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Attendance = Achievement
As your child grows older and becomes more independent, it is important to express the importance of attendance at school. Attendance plays a key role in making sure students access learning opportunities and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.
Regular and punctual attendance is required of each student enrolled in the school district. Students are required to maintain a good attendance record, because there is a direct relationship between school attendance and achievement, citizenship, and success in school.
Each student is required to attend school every school day except when illness, injury, or some other condition beyond the student’s control prevents attendance. Students and their parents/guardians should make every effort to keep student absences and tardies to a minimum. After returning to school, students are expected to make up work missed because of absence.
A student who is truant from school or absent from school without a satisfactory excuse shall be subject to the Student Disciplinary Guidelines of the school district. In addition, absences, which are considered to be in violation of Missouri’s compulsory attendance law, shall be referred to the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office for enforcement. For purposes of the Missouri compulsory attendance law, the term “attend..on a regular basis” shall mean that the student has not been absent from school without satisfactory excuse or truant from school more than eight (8) school days or partial
school days during the school year.”
DID YOU KNOW
• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
• Frequent 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 difficulty.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism 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.
• Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a students academic success.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.
• Help your children maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a night's sleep.
• Try not to schedule doctor's or dental appointments during the school day.
• If your children must stay home because they are sick or doctor appointments, make sure they have asked teachers or emailed their teacher for resources and materials to make up for the missed learning time in the classroom.
HELP YOUR TEEN STAY ENGAGED
• Find out if your children feel engaged by their classes, and feel safe from bullies and other threats.
• Make sure your children 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 you child’s academic progress and seek help from teacher tutor when necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
• 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.
• Notice and support your children if they are showing signs of anxiety.
COMMUNICATE WITH THE SCHOOL
• Know the school’s attendance policy – incentives and penalties.
• Check on your child’s attendance to be sure absences are not adding up.
• Seek help from school staff, other parents or community agencies if you need support.
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