Ensuring Flexibility and Support in Schools
Do you have a child with an ongoing health concern that causes frequent school absences? Chronic illness forms can protect students from penalties due to excessive absences caused by serious health conditions, even if they don’t qualify for other special education programs. These forms are critical for families managing long-term health conditions, helping children avoid academic setbacks and ensuring they receive the support they need from their schools.
The Arizona legislature has established policies to protect students with chronic health conditions. These statutes require public or charter district governing boards to adopt procedures that address key concerns such as managing absences, making homework available, helping students catch up on missed work, and offering flexibility in physical education requirements. For parents, being aware of these procedures can be a crucial first step in ensuring their child’s educational needs are met, even in the face of health challenges.
The statute defines students with chronic health problems as those who, though not participating in homebound instruction, are unable to attend regular classes for “intermittent periods of one or more consecutive days because of illness, disease, pregnancy, complications, or accident,” as certified by a licensed health professional. This allows for significant flexibility in recognizing the impact of a range of health conditions.
Chronic illness forms are not reserved only for the most severe cases; they also apply to ongoing conditions that may not cause consistent absences but require students to miss school intermittently. The term “chronic” can refer to conditions that continue for substantial periods or have frequent recurrences. These forms also protect students with conditions that require long-term management, such as allergies, asthma, diabetes, migraines, and even, in some cases, anxiety. The statute also protects students who are parents themselves, allowing students with infants suffering from severe health problems to qualify for protection, provided the condition is certified by a licensed health professional.
Parents often feel a great deal of relief knowing that chronic illness forms offer their child legal protection in case of frequent absences. It’s important to remember that while public and charter school districts are required to adopt policies in line with state statutes, individual district policies may vary slightly. Parents should always check with their district to understand the specific requirements and processes.
GETTING STARTED
If your child is newly diagnosed with a chronic health condition or has been involved in an accident that will result in missed school days, the first step is to contact the school office. Staff will typically refer you to the school nurse, provide you with a chronic illness form or recommend reaching out to your child’s teacher. If you are referred to the teacher, you can discuss the need for developing a more formal written plan, such as a 504 plan or an Individualized Education Program (IEP), if additional accommodations are needed.While these may not always be necessary, it can provide extra support and flexibility for your child’s needs.
Parents fill out an initial portion of the chronic illness form and then take it to their child’s doctor for completion and signature. This medical professional must meet specific criteria outlined by the state, noted Wendy Mann, director of exceptional student services with the Phoenix Union High School District. Authorized signatories can include physicians, naturopaths, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.
The child’s doctor will provide an estimate of the number of school days the student might miss during the school year or semester due to the chronic condition. These forms need to be resubmitted annually, and doctors are required to provide updates each year. This process ensures that schools are kept informed of the student’s current health status and any changes that might affect attendance.
Even though the form covers the current school year, school personnel recommend not waiting until the start of a new year to provide updates. “Tell us about changes to medications, medical orders, or other issues as they arise during the school year,” Mann emphasized. “We want to partner with families to help kids be successful, and keeping us updated helps ensure that happens.”
Chronic illness forms aren’t only for permanent conditions. They can also be temporary, such as for students undergoing cancer treatment or recovering from major surgeries or accidents. In these cases, the form provides flexibility and protection during the student’s recovery period.
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Despite having a chronic illness form on file, parents may still receive auto-generated communications from the school regarding their child’s absences. This can be confusing or even frustrating, but it’s important to address these notifications by contacting the school office. Confirm with school personnel that the absences are being documented correctly as related to the chronic illness form. Keeping lines of communication open ensures that the school is fully aware of the situation and that no misunderstandings occur regarding the student’s attendance.
PLANS IN ACTION
Most education professionals believe that students learn best in the classroom, and frequent absences raise concerns both for academic performance and funding. Public and charter schools rely on state funding, which is often tied to attendance. “If schools accept public money, they have attendance requirements,” said Sandy Young, a retired public school nurse. “If students aren’t in the classroom, schools don’t receive funding for them.” Chronic illness forms ensure that students who genuinely need to miss school due to health concerns aren’t penalized and that the school’s funding is protected.
While schools generally allow a limited number of absences before consequences arise, the chronic illness form offers an important layer of protection for both students and schools. “The chronic illness form protects students and the school when someone needs more time to be out,” Young added.
However, not all chronic illness forms are automatically approved. Schools may question whether certain conditions warrant significant absences. For example, Young recalled a case involving a student with an irregular heartbeat. The school initially questioned how this condition would lead to frequent absences. In cases like this, schools may offer alternatives, such as a 504 plan, which provides accommodations for students with disabilities or health concerns. A 504 plan can include provisions like allowing a student to take medication during the school day or providing extra time to recover after taking medicine.
HOMEBOUND INSTRUCTION
For students who cannot attend school for more extended periods, homebound instruction may be an option. In Arizona, students may qualify for homebound services if their doctor provides documentation that they cannot attend regular classes for intermittent periods totaling 3 months or more in a school year. Homebound placement is typically reviewed annually to ensure that it remains the best option for the student.
Although it is an important resource for students with severe health conditions that allows them to continue their education in a more flexible setting while ensuring they don’t fall behind while recovering from illness or injury, homebound instruction is often considered a last resort, as schools aim to keep students engaged in the classroom whenever possible.
PARENTS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES
Many parents who have navigated the chronic illness form process agree on one key point: communication with the school is essential.
For Patricia Dean, whose son had cystic fibrosis, the chronic illness form was an invaluable tool throughout his elementary and high school years. Having both the form and a 504 plan in place gave her son the accommodations he needed in the classroom and protection from penalties related to his absences.
“Having the chronic illness form on file with the school gave us peace of mind,” Dean said. “When you have a child in the hospital or at home with an illness, you already have so much to worry about. You don’t want to also worry about their school attendance.”
In the end, families, educators, and medical professionals all play vital roles in supporting students with chronic health conditions. By working together and maintaining open communication, everyone can ensure these students have the opportunity to succeed academically while managing their health.