Attendance Tips for Families

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success.

Did You Know

• Starting as early as preschool and kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful, and on track to graduation.
•  Missing 10%, or 2 days of school a month, over the course of the school year, can drastically affect a student’s academic success.
• Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully, or facing some other difficulty.
• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.

What You Can Do 

• Tips for Elementary School Families
• Tips for Middle and High School Families 

Tips for Elementary School Families

• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
• Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
• Find out what day school starts and make sure your child has the required shots.
• Introduce your children to their teachers and classmates before school starts.
• Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
• Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
• Keep in mind that complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home. If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
• If your child must stay home due to illness, ask the teacher for resources and ideas to continue learning at home

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. Eventually, good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and college. 

Tips for Middle and High School Families 

Make School Attendance a Priority

• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.
• Help your children maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
• Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school day.
• If your children must stay home because they are sick, make sure they have asked teachers for resources and materials to make up for the missed learning time in the classroom.

Help Your Teen Stay Engaged

Find out if your children feel engaged by their classes, and feel safe from bullies and other threats.

Make sure your children are not missing class because of challenges with behavioral issues or school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, contact the school and work with them to find a solution.

Monitor you child’s academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors when necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.

Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.

Encourage your child to join meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs.

Notice and support your children if they are showing signs of anxiety, such as headaches or stomach aches. Listen to their concerns, and if needed, ask school staff for help.

Communicate with the School

• Know the school’s attendance policy – incentives and penalties.
• Check on your child’s attendance to be sure absences are not adding up.
• Seek help from school staff, other parents, or community agencies if you need support.