Lawrence County Board of Education says ‘absences are not excused’ in most circumstances, even illness

A school district in Tennessee will no longer accept doctor’s notes as an excuse for a child’s absence in an apparent attempt to prepare them for the workplace.

New rules set out by the Lawrence County School System Board of Education state that “absences are not excused” and only permits them in a number of specific circumstances. Regular illness is not included in the list.

Sanctions for multiple instances of alleged truancy include loss of school event privileges and even referral to juvenile court for truancy.