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As schools reopen for another year, they are focused on improving student attendance. But\u00a0back-to-school<\/a>\u00a0is hitting just as COVID-19 cases are increasing<\/a>, raising the question: When is a child too sick for school?<\/p>\n School absences surged<\/a>\u00a0during the pandemic and have yet to recover. Nearly 1 in 4 students remains chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of the academic year, according to the latest data analyzed by The Associated Press.<\/p>\n One reason for continued high absences: After years of COVID-19 quarantines, parents are more cautious about sending children to school when they might be contagious with an illness.<\/p>\n When a child misses school, even for an excused absence like a sick day, it\u2019s harder for them to\u00a0stay on track academically<\/a>. So schools and health experts are trying to change the culture around sick days.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what they want parents to know.<\/p>\n During the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged people who tested positive for COVID-19 to isolate at home for a set number of days and to quarantine after exposure to the coronavirus. In some settings, people with any mild illness were urged to remain home until symptoms were clear.<\/p>\n Those standards, and the caution behind them,\u00a0remained for years<\/a>\u00a0after schools reopened to in-person instruction. That meant children often missed large portions of school after contracting or being exposed to COVID-19 or other illnesses.<\/p>\n This spring, COVID-19 guidance officially changed. Now, the CDC suggests people\u00a0treat COVID-19 like other respiratory illnesses<\/a>, such as the flu and RSV.<\/p>\n If a child has a fever, they should stay home, no matter the illness.<\/p>\n A child can return to school when their fever has been gone for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Other symptoms should be improving.<\/p>\n If a child doesn\u2019t have a fever, it\u2019s OK to send them to class\u00a0with some signs of illness<\/a>, including a runny nose, headache or cough, according to schools and the\u00a0American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a>. If those symptoms aren\u2019t improving or are severe, such as a hacking cough, call your child\u2019s doctor.<\/p>\n The guidance around vomiting and diarrhea varies across school districts. Generally, students should remain home\u00a0until symptoms stop<\/a>, according to American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Older children may be able to manage\u00a0mild diarrhea<\/a>\u00a0at school.<\/p>\n \u201cUnless your student has a fever or threw up in the last 24 hours, you are coming to school. That\u2019s what we want,\u201d said Abigail Arii, director of student support services in Oakland, California.<\/p>\n Guidance from the Los Angeles Unified School District says students can attend school with mild symptoms such as a runny nose or cold, but should stay home if they have vomiting, diarrhea, severe pain or a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) or higher.<\/p>\n School districts across the U.S. have similar guidance, including in\u00a0Texas<\/a>,\u00a0Illinois<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0New York<\/a>.<\/p>\n The CDC says people should\u00a0take additional precautions<\/a>\u00a0for five days after returning to school or other normal activities.<\/p>\n Masks and social distancing are no longer mandated but are encouraged to prevent disease spread. Experts also recommend plenty of handwashing and taking steps for cleaner air, such as opening a window or running an air purifier.<\/p>\n School districts say parents should keep up-to-date on all health examinations and immunizations for students so they don\u2019t miss additional days of school.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nCOVID guidelines have changed<\/h2>\n
Fever-free for 24 hours<\/h2>\n
What about other symptoms?<\/h2>\n
When to wear a mask<\/h2>\n
View the new Fortune 50 Best Places to Live for Families list. Discover the 2024 top destinations across the U.S. for multigenerational families to live, thrive, and find community. Explore the list<\/a>.<\/div>\n