Make attendance a priority for your child this school year
As students gear up for another school year, the lingering effects of COVID-19 continue to impact attendance—with rates still struggling to reach pre-pandemic levels. Over seven million students across the U.S. are missing out on three weeks or more of valuable class time annually.
Poor attendance damages academic success. When students miss school or arrive in class late, everyone suffers. Teachers spend time collecting makeup work and reteaching. Meanwhile, other students—who are ready to learn—must wait.
Teach your child that a student’s number one responsibility is to start school on time every day. To support your child:
• Stick to a schedule. Establish evening and morning routines that help your child be prepared. Select outfits and gather materials needed for school at night.
• Schedule carefully. Make medical and other appointments during non-school hours when possible. School should be a priority when planning family trips, too.
• Seek help when needed. Many factors contribute to missing school. If your family struggles with health, transportation, work, child care or other issues, talk with school staff. Our shared goal is to help all students do their best in school.
Reprinted with permission from the September 2024 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2024 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: P.W. Jordan and R. Miller, Who’s In: Chronic Absenteeism under the Every Student Succeeds Act, FutureEd.