School attendance is a vital component of academic success and we’re highlighting its importance in honor of September being Attendance Awareness Month. It goes without saying that unless students are in the classroom, they cannot benefit from the lessons being taught. Parents have a variety of ways they can help ensure their children are attending regularly and are best positioned for success inside the classroom. Specifically parents can:
- Set a regular bedtime and wake-up time
- Develop backup plans for getting to school if emergencies arise
- Identify non-academic areas (sports, drama, etc.) that can also motivate children
- Regularly talk about the importance of attendance and its role in helping them achieve their goals
Regular attendance goes beyond just being physically in the classroom and has a wide-range of positive benefits. For example:
- Students with good attendance records generally perform better and receive higher grades
- Regular attendance patterns encourage the social development of children
- Older students attending school every day have more opportunities to learn about scholarships, college, and career opportunities
- Lessons tend to build on one another and regular attendance helps students keep pace with what’s being taught
“We look forward to seeing each of our students in school every day. We miss our students when they are absent from school,” said chief academic officer Susan Toth. “Research also shows that students who have strong attendance perform better in school and have greater persistence rates later on in college. Strong daily attendance in school, no matter the age or grade, really does matter!”
Encouraging regular attendance is one of the most powerful ways to prepare students for success. Together we can ensure students have every opportunity to realize their potential by highlighting and reinforcing the importance of attendance.
