Successful schools begin by engaging students and making sure they come to school regularly whether in-person or remotely. This may seem obvious however what is not so apparent is that the consequences of low attendance are serious for all children and for the community, not just the students who miss school.

The attendance rate is important because students are more likely to succeed in academics when they attend school consistently. It’s difficult for the teacher and the class to build their skills and progress if a large number of students are frequently absent. In addition to falling behind in academics, students who are not in school or who do not participate remotely on a regular basis are more likely to have their academic performance negatively affected. Just two days a month of missed school is known as chronic absence.  Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade.  Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school. This is why it is important for families to ensure that all students are attending school both in-person and remotely. By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.  When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.