Forged Doctor’s Notes in Indiana? Here’s Why It Could Land You in Jail

Well, class is now in session for the 2025-2026 school year, and there are some changes that parents need to be aware of.

Big Changes Coming to Indiana’s School Attendance Law in 2025

Starting July 1, 2025, Indiana schools will follow updated attendance rules under Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 482. This new law changes how student absences are counted and reported, and some of these changes might surprise parents.

Understanding what does and does not count toward your child’s absence total will be important for avoiding truancy issues.

Attendance Activities That Will Not Count as Absences

Under the new law, your child will still be marked present for certain activities — even if they’re not in the classroom, as long as you provide proper documentation. These include:

• Serving as a page or honoree at the Indiana Statehouse
• Participating in Election Day activities
• Being subpoenaed to court
• Active military duty (15+ days per year)
• Approved participation in 4-H, FFA, or Indiana State Fair events
• Pre-approved school-sponsored educational activities

These situations are now considered legitimate “school-present” activities in Indiana.

Excused but Still Counted as Absent in Indiana

Here’s where it gets tricky: some situations will be excused under school policy but will still count toward your child’s total absences under SEA 482:

• Illness (physical or mental) with a parent’s call or a doctor’s note
• Family emergencies or the death of a loved one
• Pre-planned family vacations
• Recognized religious holidays
• Unexpected events like weather, lack of transportation, or nurse dismissals

It might feel strange that a family emergency or a funeral still counts against attendance, but that’s how the law is written. Parents will need to keep a closer eye on absence totals to avoid potential truancy problems.

Why Faking a Doctor’s Note in Indiana Could Land You in Jail

If you’ve ever been tempted to “help” your child’s attendance record by writing a fake doctor’s note, think again. In Indiana, forging a medical excuse can be charged as a Level 6 felony.

I’ll admit, when I was in school, I forged my mom’s signature on a report card (and may have “adjusted” a grade or two). Luckily, my petty middle school crimes didn’t follow me into adulthood… well, except maybe signing my husband’s name on the occasional check (pretty sure that’s at least mostly legal).

But faking a doctor’s signature? That’s a different story.

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Real Case: Fake COVID Note Leads to Felony Charge

Police say the Vanderburgh Superior Court once received a note claiming an offender had “Exposure to COVID” and couldn’t appear for a hearing. The signature on the note appeared to be from a local nurse practitioner — but was later confirmed as forged.

Investigators are treating the case as a Level 6 felony, which is no small matter.

• 6 months to 2 ½ years in prison (1 year advisory sentence)
• Fines up to $10,000

For something as simple as a forged doctor’s note, that’s a steep price to pay.