Help Your Child Succeed in School:
Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early
DID YOU KNOW?
- Starting in preschool and kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
- Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
- Students can still fall behind if they miss just 1 or 2 days every few weeks.
- Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
- Absences and tardiness can affect the whole classroom if 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. Eventually good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and college.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Set a regular bedtime and morninq routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
Keep your child healthy 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.
- Try to schedule non-Covid-19 related medical appointments and extended trips when school isn't in session.
- 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 you are concerned that your child may have Covid-19, call your school for advice.
- If your child must stay home due to illness or quarantine, ask the teacher for resources and ideas to continue learning at home. Revised October 2021
When Do Absences Become a Problem?
CHRONIC ABSENCE
18 or more days
WARNING SIGNS
10 to 17 days
SATISFACTORY
9 or fewer absences
Note: These numbers assume a 180-day school year.
Visit Attendance Works at www.attendanceworks.org for free downloadable resources and tools!
