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Attendance Does Matter!

Promoting a Culture of Attendance

 

 

Cabarrus County Attendance Policy

       School Attendance is habit forming- picture of little kids raising their hands   Absences add up! #schooleveryday missing just 2 days a month means a child misses 10% of the school year   Students are more likely to go to school if they know someone cares whether they show up #schooleveryday

Key Messages for Parents...

Key The Key to Great Student Attendance Starts at Home

 

YOUNGER STUDENTS

  • Need between 9 and 11 hours of sleep
  • Lay out clothes and backpacks the night before school
  • Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.

OLDER STUDENTS

  • Need between 8 1/2 and 9 1/2 hours of sleep
  • Help them set homework and bedtime routines.
  • When the lights go out, make sure video games, cell phones and other devices, are 'out' too!

and......

  • Avoid extended vacations that require your children to miss school.
  • Whenever possible, work with doctors to schedule appointments outside of school hours.
  • Get to know your child's administrators, teachers, counselors and school social workers. These school  professionals can help you and your children stay on track throughout the school year and tackle any barriers to regular, on time attendance.
  • When your student is very ill, take the necessary steps, including speaking with the school nurse or your doctor about appropriate steps to take to get him/her feeling better and back in school.
  • Let your student know there is no negotiating when it comes to regular, on time attendance.
  • Whether your child is five or fifteen, let him/her know that attendance matters to you, stay involved in your student's education, from pre-school through 12th grade. 

Showing Up in Pre-School Matters!

Building Good Attendance Habits in Pre-School-English

Building Good Attendance Habits in Pre-School-Spanish

Research has shown that preschoolers who miss 10 percent or more of the school year (or just 2 days per month), excused or unexcused absences—enter kindergarten with lower levels of school readiness.  If chronic absenteeism persists from preschool into kindergarten, 1st grade, etc., this has proven to be an early warning sign that children will be off track for reading proficiency by the end of 3rd grade, which is a critical time for children’s success in school.

Attendance In Kindergarten and Beyond...

Build Good Attendance Habits Early-English

Build Good Attendance Habits Early-Spanish

  • Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause a child to fall behind
  • Missing 10% (or 18 days in a 180 day school year) can make it harder for a child to learn to read 
  • Students can fall behind even if they miss one or two days every other week

Keep Your Child on Track - Middle & High School

 

 

  • Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
  • 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 serious issues
  • By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of the signs that a student may drop out of high school.
  • By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

Find out how to keep your student on track.

Keeping your middle and high school student on track.

 

Last Modified on May 31, 2023