Well....since she does go to Public School....child abuse. I firmly believe the school has the right to make the rules. She didn’t abide by them and should suffer the consequences. Couldn’t her parents call and say, “She is out today”. Unexcused absences are lazy anyway.
It doesn't always work that way. In some districts, even when the parent calls and sends a note - even a doctor's note - it is still counted toward the number of absences and must be explained or the child is declared truant or a grade will not be passed.
I've been through it twice, and although my honor roll student was never in danger of flunking out of a grade it was still a royal pain. What made it worse was it was the school nurse who was refusing to allow her to attend school because and epidemic lice breakout.