The Statistics:

• Children who miss a lot of school in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by 3rd grade. 

• Students who cannot read at grade level by 3rd grade are 4x more likely than proficient readers to drop-out of high school.

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

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

Chronic Absenteeism:

• Makes it harder for students to learn foundational skills, establish positive relationships, & develop essential skills for life and success

• Prevents students from learning critical skills, social norms, & healthy behaviors that employers and colleges look for

• Students who are chronically absent are more at risk of experiencing negative social and emotional life circumstances and are more likely to face negative long-term consequences, including poverty and diminished mental and physical health