How will schools handle flu absences?

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - As local school districts prepare for big outbreaks of H1N1, parents and students wonder how grades and credits will be affected if children miss a string of days in a row.

24-Hour News 8 checked with several districts Tuesday. Each reported about the same thing. They will not change their attendance policies, but students will not be penalized if parents report their children are home with the flu.

Paula Clegg, Public Information Officer with MSD Perry Township schools outlined their policy in an e-mail.

"As outlined in the MSDPT Student Rights and Responsibility booklet, all make-up work due to absence (Grades 6-12) must be arranged by the student with the teacher after the student returns to school in order to receive full credit. If make-up work is assigned by the teacher, the student will receive full credit for that day's work."

Wayne Township spokesperson Cheri O'Day said, "If it's an excused absence and a child is ill and truly can't be at school, it's going to be excused and they will be able to make up their work and hopefully get everything they would have missed in the classroom."

Wayne Township said it has two confirmed cases of H1N1, but declined to say which schools the children attend.