Legal Issues 101: Implications of Attendance, Absenteeism, and Truancy in the School Setting.

Abstract

This article is part of Legal Issues 101, a series of topics addressing some common questions and misconceptions about the law and school health. School nurse job responsibilities differ regarding monitoring student attendance and assisting school administrators with required truancy reporting. However, all school nurses support student attendance with a focus on students being safe, healthy, and ready to learn. In this article, the authors address frequently asked questions on topics surrounding student attendance including excused and unexcused absences, truancy, parent/guardian engagement, and related laws.