Story Archive

Please Excuse the Obliviocy

The Fort Worth (Texas) Independent School District says that state law requires them to reject absence excuse notes from parents — or doctors, or even judges. “Previously, we would have completely wiped out the absence with that note,” says district spokesman Clint Bond. Without absences being excused, a student could miss too many classes to graduate or advance to the next grade, in which case an “attendance committee” would accept “petitions” to review their case to see if it might make an exception for “extenuating circumstances,” or issue “an attendance recovery plan” so the student can make up class time. The state law that school officials are quoting has been in place for 23 years, so it’s unclear why their policy is changing. (RC/KXAS Ft. Worth) ...Because the judge wouldn’t accept the excuse note from the superintendent.