Attendance Matters

If students don’t show up for school regularly, they miss out on fundamental reading and math skills and the chance to build a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Furthermore, school attendance is a powerful predictor of future student outcomes. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Education, irregular attendance can be a better predictor of whether students will drop out of school before graduation than test scores. Every missed school day is a lost opportunity for our students to learn.

Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early

• Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause students to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days of school) can make it harder to learn to read.
• Students can still fall behind even if they miss just a day or two every few weeks.
• Being late to school can lead to poor attendance.
• Absences can affect the whole classroom, as the teacher may have to review material to help absent students catch up.