Help Build School Success with Good Attendance!
- Set a regular bedtime and a morning routine for children in the home.
- Lay out clothes, backpacks, and coats the night before school to save time in the morning.
- Don’t let your child stay home unless he/she is truly sick. Keep in mind complaints of a stomachache or headache can sometimes be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to their teacher for suggestions on how make him/her feel more comfortable.
- Develop a back-up plan for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a family friend, a neighbor, or another trusted parent from our school.
- Avoid medical appointments for anyone in the family that will impact a child’s attendance.
- Avoid extended trips when school is in session.
When are Absences a Problem?
|
Chronic Absences (10% of the SCHOOL YEAR) |
Warning Signs | Satisfactory | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tues/Thurs | 7 or more absences | 5-6 absences | 1-3 absences |
| Mon/Wed/Fri | 9 or more absences | 5-8 absences | 1-4 absences |
| Mon – Thus | 12 or more absences | 6-11 absences | 1-5 absences |
DID YOU KNOW?*
- Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.
- Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
- Missing 10% of school can make it harder to learn to read.
- Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
*Sources: Attendanceworks.org and Reachoutandread.org