Family Resources

ESPAÑOL

As parents we all have deeply rooted hopes and dreams for our children, and know that education plays a crucial role in our children developing to their full potential. But did you know that missing two days of school per month can cause your child to fall behind - even as early as pre-school? It can make it harder for your child to learn to read and to learn basic math skills. Missing 2 days of school per month adds up to missing 10% of the school year. This is called chronic absenteeism.

By 3rd grade, students who miss this much school have difficulty reading at grade level.
By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
And by 9th grade attendance is a better predictor of high school graduation than 8th grade test scores.

When our children miss school for any reason, whether they are excused absences or not, they miss out on valuable classroom interactions, vital academic lessons, and fun extracurricular activities. They also aren’t able to practice social-emotional skills that are essential for managing stress, gaining self-confidence, and building positive relationships.

As parents, our involvement and support play an invaluable role in our children’s educational journey. By making sure our children have good attendance, we can send a powerful message that education matters, and that it paves the path to future success.

Here you’ll find resources such as tips and tricks, how to track your child’s attendance, how to plan for challenges, support for anxiety-related absences and more. If you’re having challenges with getting your child to school, whether it’s due to transportation, chronic health issues, mental health or safety concerns, please reach out to the school’s office so that they can problem-solve with you. When we work together, we can pull on the strengths of the home and the school to get our children in class, on track, and ready to thrive.

Tips for Families to Support School Attendance

Keep track of the days your child misses school (excused and unexcused), including when they are sick, have medical appointments and are on vacation. You can mark it on a calendar, use the Notes app in your phone or any way that works for you.
If your child has missed more than 10 days during the year, you should closely monitor and limit future absences for the rest of the year.

Help your child understand that school is their very first job!

Make great school attendance a priority for your child.
Talk to your child about the importance of daily attendance in every class and how it helps his/her/their learning.

Help your child develop good habits

Finishing homework and placing it in their backpack
Laying out clothes and backpack in the evening
Having a regular bedtime for a good night’s sleep
Turning off (and possibly turning in) electronic devices
Getting up early enough to get to school on time

When your child is sick

Don’t let your children stay home unless they are truly sick. Keep in mind that complaints of stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and may not be a reason to stay home.
If your child seems anxious about going to school, see this guide. Talk to your child’s teacher or counselors for advice about how to make them feel comfortable.
If your child is experiencing on-going health challenges, work with your school staff so you can problem-solve together to support your child.

Appointments and vacations

Make every effort to schedule doctor, dentist, and other appointments after school hours.
If your child must be out of school for an appointment, get him/her back to school for at least part of the school day.
Plan vacations when school is not in session.
Identify a friend, neighbor or relative that can help with pick up or drop off if you have unexpected transportation issues.

Resources

Attendance Everyday Video - Spanish

Flyers

Pre-school/Kinder - Parents - English

Elementary - Parents - English

Elementary - Parents - Spanish

Elementary - Infographic - English

Elementary - Infographic - Spanish

Secondary - Parents - English

Secondary - Parents - Spanish