To the average student, a day of high school has its challenges: meeting new people, walking through the hallways, and getting through lessons. But this year, not getting sick is quickly becoming a greater concern for many cougars.
After summer break, students and staff often come back with germs and colds spreading around campus.
But this semester, the district’s revised final exam exemption policy features two big changes: students are only allowed three absences (previously five) and must maintain an average of 80 or higher for the semester (previously 70) in order to exempt, according to CFISD.net.
This makes staying home much more difficult for most students unless they seek a last minute appointment with a doctor to excuse their absences. And that’s all before catching up on work to keep a B in each class.
Although this change returns the policy to how it was before, more students are coming to school sick out of fear of losing their ability to exempt.
In the hallways, some students and staff are starting to wear masks again as COVID-19 cases begin to resurge, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Exemptions are a privilege for students who stay on top of their grades and attendance, but the limit of three unexcused absences just doesn’t make space for when life happens.
The CDC recommends that schools establish supportive policies that encourage students and staff to stay home when sick and make these policies flexible and easy to understand, according to a 2024 article.
There are already ways for students to make up absences and maintain their credit, such as through essays and tutorials, but exemptions are held to an unfair standard.
The district should reconsider the amount of absences allowed to exempt final exams so that students won’t be punished for keeping themselves and others safe from disease.
Click here to view the exemption policy on the district website.
