Today is the first day of school! Why is attendance in school important? Attending classes regularly creates good habits, makes it easier to form friendships, time is not lost reteaching which benefits all children, our schools offer many supports such as nurses, counselors, and meals, and attendance is a predictor of reading scores.
- 64% of kids with good attendance in Kindergarten and 1st grade who miss 9 days or fewer both years read on level after third grade, while only 17% of children who missed 18 or more days both years are able to read on level after third grade.
To fight against absences you can:
- Make appointments outside of school hours or on non-school days.
- Have a back-up plan for getting to school such as a neighbor able to help.
- Don’t hesitate to ask the school if you need help.