How many days can a student miss in a school year for . . .
Excellent Attendance
Basic Attendance
Chronically Absent
When is a student chronically absent?
Chronic absenteeism is defined as being absent for 10% or more of the previous school year (18 days out of a 180 day calendar), or missing 10% or more of the current year (3 or more days in the first 30 days of school).
FACTS:
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Missing 10% of school, or 18 days, negatively affects a student's academic performance. That’s just two days a month, and that’s known as a chronic absence.
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Chronic absenteeism is one of the strongest but most often overlooked indicator that a student will become disengaged, fall behind academically and fail courses.
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Absenteeism affects all students, not just the absent ones.
Attendance Matters in all Grades
Kindergarten and first grade students miss school as often as high school students. Often their absences are excused, but each day adds up.
FACTS:
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1:10 kindergarten and 1st grade students are chronically absent.
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Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade.
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By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes one of three leading indicators that a student will drop out of high school.
The First Month of School is Crucial
There's no better time than right at the start of the school year to start good attendance habits!
FACTS
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Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year.
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Half of students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school each year.
What can families do?
Know when your child should stay home
This information from the SBPS Health Services Department serves as a general guideline as to when you should keep an ill chid home
Come back after appointments
While it may be tempting to not return your child to school after a doctor or dentist appointment, partial days add up. Scheduling appointments outside the school day when you can, and returning to school after appointments helps make up for lost learning time.
Discuss the importance of attendance with your child
Make sure everyone in the family knows the importance of attending school, including students.
Keep Everyone in The Loop
If your child does need to be absent, notify the school as soon as possible. In addition, use the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to monitor your child's attendance record online.