Aug. 19, 2024
Dear Poudre School District community:
We hope you’ve had an excellent start to the new school year and have been able to join your teachers and classmates every school day so far. It’s important to make and keep good attendance habits from the very first day of school to have a successful year.
Students who attend school regularly perform better academically and are more likely to graduate from high school than students who are chronically absent (defined as missing 10% or more of school days, excused or not). Unfortunately, one in three Colorado students are chronically absent, according to the Colorado Department of Education.
PSD has a goal of 95% average daily attendance. While a goal of 100% attendance doesn’t leave space for occasional student illness, going to school 95% or more of the time helps students stay on track with their schoolwork and feel more connected with staff, peers, and activities at school, which has positive impacts on student mental health and belonging.
Absences can add up quickly and negatively impact a student’s progress. Missing just a couple days each month means a child is losing out on more than 10% of in-class learning. To help families track absences and offer support, schools will send parents and guardians a letter if their child passes the following thresholds:
These percentages account for both excused and unexcused absences. Unexcused absences are days missed for any reason not listed in the excused absence list in the Student Code of Conduct (page 11). Leaving school for vacations, work (outside of a work-study program under school supervision), or appointments that can take place outside of school hours/have not been pre-approved by a school administrator are examples of unexcused absences for a student.
Parents and guardians will also receive letters if their child becomes habitually truant by having four or more unexcused absences in one month or 10 or more unexcused absences in a year.
PSD staff want to be partners with families in getting students to class. Please contact your school if you have questions or need attendance support.
Sincerely,
Poudre School District
