Currently, West Ada high school students are allowed 3 absences per semester. If a student has more than 3 absences per semester they will lose credit for the class.  This is inadequate due to the current mental health data statistics that clearly show a high percentage of students are depressed and anxious. In the 2019 Idaho Youth Risk Behavior Survey (before COVID), 39% of students reported being "sad or hopeless for 2 or more weeks in a row so that they stopped doing usual activities" and 22% of students had "seriously considered attempting suicide." These numbers have increased dramatically since the pandemic. 

It would be beneficial if students felt they could stay home and not be penalized for it on days that they are feeling depressed and unable to come to school. Teachers are given personal days each year to use at their discretion and students should be given the same courtesy. The goal of the school district is to help students be successful and implementing excused mental health days is a step towards combating Idaho's mental health crisis.

Students should be given 2 mental health days per semester. These would be similar to personal days given to teachers and can be used at the student's discretion. Once a mental health day is used, the student must meet with the counselor to talk about why they felt they had to take the day off school. This can be an alert system for counselors to monitor those who are struggling. In this way, the student can have a day when necessary but also be tracked into counseling and given resources for further help. No one will be under the radar with this new policy. Students whose parents may not be understanding of their situation will be able to excuse themselves from a day of school and give themselves the support they need through the school resources.