Florida school district ending policy of excusing absences during pandemic

A public school district in Florida said it will no longer provide excused absences to students who are kept at home during increases in COVID-19 cases but said parents should still keep children at home if they are exhibiting signs of illness.

In a Twitter thread, Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) said that beginning Monday, the district would no longer be able to provide excused absences for students at times of increased COVID-19 infections, citing a decline in cases and a strain on teachers managing assignments for large numbers of absences.

“OCPS families, this is an update regarding parents keeping students home during the increased COVID-19 cases. Beginning January 31, we will no longer be able to provide excused absences in such cases,” the district said.

The district indicated that students who are kept at home, other than those exhibiting symptoms of illness, would be considered “truant,” and it encouraged parents to consider home school if they do not want their children in an in-person learning environment during the pandemic.

“Additionally, the State has not extended the quarantine code to to be used in accommodation of absences in our attendance records, so students should be considered truant for non-attendance.  We simply must discontinue the provision,” the district said. 

The district did say that parents should keep their children at home if they have COVID-19 symptoms. It did not specify whether the new guidelines apply to parents opting to keep their children home amid the newest rise in cases.

According to its COVID-19 tracker, the district has confirmed 20,362 virus cases in total, with the vast majority of cases being among students.