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Perfect attendance policies

The Texas Education Agency addresses the perfect attendance policy in their FAQ section on H1N1 flu. It reads: "In light of the expected flu season should schools continue to incentivize students for perfect attendance? The issue of incentives for perfect attendance is a matter of local school district policy. However with the strong guidance from both CDC and DSHS for all students who are ill to remain at home it seems prudent for districts to re-evaluate these policies for the 2009-2010 school year."

Schools key in preparation
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) sent the following letter to school administrators on Aug. 24:

Beginning in April 2009, the State of Texas began responding to the outbreak of the H1N1 flu  virus. Because there was limited knowledge of the severity of the flu strain, the Department of State Health Services recommended school closures in those areas believed to be affected by the H1N1virus. With new information and research, it is evident that this flu strand contains moderate symptoms that resemble those in seasonal flu, and thus school closures will no longer be recommended to limiting transmission. However, due to the potential of outbreaks this school year, in addition to seasonal flu and other emergency concerns, the Texas Education Agency (TEA or agency) encourages districts to review their emergency preparedness plans, including the below recommendations.

District staff should consider:

  • “Trigger points” for absenteeism should be set in anticipation of district or campus closure. This should be done after reviewing the waiver procedures on the TEA website. Teacher absenteeism, staff student ratios, student absenteeism or local ability to sustain educational capacity may be considered. Waiver applications for both missed instructional days and low attendance are available. For more information about waivers, please contact the Waivers Division at (512) 463-5917 or by e-mail.
  • Effective communication plans district wide and between the community and the district. These entities should include the local/regional health official, county judge, emergency personnel, volunteer organizations to assist parents, and local/regional food banks (pantry) for assistance with breakfast and lunch supplements for students. Additional information can be found on the Texas Department of Agriculture website.
  • Resources from the Department of State Health Services, Centers for Disease Control and Instruction and Curriculum links on the TEA H1N1 website should be reviewed and utilized. 

Campus administrators should consider:

  • Increase both supplies and the awareness for infection control including the use of hand soap, hand sanitizers, and tissues. H1N1 prevention posters in both English and Spanish are available to download.
  • Routinely clean high traffic areas with cleaners that are typically used. Special cleaning with bleach or other non-detergent-based cleaners is not necessary.
  • Hold community awareness meetings to review procedures for limiting transmission of the flu (seasonal and H1N1), protocol for staying home when ill and any other pertinent information.

Parents are encouraged to:

With adequate planning, a potentially challenging flu season this fall should not cause a significant disruption to our students' education.   

Sincerely,

Rober Scott

Commissioner of Education

 

On Aug. 24, The U.S. Department of Education collaborated with health experts and agencies across the federal government on to announce new recommendations on the continuity of learning in the event of student absences or school closures due to seasonal or novel H1N1 flu.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global flu pandemic on June 11 for the first time in 41 years, making it crystal clear that this problem was not going away.

The statistics
When the novel H1N1 flu outbreak was first detected in mid-April 2009, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) began working with states to collect, compile and analyze information regarding the outbreak, including the numbers of confirmed and probable cases of disease. From April 15, 2009, to July 24, 2009, states reported a total of 43,771 confirmed and probable cases of H1N1 infection. Of these cases reported, 5,011 people were hospitalized and 302 people died. The WHO expects the influenza pandemic to unfold in two or three successive waves.

New federal guidance
Updated federal guidelines offer state and local public health and school officials a range of options for responding to 2009 H1N1 influenza in schools, depending on how severe the flu may be in their communities. The guidance says officials should balance the risk of flu in their communities with the disruption that school dismissals will cause in education and the wider community. The guidance and associated toolkit are available on the school planning page.


Vaccine expected in mid-October
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is preparing for an H1N1 vaccination campaign, and is making every effort to have a safe and effective H1N1 vaccine available for distribution as soon as mid-October. The department cautions that it is possible, even probable, that epidemics may begin in different parts of the country before then, which makes prevention even more critical.


The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that the H1N1 flu vaccine be made available first to the following five groups:

  • Pregnant women
  • Health care workers and emergency medical responders
  • People caring for infants under 6 months of age
  • Children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years
  • People aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes)

Combined, these groups would equal approximately 159 million individuals.

While some consider the swine flu scare the most overplayed story of the year, the old adage "better safe than sorry" again comes to mind, and preparation seems to be the best advice. While it's important to keep students engaged in learning and maintain a sense of normalcy, educators need to be ready for whatever the fall may bring. As a gathering place for students, public schools will play a critical role.

                                                                   

Updated: 10/12/09