Child Welfare, Attendance & Safety

The District places high importance on regular school attendance by students. It’s a fact that students who attend school regularly learn more and are more successful in school than students who do not. One of the six pillars of Character Counts! that we teach our students about is responsibility. Parents who make regular school attendance a priority also are helping their children learn to accept responsibility. That is such an important lesson for a successful life.

Attendance patterns are formed early in life. Children who develop good attendance habits in the early grades will be more likely to continue them throughout their school careers. In fact, research shows that chronic absence in kindergarten and first grade is a strong predictor of poor academic performance by grade five.

So let's get our kids to school each and every day!

Our goal this year is to ensure that every student attends school regularly.

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 first grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of third grade.
• By sixth grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.
• By ninth grade, good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than eighth-grade test scores.

Absences can add up quickly. A child is chronically absent if he or she misses just two days every month!

Clearly, going to school regularly matters!

We don’t want your child to fall behind in school and get discouraged. Please ensure that your child attends school every day and arrives 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.
• Layout clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
• Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick.
• Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments 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, a neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.

Let us know how we can best support you and your children so that they can show up for school on time every day. We want your child to be successful in school! If you have any questions or need more information, please contact your child’s school.

Please be advised that your child’s school may request a member of our attendance staff to make a home visit to speak with you should your child’s absences and/or tardies become excessive.