The Wake County Board of Education recently adopted a Final Exam Exemption Policy that counts both excused and unexcused absences toward the attendance requirement. While we support encouraging students to attend school regularly, we believe this policy unfairly penalizes students who miss school for legitimate, documented reasons beyond their control.

Under WCPSS Board Policy 4400, absences for illness, medical and dental appointments, religious observances, court appearances, and other approved reasons are considered excused absences because the Board recognizes that these situations are sometimes unavoidable. If these absences are considered acceptable under Board policy, they should not be treated the same as unexcused absences when determining eligibility for final exam exemptions.

As students, we work hard to earn good grades, attend school consistently, and be responsible. Many of us still have to miss school occasionally for orthodontic appointments, annual physicals, eye exams, specialist visits, or other necessary medical care. These appointments are often only available during school hours, making them impossible to avoid. Students should never have to choose between taking care of their health and earning a well-deserved academic incentive. Families also should not have to request a waiver for routine excused absences that already comply with Board Policy 4400. Excused should mean excused.

We respectfully ask the Wake County Board of Education to revise the Final Exam Exemption Policy so that documented excused absences, as defined in Board Policy 4400, do not count toward the attendance requirement for final exam exemptions. This change would continue to encourage excellent attendance while ensuring that students are not penalized for responsible decisions or unavoidable circumstances.

If you believe that excused absences should remain excused, please sign this petition and help us encourage a fair, consistent attendance policy for all WCPSS students.