Will My High School Contact My Parents for an Excused Absence?

Whether your high school contacts your parents when you have an excused absence can vary based on the school's specific policies. Generally, if you have a valid reason for your absence, such as illness or a family emergency, and your parents or guardians have informed the school, they may not be contacted again.

Typical School Policies

However, some schools have protocols to notify parents of all absences, even if they are excused. This can include legitimate reasons such as scheduled doctor's appointments or personal emergencies. The best way to know the specific policies is to check with your school's attendance office or review the student handbook.

Real-Life Experiences

The situation can also depend on how the absence is handled beforehand. If you notify your school in advance, they likely won't call your parents unless there are issues with attendance tracking. For example, if you provide a note from a doctor or a signed permission slip from your parents, this can prevent unnecessary notifications. However, speaking from personal experience, I haven't been called home for excused absences and have never faced trouble for unexcused ones.

Case Study: Specific School Notification System

For instance, in my children's high school, if my child misses even a single class but not a full day, I receive an automated call. This call is not always accurate. If a teacher or substitute teacher fails to take attendance correctly, I might get a call, which then requires me to contact the attendance office for clarification. This procedure is in place for both excused and unexcused absences. For instance, if I pick up my child from school for a dentist appointment and they miss the fourth block, I get a call. Similarly, if we take a week off for travel and tie it to curriculum for an excused absence, I still receive a daily call.

As someone who is not an attendance clerk or a secretary, these automatic calls highlight the variability in school notification systems. It’s always important to ensure that you have proper documentation, whether it’s a doctor’s note or a parental permission slip, to ease any potential issues with notifications.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that school policies can vary widely. To avoid any misunderstandings, it's crucial to understand your school's specific procedures. Attending to these policies from the start can help ensure that you are not faced with unnecessary notifications and that your absences are respected.