Pay Attention to Attendance

Pay Attention to Attendance

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.

Strive for Five!

·         Attend 5 days every week

·         No more than 5 (excused or unexcused absences) per semester

Did You Know?

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

·         By 6th grade, absences, whether excused or unexcused, are one of three signs that a student is more likely to drop out of high school and not graduate.

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

·         Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, whether excused or unexcused, can affect a student’s academic success.

What Can You Do?

Make school attendance a priority by:

·         Talking about the importance of showing up to school every day

·         Helping your children maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.

·         Trying not to schedule dental and non-urgent related medical appointments during the school day.

·         Keeping your student healthy. If you are concerned about a contagious illness, call your school or health care provider.

·         Making sure they have asked teachers for resources and materials to make up for the missed learning time in the classroom if they had to stay home because they were too sick for school.