Attendance

Every day counts

Regular attendance is essential to student success. Every day a student is in school is an opportunity to learn, connect with others, and grow. Families play an important role in helping students attend school consistently and understand attendance expectations.

Attendance matters

• Students learn best when they are present and engaged in class.
• Missing school, even for excused reasons, can affect academic progress, classroom participation, and social connections.
• Students who miss 10% or more of the school year are considered chronically absent and are at greater risk of falling behind academically.

Plan ahead for extended absences

• Families should communicate with their school as early as possible when planning an absence of more than three (3) consecutive school days.
• A Pre-Arranged Absence Request Form is required and must be submitted for administrative review.
  • Click here to download/complete the Elementary Notification of Pre-Arranged Absence Form
  • Click here to download/complete the Secondary Notification of Pre-Arranged Absence Form
  • Note: These forms should be completed and returned to your child's school at least one week before the planned absence, whenever possible. This gives the school time to review the request and communicate next steps.
• Approval is based on district policy and attendance requirements.
• Before scheduling an extended absence, contact your school office, review district attendance procedures, and submit the required Pre-Arranged Absence Request Form. Working together helps ensure students remain connected to their learning and on track for success.

Understand academic expectations

• Students are responsible for completing missed assignments and coursework.
• Teachers are not required to provide assignments before an absence occurs.
• Extended absences may affect classroom instruction, participation, assessments, and learning opportunities that cannot be fully replicated outside the classroom.

We are partners in student success

• Schools are committed to supporting student attendance and academic achievement.
• Families are encouraged to contact their school if attendance challenges arise.
• Additional attendance plans or interventions may be required when absences contribute to chronic absenteeism.

Did you know?

• Attending school on-time, all day, every day will give your child the best chance of graduating from high school.
• Starting in kindergarten, missing on average just two days a month, whether excused or unexcused, makes it more likely that your child will not meet academic standards in math and reading by third grade.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
• By 9th grade, regular attendance is a better predictor of high school graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.