My children attend the local school in Donalsonville, GA, and unfortunately, the current attendance policy has been creating significant issues not just for my family, but for many others in our community. This rigid policy, which fails to account for legitimate circumstances such as medical emergencies or family obligations, places unnecessary stress and burden on students and parents alike.

Under the existing guidelines, parents are often required to provide extensive documentation for absences, even in situations where securing such proof is difficult or impossible. Parents are finding themselves in a constant struggle to justify every missed day, leading to heightened anxiety and tension at home.

If our child is absent the school requires a Dr note or parent note for the child's absence upon child's return to school.. The school only allows parents to send 7 parent notes for the whole school year. As of right now the school is requiring 1 parent note for each day the child is absent. The Drs do not back date Dr excuses so  If child gets sick with strep, goes to the Dr and is absent for 5 days due to strep the school files the Drs note only for that 1 day in which the Dr note is dated then requires parents to send a parent note for each of the other 4 days of absence. That is 4 parent notes of the only 7 they are allowing parents for the year. After the 7 parent notes have been used  all absences are unexcused unless have a Dr note. Once you get 5 unexcused absences then a warrant is taken and the parent has to go before  the judge. This policy has to change or there needs to at least be a compromise made so 1 parent note can be sent to cover all consecutive days the child was absent from that 1 illness. 

The Children deserve an educational environment that understands and adapts to real-life situations rather than one that penalizes them for circumstances beyond their control.

Studies have shown that schools with more flexible attendance policies report better student engagement and overall satisfaction. According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, schools that implement understanding and accommodating attendance frameworks see a decrease in absenteeism by up to 20%. By re-evaluating our current policy, we have the opportunity to foster a more supportive environment for all students.

We propose that Seminole County School review and amend its attendance policy to include more flexibility and understanding for personal and family-related absences. This could involve allowing a certain number of self-excused absences per semester or simplifying the process for verifying unavoidable absences. Our goal is to create a policy that acknowledges the diverse challenges families face, improves student attendance, and enhances the overall educational experience.

Sign this petition to support a change in the Seminole County School attendance policy, and help us build an educational system that's both compassionate and effective for every student.