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Board reviews attendance-policy revisions aimed at chronic absenteeism, emphasizes medical-excuse clarity
Summary
District staff presented revisions to policy JED on student absences to align with state accountability for chronic absenteeism, clarify medical-excuse procedures and reduce burdens on families; board members signaled support for the first read and for further refinement with medical partners.
Sycamore Community Schools staff and board members spent the meeting’s policy segment reviewing proposed revisions to policy JED, which the district says are intended to reduce chronic absenteeism and clarify how medical excuses are handled.
The revisions respond to state attention to chronic absenteeism—defined in the presentation as any student who misses 10% of available instructional hours—and aim to make medical-excuse procedures less burdensome for families while preserving options for homebound instruction when medically necessary.
Lisa Zelvey, district staff who supports attendance and discipline, told the board the state will increasingly hold districts accountable for chronic absenteeism and that the district’s current rate remains below the state’s acceptable level but could…
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