As schools gear up for another academic year, the focus is on improving student attendance amid a backdrop of escalating COVID-19 cases. The question arises: When should a child stay home from school due to illness? The pandemic led to a spike in school absences, with nearly 1 in 4 students classified as chronically absent, missing 10% or more of the academic year, as per data analyzed by The Associated Press.
One factor contributing to sustained high absence rates is heightened parental caution stemming from years of COVID-19 precautions. Parents are now more inclined to keep potentially contagious children at home. Missed school days, even for legitimate reasons like sickness, can impede academic progress, prompting schools and health experts to advocate for a shift in the perception of sick days.
During the pandemic, the CDC recommended isolating individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 and practicing caution for mild illnesses, resulting in extended school absences for affected children. Recently, the CDC updated its COVID-19 guidelines to align with how other respiratory illnesses are managed.
Regarding fevers, the consensus is clear: a child with a fever must stay home, regardless of the cause. Only when the fever has subsided for 24 hours without medication and other symptoms are improving should the child return to school. Mild symptoms like a runny nose, headache, or cough are deemed permissible for school attendance, unless they persist or worsen significantly.
Diverging guidelines exist for symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea among school districts. Generally, students should remain home until these symptoms resolve, except for older children who can manage milder cases at school. Various school districts, including in Los Angeles, Texas, Illinois, and New York, have aligned with similar health guidance.
Although masks and social distancing are no longer compulsory, the CDC recommends their continued use as precautionary measures for at least five days after resuming school. Encouraging handwashing, enhanced ventilation, and staying current on health check-ups and vaccinations are all endorsed practices by school districts to mitigate school absenteeism.
