In some communities, chronic absence affects 1 in 4 children.
When we work together to monitor data, encourage a habit of
regular attendance, and reduce hurdles that keep children from
getting to school, chronic absenteeism will eventually wither
away. Together, let’s explore how this new tool can assist our
work in closing the gap.
School has just begun, and the excitement of the children is
palpable. As we know, children can’t learn if they aren’t in class.
Excellent attendance is important - Every Day Counts!
Parents, schools, and the community can work together to
influence excellent attendance and focus on school success.
How is attendance
related to school success?
• Chronic absence in Kindergarten is associated with lower
academic performance in 1st grade among all children and,
for poor children, predicts the lowest levels of educational
achievement at the end of fifth grade.
• By 6th grade, missing 20% (or two months of school) is a
critical warning sign of school drop-out.
• By 9th grade, missing 20% of school can be a better
predictor of drop-out than 8th grade test scores.
What can parents do?
• Help your child get into the habit and learn the value of
regular routines.
• Teach your child that attending school is non-negotiable
unless they are truly sick.
• Build relationships with other families and discuss how you can
help each other out (e.g., drop off or pick up children, babysit,
assist with translation) in times of need or emergencies.
• Identify non-academic activities (drama, art, music, etc.) that
can help motivate your child’s interest in school and learning
and seek out schools that can offer those experiences.
What can schools do?
• Educate families about the adverse impact of poor
attendance on school achievement.
• Inform parents about the positive incentives students receive
for good attendance. Consider recognizing parents as well
for their role in their child’s attendance.
• Notify parents that their child’s absence was noticed, either
through a call home or an email.
• Reach out to families to find out what is happening if children
begin to miss school regularly. Where appropriate, refer
families to available resources in the community.
What can the community do?
• Teach parents about the importance of regular attendance,
starting in kindergarten.
• Help parents of older students understand that excessive
absence is a critical warning sign for dropping out.
• Partner with schools to provide social work and casemanagement
supports to families of children with extended
absences.
• Address barriers to attendance by offering services
(economic supports, social services, etc.) at schools
and referring families to other available resources in the
community.
We know that there’s no such thing as perfect, especially when
it comes to attendance. After all, children do get sick or may
need to miss school for several reasons. We don’t want our
children missing 20 days, so what’s a realistic number? Consider
striving for less than five absences per year as hitting the mark
of excellence!
Source: attendanceworks.org
/attendanceworks.org