ATTENDANCE:  Regular daily attendance is an important factor in a child's success in school. A student who has irregular school attendance misses important classroom activities, gets behind in schoolwork, becomes frustrated, can develop a poor attitude in school and is more likely to drop out. Encouragement and the expectation that a child will attend school daily, starting with the first day of kindergarten and continuing throughout his/her school career, teaches children that school is important and is the foundation of a good work ethic.

INTERVENTION STRATEGIES:  Achieving the vision of healthy children ready to learn is critical to the achievement of high academic standards, resulting in a productive, committed citizen. The Districts focus on an attendance policy and programming, coupled with school climate and increased academic performance, offers a unique opportunity to engage the entire school community parents, staff, students, and community members in a process which will build upon the strengths of all concerned.

For students with an excessive number of days absent or tardy, district personnel will try to identify the root causes and seek solutions to the problems. They will work with families and will look for ways to foster better family relationships and improve student attendance. Where necessary, they will help parents find ways to set appropriate limits for children.  In addition, referrals to outside agencies may be made. If a pattern or trend of excessive absences are noted, action will be considered to help ensure the health and well-being of the student (e.g., contacting the prosecutors office or child protective services).