I jinxed it

So, Frequent Absentee Girl made it to school a whopping FOUR consecutive days this week. Then, today (when she had two tests to take - coincidence?) ... nothing. The secretary said she called the house and left a message, but no one called back. This woman not only keeps her kids home every chance she gets, but she doesn't even bother to call them out sick!

But what really gets me is this: After she only showed up for school one day last week (out of three), I flagged down the Parent Involvement Counselor (again) and asked her to call mom (again). I told her that I was sending her Progress Report home on Tuesday, and that she was now failing math, reading and spelling. I attached a note to the Progress Report requesting a conference.

Counselor called mom, played phone tag for a few days, and finally got in touch. She told mom that both of her daughters' teachers were very concerned, and that their grades were slipping. When mom countered with, "But they get sick...", Counselor said, "Then send them in sick. They're missing too much time." (31 days total.) Counselor went on to tell mom about Progress Reports, mom claimed she hadn't seen them. The reports go home in the white communication envelope that EVERY CHILD in our school takes home EVERY TUESDAY. I've replaced hers 4 times this year, because she forgets to send it back in.

That was Wednesday. Frequent Absentee Girl came to school on Thursday - no envelope, no Progress Report, no note from mom regarding the conference request. Today (Friday), she was absent.

My dilemma is that I can't hold her back based solely on how many days she's missed. However, now that she's failing three subjects, I think I can make a case for her. I have to talk to Principal and see what I can do.