Attendance

Attendance

Regular and consistent attendance in school is critical to a child’s learning and development and may ultimately determine that child’s overall success, both in school and in life. Student well-being depends upon students being able to show up when school is in session.

Chronic absenteeism’s impacts in school

  • Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10 percent or more of school days due to absence for any reason.
  • Research shows that, as early as pre-Kindergarten, chronic absence is a predictor that a student will continue to have poor attendance and poor academic performance in later grades.
  • By the 6th grade, chronic absence is a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
Teacher looking at classroom of students with hands raised

Students may miss school for a variety of understandable reasons, from health issues to transportation challenges to troubles at home or in their family. It’s important that teachers and staff, school leaders, parents and families, and even health care providers promote the value of good attendance and do their part to address absences before students miss so much school that they fall behind.

Resources

Chronic Absenteeism in the Nation’s Schools

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Chronic Absenteeism in the Nation’s Schools

Learn what the U.S. Department of Education is doing to address chronic absenteeism.
Every Student Every Day 

Website

Every Student Every Day 

Learn what the U.S. Department of Education is doing to address chronic absenteeism.

Attendance Works

Website

Attendance Works

Join in efforts to promote policies and practices that support better school attendance with helpful resources from this leading national organization.

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