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Every Day Matters:

Stay Connected, Keep Learning.

Did you know?

  • Starting in preschool & kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.

  • Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn and read.

  • Students can still fall behind if they miss just 1 or 2 days every few weeks.

  • Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.

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

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school--and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day, is important. Eventually good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and beyond.

Attendance Myth: Only unexcused absences are a problem. Fact: There are times students need to be absent, but excused absences can harm a student's learning just as much as unexcused absences.

Attendance Myth: Attendance only matters in older grades. Fact: Students who are chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are less likely to read proficiently at the end of 3rd grade.

Attendance Myth: Missing School every so often doesn't affect learning. Fact: Chronically absent students miss out on the sense of belonging and connections that come from regular school attendance.

When your Child is Sick

1. Report Absence to School by 10 a.m.
2. Contact Teachers for Missed Work

Parent Resources

Immunization Requirements
District Health Policy
School Avoidance Resources
Grace Med
Ways to Keep Kids Healthy During School

Truancy vs Chronic Absence. Truancy, counts only unexcused absences. Chronic Absence counts all absences: excused, unexcused & suspensions.

Attendance Policy

7 Tips to Get Your Child to School

Source: Healthychildren.org, March 2022

Attendance in the Early Grades Graphic

What You Can Do To Help Your Student's Attendance

Communicate With the School

  • Stay in touch with your student's teachers.

  • Ask for help from school officials, after school program providers, other parents or community agencies if you're having trouble getting online or need help with food, housing or some other challenge.

  • Know the school’s attendance policy and the consequences for absences.

  • Check on your teen’s attendance to make sure they are attending all of their classes.

Make Attendance a Priority

  • Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day so your student knows this is your expectation.

  • Encourage your student to maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework or getting a good night’s sleep.

  • Avoid scheduling non-urgent dental and medical appointments when classes are in session.

  • Post your teen’s class schedule and log in information in a visible location, such as on the refrigerator or teen desk.

  • Identify a quiet place for your student to do school work.

Help Your Child Stay Healthy & Engaged

  • Make sure your teen gets the flu vaccine and other required shots.

  • If your child seems bored or anxious about school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or your principal for advice on how to make your child feel safe and excited about learning.

  • Check in weekly about your student's academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if needed.

  • Stay on top of your child's social contacts. In later grades, peer pressure can lead to skipping class and teens who have a hard time making friends can feel isolated.

Information used with permission from Attendance Works.