Question about schools and illness

[momofrussell]

I was realizing and thinking about something tonight since Russell has been sick. Russell has only been in Early Childhood so far. He will be finally going into Elementary School into a Self Contained k-2 class.

Since EC is not MANDATORY, when Russell was sick, or tired, or didn't get a good night sleep due to his sleep issues, we kept him home... more so than the average child without DS... KWIM? And it wasn't a problem. I am now wondering, when you get into Elementary SChool, and your child is 6, where it is technically now mandatory, are they going to have a prob if Russell is out of school days or weeks at a time for illnesses or other things i use to keep him out for?

I ask this because Russell has been sick for a week now, or more, and since it takes him a LONG time to get over it, even with no fever, he wouldn't be able to school. They'd be taking care of him all day and no learning would be done. I know they keep track of Regan when she is out or late... will this be a prob? I know they may keep track of it, but, should I be concerned?

I actually usually try to remember to mentioned to the teachers and/or at the IEP and I didn't yet.

have any of you had issues with this? OR since they are in Spec Ed, it doesn't matter.. or maybe governed differently?

A.

[christie]

A ~

Our school district has a very strict absent policy BUT as long as one has a doctor note its OK ;D

Just a few years back we could even pull the kids out of school for a week and take on vacation and it was no big deal. But they have changed their policies here and that is now not accepted. They here too keep track and if you are absent with no excuses, I forget how many times, but its not much, they then call you and send home a letter and if there are more absents the school administration gets involved and bla bla bla.

Just talk to your Ped my bet is they will fax you a note when ever you need one for Russell.

CC

[Connie]

A.

I believe here in our school district the same rule apply to special education as they do to regular ed.

Collin also takes a lot longer to get over cold and things!!

Now no laughing...for all you that know me you will know how mortified I was (plus a little honked off). I am not a mother that lets my kids miss school. I am the type of mother that says "I'm sorry your don't feel well but we all have jobs to do and yours is to go to school. These jobs still have to be done even when we don't feel well. " I only let them miss if they are running a fever over 100.5. Well to make this very long story short. Griffin ended up missing a total of 8 days over a 3 week period and I got one of those letters!!! I was so honked off because it was there fault he was absent. I would send him and they would send him back!!! Their letter made me feel like a horrible mother a real slacker. They insisted on a doctors note so I had my FIL write one plus I added a little note of my own because they would not let him stay with a fever of 99.5!! or if he was complaining about a stomach ache!!

Geese I tell my kids to buck up but I really think its the school that needs to BUCK up and deal with it!!

Ok...enough reambling from me because I have now forgotten where I was going with this.

Hugs,
Connie

[wrblack]

A.,
Think it is unlikely school will ever give you any grief about this, though they are likely to keep track of attendance. Some of Charlie's progress reports have included mention of periods with lots of absences.
If it ever should become an issue, for you or for us, then I think thing to do is call for an IEP meeting and have it written into IEP that, due to medical reasons, student may not meet all the attendance criteria. I believe there is plenty of precedence for this.
Regards,
Bob