Attendance Matters! 

Chronic absence has become a national crisis. Data show chronic absence nearly doubled by the end of the 2021 - 22 school year. It now affects nearly one out of three students. 

One of the most important things your child can do to achieve academic success is also one of the most basic: going to school everyday.  Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student's academic success and even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.

School attendance is essential beginning in Kindergarten. Sometimes we don't think that it is important as good attendance in the upper grades, but it is important to build a healthy habit of daily school attendance right from the beginning. 

Unexcused Absence: Missing a full day of school, being tardy 30 minutes or more without a valid excuse. 

Attendance Terms: 

Average Daily Attendance: The % of enrolled students who attend school each day. It is used is some states to allocate funding. 

Truancy: Typically refers to unexcused absences and is defined by each state under No Child Left Behind. It signals the potential need for legal intervention under state education laws. 

Chronic Absence: Missing 10% or more of school for any reason - excused and unexcused. It is an indication that a student is academically at risk due to missing too much school starting in Kindergarten. 

Did you know?

• Starting in Kindergarten, too many absences can cause some children to fall behind in school.

• How many absences are too many? Chronic absenteeism is defined as 18 days a year - or just 2 days a month. 

• Missing 10 percent or about 18 days of the school year in kindergarten can lower achievement in 1st grade, and for some students through 5th grade. 

• Students can still fall behind if they keep missing just a day or two every few weeks. 

• Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up. 

• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

• By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.

• Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty. 

• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.

• Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job.