be counted against for exemptions, but it is. This policy indirectly expects students to come to school if their family member died. All these things: medical, funerals, and anything that is a serious matter that can affect how a students thinks, should be excused and not counted towards exemptions. 

The student body of Jarrell High School is coming together for the Jarrell ISD Administration & Jarrell ISD School Board to rewrite this policy and make exemptions for finals, grade-based with the minimum grade for exemptions to be set at 85. This shows we have a good understanding of the class material. Absences make no sense whatsoever. Any class below an 85, including an 84, should not be granted an exemption.