(Attendance)Every Student, Every Day
Chronic absenteeism—or missing at least 10 percent of school days in a school year for any reason, excused or unexcused—is a primary cause of low academic achievement and a powerful predictor of those students who may eventually drop out of school. An estimated five to seven and a half million students miss 18 or more days of school each year, or nearly an entire month or more of school, which puts them at significant risk of falling behind academically and failing to graduate from high school. Because they miss so much school, millions of young people miss out on opportunities in post-secondary education and good careers.
The Board believes that class participation is an integral part of successful learning and is essential if students are to meet both the course requirements and those established by the Maine Learning Results and the Common Core. When students are absent, regardless of the reason, learning is impacted both for them and their classmates. As such, the Board establishes the following guidelines to ensure that learning is the central focus for all students. (see Policy JEA)