Attendance Matters (Part 1)

School Attendance: Important Information for Parents (Part 1)

Regular attendance puts students of all ages on the road to success. Developing good attendance habits is crucial.  Good attendance is especially important in elementary school.  These are the years when the foundation for success is built! 

Sometimes students have to miss school, and that’s ok.  But missing too much school can affect literacy and other academic areas, social and friendship skills, as well as life-long habits. Chronic absenteeism is missing at least 10% of the school year, which is about two or more days a month.  

Being in school enables students to get the help they need.  Early elementary students with good attendance receive more reading instruction than chronically absent students.  Those extra hours of reading support add up! By 6th grade, chronic absenteeism is the leading indicator a student will drop out of high school.  

Parents can make a difference!  When parents communicate to their children that attendance is important, their absenteeism rate is lower and the habit of good attendance can carry over from school into their future.