Attendance

• Missing just 2–4 days in September often predicts poor attendance all year.
• 1 in 3 students is chronically absent.
• Absenteeism starts early and affects reading by 3rd grade.
• By 6th grade, chronic absence is a leading dropout indicator.
• Missing 10% of the year (about 18 days) hurts achievement.
• Chronic absence = about 2 days a month.
• Students in poverty are 4x more likely to be chronically absent.
• Better attendance leads to better grades and graduation rates.
• Attendance improves when schools engage families and provide mentors.
• Track total days missed (excused + unexcused), not just unexcused absences.

• Keep track of your child’s attendance. We've created an Attendance Scorecard to make it easy to keep track of your child's attendance. 
• Avoid appointments and travel when school is in session.
• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine (including limiting how late your child can use any electronic devices) and finish homework, and pack backpacks the night before.
• Have a backup plan for getting to school in case something comes up (this could be alternative bus routes, roads, or a plan with family members, neighbors, or other parents).
• Don’t let your child stay home unless they are truly sick, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or if they have a contagious rash.
• Communicate with the school about how we can work together to support your child’s attendance.

Research indicates that regular school attendance:

• Assists students in getting back on track and regaining lost momentum.
• Enhances student learning and increases the likelihood of graduation.
• Boosts students' self-esteem and improves their perception of school and themselves.
• Supports mental health through social interactions, fostering friendships, building empathy, and forming lasting relationships with peers.
• Facilitates a personalized learning experience that prevents students from falling behind.
• Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that when families and schools build strong relationships, children are more likely to stay in school, graduate, and thrive academically and socially.