Did you know?
• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged and on track to graduation.
• Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty.
• By 6th grade, chronic absence (missing 10%, or 2 days each month) is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
• By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
What you can do
Make school attendance a priority
• Talk about the opportunities available when your teen or preteen shows up to school every day.
• Help your middle and high schoolers maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting enough sleep.
• Consider limiting use of devices if they interfere with sleep.
• Try not to schedule nonurgent medical appointments during the school day.
• Help your student to stay healthy.
• If your children must stay home because they are sick, make sure they have asked teachers for materials to make up for the missed learning time in the classroom.
Help your student stay engaged
• Find out if your children feel engaged by their classes and whether they feel safe from bullies and other threats.
• Make sure your students are not missing class because of challenges with behavioral issues or school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, contact the school and work with them to find a solution.
• Monitor your child’s academic progress and seek help from teachers, school counselors or tutors when necessary. Provide teachers with your contact information.
• Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
• Encourage your child to join meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs.
• If you notice signs of anxiety, support your middle and high schoolers, and if needed, seek advice from your school or health-care provider.
Communicate with the school
• Know the school’s attendance policies both incentives and penalties.
• Check on your preteen/teen’s attendance to make sure absences are not adding up.
• Seek help from school staff, other parents or community agencies if you need resources and support.