The Importance of Regular
School Attendance
Intensive Support and
Innovation Center - PACE
Dr. Kevin Baker, PACE Administrator
Enriqueta Cabrera, Parent Educator Coach
Estevan Leyva, Parent Educator Coach
Dr. Rosa Prado. Parent Educator Coach
Violeta Ruiz, Parent Educator Coach
Evelyn Larios, VISTA
Felipe Nievez, VISTA
Objectives
1.
Define Attendance
2.
Discuss the Importance of School Attendance
3.
Review LAUSD’s Attendance Goal and Data
4.
Explain the Benefits of Regular School Attendance:
Short Term and Long Term
5.
Examine the Reasons “Why Students are Missing
School”
6.
Discuss Ways in Which Parents Can Support
Attendance defined by the
Merriam Webster Dictionary
Attendance:
1.The act of being present at a place
2.A record of how often a person goes to
classes, meetings, etc.
3.The number of people present at an
event, meeting, etc.
Why is attendance important?
Importance of Regular School
Attendance
 In order for a child to learn, he/she must be present and on
time in class (critical 1st step).
 Learning is very systematic in most subject areas such as
math and science. This means that today’s lesson depends
on understanding yesterday’s instruction.
 Excessive absenteeism not only affects current school year
performance but also future achievement.
 Poor attendance allows students the time to engage in
negative activities.
 Absenteeism leads to increased school drop out rates.
 Funding is based on student attendance.
Adapted From:
The Importance of Being in School: A Report on Absenteeism in the Nation’s Public
Schools
Importance of Regular School
Attendance
LAUSD’s Attendance Goal
Attendance Data for [school name]
 [insert school attendance data]
From MyData
Reporting Absences
 [Insert school’s absences
procedures]
Academic success begins with good
attendance!
Benefits of Regular School
Attendance
Short Term:
Students
will do better in school; better grades in report card
and higher scores in assessments
Students
will be less likely to need intervention classes
Students
will be more likely to have higher self esteem; more
friends and participate in school activities
Students
will have a better chance to graduate on time
Students
will be more likely to complete college preparation
courses
From LAUSD Pupil Services webpage
Benefits of Regular School
Attendance
Long Term:
A high
school graduate will earn about $300,000 more than a
high school dropout over a lifetime
A college
graduate will earn about $1,000,000 more than a
high school dropout over a lifetime
From LAUSD Pupil Services webpage
Why are students missing
instruction?
Research shows three
reasons students miss class
 Cannot go to school
 Will not go to school
 Do not go to school
Adapted From:
The Importance of Being in School: A Report on Absenteeism in the Nation’s Public
Schools
Cannot go to School
 Illness; annual colds, flu, other childhood
ailments or acute conditions and few chronic
conditions
 Housing instability; homelessness, movement
between foster care placements, and
temporary dislocation associated with home
foreclosure or inability to pay rent
 For adolescents, family obligations may keep
them away from school
Will not go to School
 Avoid an unpleasant situation
 An assignment was not completed
 Avoid harassment, bullying, and unsafe
situations on the way to and from school
 Avoid real and perceived embarrassment
 Lack of appropriate clothing
Do Not go to School
 Choose not to attend possibly due to:
• Students may not find school engaging
• They don’t see the role school can play
• There may not be enough mentoring or
structure in their lives
3-Tiered Approach to Attendance
Strategy: Individual student &
family intervention
TARGETED/
INTENSIVE
<87% in-seat attendance
25+ days absent
Strategy: Classroom, family &
small group strategies
SELECTED
(At-risk students)
87-91% in-seat attendance 15-24 days absent
92-95% in-seat attendance 10-14 days absent
UNIVERSAL LEVEL
Strategy: Incentive
programs
80% of all students should be attending 96% of
the time
Goal: 96-100%
Adapted from Sprague & Walker, 2004
Schools have support
systems for parents and
students
What can parents do ?
Tips for Parents:

Discuss with your children the importance of going
to school every day and on time

Get your child to school on time

Develop a daily schedule and stick to it

Encourage and help your child prepare for school
each evening

Don’t plan family vacations and non-emergency
doctor/dentist appointments for times when your
child should be in school
From LAUSD Count Me In! Student Attendance Initiative
ELAC Recommendations
 Based on the
information shared
today, what
recommendations
can be made to
improve our
attendance rates?
Despite any school reform;
teaching practices,
intervention, standards
and/or program changes
won’t work if students are
not in class.
Review of Objectives
1.
Define Attendance
2.
Discuss the Importance of Attendance
3.
Review LAUSD’s Attendance Goal and Data
4.
Explain the Benefits of Regular School
Attendance: Short Term and Long Term
5.
Examine the Reasons “Why Students are Missing
School”
6.
Discuss Ways in Which Parents Can Support
Questions or Concerns?
Reflection
Please take a moment and complete the
reflection form.
Thank You
We appreciate your participation!!!