Consider this guide a roadmap to making sense of attendance. We acknowledge that there are many reasons students are absent from school, some unavoidable and some preventable. Our hope is to partner with families to learn more about school attendance in general and how we can work together to minimize the preventable absences.

General information about attendance expectations for all Walker County Schools is included, along with health guidance for going to school. Information on common reasons why children resist attending school and research based ideas to encourage better attendance are included. If your student struggles with school refusal, please reach out to your child's school for more support or your child's pediatrician with your concerns.

There is no perfect answer to resolving absenteeism, but we are here to help offer solutions.

Call your child's school and ask for help getting connected to their online grades and attendance information in PowerSchool. If you have more than one child enrolled in Walker County Schools, you can link your students once you login.

• "Children who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are less likely to read on grade level by the third grade. -Healthy Children
• For older students, chronically absenteeism is strongly associated with school failure―even more so than low grades or test scores. - Healthy Children
• Regular school attendance also provides an engaging environment. This can help young people build relationships with peers and adults and gain a deeper sense of community and purpose. " - Healthy Children
• "By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school." - Attendance Works
• "Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school." - Attendance Works

"Georgia compulsory attendance laws identify truancy as a Code of Conduct violation."

School-based and community-based interventions, such as school attendance meetings and Truancy Treatment Team (TTT) meetings are designed to support families and minimize referrals to Truancy Court.

Future employment opportunities and earning potential is impacted by their current status in school. Staying in school now opens up more possibilities for your child in the future.

“Chronic absenteeism” refers to the number of students missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, divided by the number of students enrolled."

On an individual level, students are considered chronically absent when they miss more than 10% of their school days since the start of their school year.

• "Talk with your child about the reasons why they do not want to go to school.
• Acknowledge that you understand your child's concerns, but insist on their immediate return to school.
• Discuss your child's school avoidance with the school staff,
• Commit to being extra firm on school mornings, when children complain most about their symptoms.
• If your child's anxieties are severe, they might benefit from a step-wise return to school.
• Request help from the school staff for assistance with your child while they are at school.
• If your child stays home, be sure they are safe and comfortable, but do not give them any special treatment.
• Help your child develop independence by encouraging activities with other children outside the home."

School Avoidance: Tips for Concerned Parents

• School Principal
• School Assistant Principal
• School Counselor
• Your Child's Teacher or Case manager if they have an IEP
• School Social Worker (click the title below to find out who is your SSW)
• Parent Mentor (If your child has an IEP- ask your school counselor for more information)

• "Help Identify Issues
  Find out why your child refuses to attend school. Ask questions gently. Realize that this is not a behavioral issue and your child may be facing difficult situations at school. Determine the root cause of the issue. Is your child being bullied? Are they anxious about tests or presentations? Find the root cause of the school refusal.
• Communicate and Collaborate
  Contact the school counselor or another important professional in your child’s education. Provide information to the school about avoidance and work together to create a plan for your child. Contacting a mental health professional may also help to shed light on the situation and any underlying causes of the refusal.
• Be Firm
  Balance empathy and firmness for your child. They must attend school, but it is also important to resolve the issue behind their refusal.
• Make staying at Home Boring
  Is there anything about home that makes it extra appealing to stay there? Eliminate those extras and make staying home from school as much like school as possible. Turn off devices and don’t allow screens. Turn off your wifi on “sick days.”
• Sleep
  Encourage healthy sleep. Remove digital devices from the bedroom in the evenings. Exhaustion can exacerbate the symptoms of anxiety and depression and also be a player in school refusal."

COMMON TEEN ISSUES

Resources What is School Refusal and How Does it Affect My Teen?