September is Attendance Awareness Month!
Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student's academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.
We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But we also know that when students miss too much school, regardless of the reason, it can cause them to fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent, which means missing 18 or more days over the course of an entire school year. Research shows:
- Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade
- By 6th grade, chronic absences are a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school
- By 9th grade, good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores
Absences can add up quickly. A child is chronically absent if they miss just two days every month. We don't want your child to fall behind in school and get discouraged. Please ensure that your child attends school every day on time. Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
- Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine
- Limit the use of electronics before bedtime and inaccessible during the night
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before
- Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick
- Avoid scheduling vacations when school is in session
- Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school
- Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.
All schools in the Blaine School District have common attendance expectations and those guidelines, as well as some other great resources, can be accessed below.
Blaine School District Attendance Guidelines