COLUMBIA, Tenn. -- Maury County always had a rigid attendance policy, but it softened the policy by allowing kids to make up unexcused absences.

As of this fall, there will be no more make-up, leaving parents faced with a strict and expensive attendance policy. If a student is sick and doesn't have a doctor's excuse, the absence is unexcused.

A student whose unexcused class absences exceed three during a nine-week grading period won’t receive credit for the course, regardless of the grade earned.

Columbia parent Jana Love said she is offended that schools want to bring a doctor into a parental decision.

"Who are they to tell me I've got to figure out how I'm going to find $25 to take her to the doctor if it's just a sinus cold or a cough or sore throat?" asked Love.

"You have to come out of your pocket for the co-pay, you're missing a day's work. You know, it's just not right," said parent Deonna Phillips. "When we say they're sick, they're sick."

Director of Schools Eddie Hickman said allowing high school kids to make up unexcused time was expensive and ineffective and that parents will find principals flexible.

"We will use a common-sense approach," said Hickman.

Parents can ask principals to excuse the absences, but many parents said that hands the authority from doctors to principals when it should be the parents' call.