Absences from School for Dental Appointments

Policy Statement

Introduction:
Dentists in general, and orthodontists in particular, occasionally encounter situations in which parents are reluctant to schedule dental appointments for their children during school hours due primarily to concern about school policies that strongly discourage or even attempt to prohibit such absences.  Uncertainty and/or misinformation over when a child is “excused” from school and whether a school will lose money for the child’s absence contribute to this situation.

Background and Discussion:
For many years, children were “excused” from school for a variety of reasons that were considered valid; if they were ill or had an appointment with a healthcare provider, for example. “Excused” absences were not punishable, in contrast to “unexcused” absences, which resulted in action by the school principal or the district administration.  Then, in the late 1990’s, the manner in which schools were funded was altered, and the California education code was adjusted accordingly.  Prior to this time, schools received funds based on student enrollment.  The new rules required schools to be paid for actual student attendance.  This type of reimbursement, referred to as ADA, or Average Daily Attendance, placed the focus on each student’s daily attendance and created great incentive for schools to ensure the highest daily attendance possible.

The California Education Code, section 46010.3, defines student attendance as follows:

46010.3.  Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 46010 or any
other provision of law, for purposes of calculating days of
attendance in order to compute any apportionment of state funding
under this code, a pupil enrolled in a regular day class, including
opportunity classes and classes conducted in county community
schools, for the minimum day that is applicable to that pupil is
deemed to be present for the entire schoolday, unless he or she is
absent for the entire schoolday.

Practically, this means that if a child is present for at least half the school day, he/she is considered “present” and the school is reimbursed for that child’s attendance. This change meant that schools no longer had to track why children were absent in the same manner as before, and with that change came the loss of the use of term “excused absence” for appointments.  This change in attendance recording and terminology sometimes results in confusion as to whether or not a child is considered “excused” when absent.

Some of the continuing conflict with schools and parents on this issue results because, in primary school, attendance is taken once/day, at the beginning of school.  If a child is absent for that attendance record, the school may not have a system for capturing the child’s attendance.  Dentists who treat children should be aware of these regulations and the possible areas of confusion, so if faced with a parent that claims the school will be penalized for a child’s absence, or the child will not be “excused” for the appointment, he/she will be able to respond appropriately.

Conclusion:
It is important that children receive the services dentists provide.  Whenever possible, parents are likely to schedule their child’s dental appointment so that it does not conflict with school, especially the first half of the school day when daily attendance is recorded.  However, when absence from school is necessary and a parent seems particularly worried that the appointment is not “excused” by the school, dentists who understand the implications of the child’s absence from a school policy perspective may be helpful in reassuring parents that their child’s attendance for a minimum of half the school day will not negatively impact school funding and that receiving dental care is a valid reason for school absence.

RESOURCE:
California Education Code Accessed at: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=edc&group=46001-47000&file=46010-46014