Why Attendance Matters
Did you know?
- Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school?
- Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.
- Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two every few weeks.
- Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
- Absences can affect the whole classroom is 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 preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college.
What Can You Do?
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Don't let your child stay home unless they are truly sick. Keep in mind complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
- Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up.
- Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
10 Reasons Why School Attendance is Important
- Children with good attendance are more likely to do well in school.
- Research has found a direct link between regular school attendance and academic performance. Too many absences can cause your child to fall behind- as early as Kindergarten.
- Children are more likely to develop important skills when they have good attendance.
- These skills include: responsibility, self-discipline, persistence, good study and work habits.
- Children who have a lot of absences are less likely to fulfill their potential as students.
- When children miss school they may not learn the basic skills they need to help them learn.
- Children with good attendance are more likely to do well on standardized tests.
- Many states require students to pass standardized tests in order to graduate from high school.
- If your child attends school regularly, he or she is less likely to drop out of high school.
- Children with good attendance are more likely to feel connected to the school and community, they may have good friends at school. They may be involved with extracurricular activities. As a result they are far more likely to stay in school and graduate.
- Good attendance can lead to college and a good job.
- Attending school regularly can help children to do well academically. Getting good grades can help them get into college or other postsecondary education or training program. That increases the chances they'll get a good job that pays well and provides benefits.
- Children with good attendance are more likely to get along well with others.
- Children who attend regularly tend to get better grades and feel more connected to school. As a result, they tend to develop better social and emotional skills. They feel better about themselves. And that makes it more likely that they'll get along with other people.
- Good attendance goes hand in hand with good behavior.
- Studies show that when children experience the benefits of attending school regularly, they tend to have a more positive attitude. This leads to good behavior- at school and at home.
- Children with fewer absences are less likely to use alcohol and other drugs.
- Good attendance is related to children feeling connected to the school community. Research shows that children who feel more connected are more likely to avoid risky behaviors.
- Good attendance means more money for schools. ?
- When a budget is developed for a school district, a formula is used to determine the amount of funding that is needed. This formula often includes average daily attendance figures. Lower attendance figures usually mean less money budgeted for the school year.
The Elmira City School District's viewpoint is straightforward- *REGULAR ATTENDANCE IS A CONDITION FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ALL COURSES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION!*