The Importance of School Attendance 90 WORDS: School District of Manatee County School Social Workers and Psychologists We all have things that come up in our lives. Sometimes it is easy to give in and let children stay home from school, or go in late when things come up. It is easy to believe that missing a few days of school won’t hurt our children. After all, they will be going to school for many more years. What could missing a little school really hurt? Well, according to research, it could hurt plenty. Starting in kindergarten, absences can leave children unable to read well by the end of 3rd grade, setting them behind in this essential skill. For older students, it can set a pattern of poor attendance and academic failure that causes them to want to drop out of school later. Attendance problems in the early years predict that these students will be absent in later grades, and students with the highest absenteeism usually score lower on state tests. Students who miss two days a month are missing over 11% of their instruction. If we add that up from Kindergarten to 12th grade that means 160 days or almost a full year of school! Since core academics happen in the morning hours when the students are freshest and best able to attend, a child always arriving late to school misses important work and may have a hard time catching up. By attending school regularly and arriving on time, your child is more likely to keep up with daily lessons and assignments; more likely to pass reading, math and writing tests; and more likely to learn how to be a good citizen by participating in the school community, and learning valuable social skills. By making regular, on time attendance a priority in your family, your children are given a strong message that education and learning are important to you. If it is important to you, it will be important to them. There are many ways a parent can encourage good attendance. Some suggestions are: Plan ahead: Encourage your child to prepare for the next school day by laying out clothes the night before, organizing the supplies they need for school the next day, and placing everything they need in their back pack. Help your child get to school on time every day: Set a routine in the morning for getting up, dressed and ready. Teach your child how to set and use an alarm clock, and keep the television turned off in the morning. Promote good health: Make sure that your child eats a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, and has opportunities to exercise every day through a sports team or playtime outside. Create a restful environment: Make sure that your child can relax before bedtime by doing something quiet, like reading, instead of doing something stimulating, like watching television or playing games on their tablet or phone. Ensure that your child gets enough quality sleep: ideal amounts range from 8 to 12 hours nightly. Getting enough sleep will help your child get up on time, be refreshed in the morning, and feel ready for a full day of learning ahead! ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ mind: Plan holiday celebrations or family trips during weekends or school vacations. In the case of family emergencies or unexpected trips, talk to your child’s teacher as far in advance as possible and set up a way that your child can work ahead or bring important homework on the trip. Try to limit the amount of time that your child misses school due to medical appointments or illness: If possible, avoid scheduling doctor’s appointments during the school day. Allow your child to stay home only in the case of contagious or severe illnesses. If you are experiencing dif��culties with your child or your situation in regard to regular on-time school attendance, please contact your child’s school. There are staff at every school that can provide a variety of suggestions and support to assist you and your child.
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