Do You Have Cold Symptoms? Here’s When Kids Should Take a Sick Day Off School

PHOENIX – As schools reopen for a year, they’re focused on improving student attendance. But the return to school comes just as COVID-19 cases are rising, raising the question: When is a child too sick to go to school?

School absences have skyrocketed during the pandemic and have not recovered. Nearly 1 in 4 students remains chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, according to the latest data analyzed by The Associated Press.

One reason for the persistently high absenteeism: After years of quarantine due to COVID-19, parents have become more cautious about sending children to school, as they may be contagious with an illness.

When a child misses school, even for an excused absence like a sick day, it’s harder for them to stay on track academically. That’s why schools and health experts are trying to change the culture around sick days.

This is what they want parents to know.

COVID guidelines have changed

During the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged people who tested positive for COVID-19 to isolate and quarantine at home for several days after exposure to the coronavirus. In some settings, people with mild illness were urged to stay home until their symptoms resolved.

Those norms, and the caution behind them, persisted for years after schools reopened for in-person learning, meaning children often missed large chunks of school after contracting or being exposed to COVID-19 or other illnesses.

This spring, the guidelines for COVID-19 officially changed. Now, the CDC advises people to treat COVID-19 like other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza and RSV.

Fever free for 24 hours

If a child has a fever, he or she should stay home, regardless of the illness.

A child can return to school if the fever has been gone for 24 hours without antipyretic medication. Other symptoms should improve.

What about other symptoms?

If a child doesn’t have a fever, it’s OK to send them to school with some signs of illness, such as a runny nose, headache or cough, according to schools and the American Academy of Pediatrics. If those symptoms don’t improve or are severe, such as a cough, call your child’s doctor.

Guidelines for vomiting and diarrhea vary by school district. In general, students should stay home until symptoms subside, according to guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Older children may be able to manage mild diarrhea at school.

“Unless your student has a fever or has vomited in the last 24 hours, come to school. That’s what we want,” said Abigail Arii, director of student support services in Oakland, California.

According to Los Angeles Unified School District guidelines, students can come to 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 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

School districts across the US have similar guidelines, including in Texas, Illinois and New York.

When should you wear a mask?

According to the CDC, people should take extra precautions for five days after returning to school or other normal activities.

Masks and social distancing are no longer mandatory, but are encouraged to prevent the spread of disease. Experts also recommend frequent hand washing and taking steps to clean the air, such as opening a window or using an air purifier.

School districts say parents should stay up to date on all medical screenings and vaccinations for students so they don’t miss extra days of school.

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Jocelyn Gecker, an AP education reporter in San Francisco, contributed.

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This article is part of AP’s Be Well coverage, which focuses on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health. Read more Be Well.

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Associated Press education coverage receives funding from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded reporting areas at AP.org.