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Attendance Expectations & Information

Attendance Awareness

Elementary School Attendance Information

DID YOU KNOW?

Absences add up! Missing just two (2) days a month means a child misses 10 percent of the school year.
  • Starting in Pre-K and Kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
  • Students can still fall behind if they miss just one (1) or two (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 Pre-K so your child learns 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 college.
 

WHEN DO ABSENCES BECOME A PROBLEM?

These below numbers assume a 180-day school year:
  • SATISFACTORY: Nine (9) or fewer absences
  • WARNING SIGNS: 10 to 17 days absent
  • CHRONIC ABSENCE: 18 or more days absent
 

WHAT YOU CAN DO!

Here are a few simple suggestions:
  • Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
  • Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
  • Keep your child healthy and make sure your child has the required shots.
  • Introduce your children to their teachers and classmates before school starts.
  • Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor or another parent.
  • Try to schedule non-Covid-19 related medical appointments and extended trips when school isn't in session.
  • If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
  • If you are concerned that your child may have Covid-19, call your school for advice.
  • If your child must stay home due to illness or quarantine, ask the

Elementary School Attendance Expectations

DID

Secondary School Attendance Information

Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students access learning opportunities and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job. Families can also advocate for resources to help students learn if they cannot attend in-person. 
 

DID YOU KNOW?

Absences add up! Missing just two (2) days a month means a child misses 10 percent of the school year.
  • Students should miss no more than nine (9) days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
  • Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty.
  • By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of 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.
 

WHEN DO ABSENCES BECOME A PROBLEM?

These below numbers assume a 180-day school year:
  • SATISFACTORY: Nine (9) or fewer absences
  • WARNING SIGNS: 10 to 17 days absent
  • CHRONIC ABSENCE: 18 or more days absent
 

WHAT YOU CAN DO!

Make school attendance a priority:
  • Talk about the importance of showing up to school everyday.
  • Help your children maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
  • Try not to schedule dental and non-Covid-19 related medical appointments during the school day.
  • Keep your child healthy, and if you are concerned about Covid-19, call your school for advice.
  • If your children must stay home because they are sick or in quarantine, make sure they have asked teachers for resources  and materials to make up for the missed learning time in the classroom.
 
Help your teen stay engaged:
  • Find out if your children feel engaged by their classes, and feel safe from bullies and other threats.
  • Make sure your children are not missing class because of challenges with behavioral issues or school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, contact the school and work with them to find a solution.
  • Monitor you child’s academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors when necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
  • Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school while students without many friends can feel isolated.
  • Encourage your child to join meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs.
  • Notice and support your children if they are showing signs of anxiety.
 
Communicate with the school:
  • Know the school’s attendance policy – incentives and penalties.
  • Check on your child’s attendance to be sure absences are not adding up.
  • Seek help from school staff, other parents or community agencies if you need support.

Secondary School Attendance Expectations