PHOENIX — As schools across the nation prepare for the new academic year, they are prioritizing the improvement of student attendance. This back-to-school season coincides with a rise in COVID-19 cases, prompting a crucial question: When is a child too ill to attend school?
Student absences surged during the pandemic, and recovery has been slow. Current data indicates that nearly 1 in 4 students remains chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of the academic year.
One significant factor contributing to these ongoing high absence rates is the heightened caution among parents, who are reluctant to send their children to school when they may be contagious, a mindset developed during years of COVID-19 quarantines.
When students miss school, even for valid reasons like sickness, it can hinder their academic progress. Consequently, schools and health experts are striving to shift the cultural perspective surrounding sick days.
Here are the key points for parents to consider:
During the pandemic, health organizations advised individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 to isolate for specific durations and recommended quarantining after exposure to the virus. Even mild symptoms often warranted staying home until they subsided.
These precautionary measures persisted long after in-person instruction resumed, leading to extended absences resulting from kids contracting or being exposed to COVID-19 and other illnesses.
Recently, health guidelines have shifted. Health organizations now advocate treating COVID-19 similarly to other respiratory illnesses like the flu and RSV.
In line with the new guidelines, if a child has a fever, they should remain at home, regardless of the illness. Children can return to school after being fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, provided other symptoms are also improving.
If a child is not exhibiting a fever, it is generally acceptable for them to attend school with mild symptoms, such as a runny nose or cough. However, if symptoms worsen or become severe, it is recommended to consult a physician.
Guidance regarding vomiting and diarrhea varies among school districts, but typically, students should stay home until symptoms resolve. Older students may manage mild diarrhea in school.
“Unless your student has a fever or vomited in the last 24 hours, they are expected to attend school,” stated an education official.
Guidelines from several school districts specify that students with mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, can come to school. However, they should remain home if experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, severe pain, or a high fever.
Districts nationwide, including those in Texas, Illinois, and New York, are aligned with these guidance updates.
Further, health organizations recommend that individuals take extra precautions for five days after returning to school or resuming regular activities.
While masks and social distancing are no longer mandatory, they are encouraged to help reduce the risk of spreading illness. Maintaining good hygiene practices, including frequent handwashing and ensuring proper ventilation, is also advised.
Parents are urged to keep up with health examinations and immunizations to minimize additional school absences for their children.
