Help Your Child Succeed in School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early

DID YOU KNOW?

• Starting in preschool and kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
• Students can still fall behind if they miss just one or two days every few weeks.
• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
• Absences and tardiness can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school-and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Eventually good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and college.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.

When Do Absences Become a Problem?

• Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
• Keep your child healthy and make sure your child has the required shots.

CHRONIC ABSENCE

• 18 or more days
• Introduce your children to their teachers and dassmates before school starts.
• Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up.
• Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.

WARNING SIGNS

10 to 17 days

• Try to schedule non-urgent related medical appointments and extended trips when school isn't in session.
• If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors and other parents for advice on how to make

SATISFACTORY

9 or fewer absences - your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.

• If you are concerned that your child may have a contagious illness, call your school or health care provider for advice.
  Note: These numbers assume a 180-day school year.
• If your child must stay home due to illness, ask the teacher for resources and ideas to continue learning at home.

Visit Attendance Works at the AttendanceWorks website for free downloadable resources and tools!