Encouraging regular school attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your child for success- both in school and in life. When you make school attendance a priority, you help your child get better grades, develop health life habits, avoid dangerous or risky behavior, and have a better chance of graduating from high school.
The number of days a student misses school matters!
Whether excused or unexcused, the number of days your student misses can greatly impact their academic success. Families should strive for regular attendance. Regular Attendance means having, on average, less than two absences per month.
Did you know?
Starting in kindergarten, too many absences (excused and unexcused) can cause children to fall behind in school.
Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) increases the chance that your student will not read or master math at the same level as their peers.
Students can still family behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.
By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school
By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with schoolwork, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
What can you do to help?
Set expectations for good attendance. Encouraging regular school attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your child for success. When you make school attendance a priority, you help your child get better grades, develop healthy life habits, avoid dangerous or risky behavior, and have a better chance of graduating from high school.
Set a regular bedtime and morning routine as well as finish homework and packing backpacks the night before. Focus on getting a good night’s sleep.
Find out what day school starts and make sure your child has the required immunizations.
Avoid appointments and travel when school is in session.
Keep track of your child’s attendance.
Have a back-up plan in place with family members, neighbors, or other parents for getting your child to school in case something comes up.
Reach out for support. We are here to help! If you need support and resources to address the barriers to school attendance, please connect with your child’s teacher, counselor, or the front office staff.
State Law and required attendance
The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District and staff care about the well-being and academic achievement of each student. We know that daily attendance is one of the most powerful predictors of school success and on-time graduation. Our goal is to have every student at school on time, every day.
State law for mandatory attendance, called the Becca Bill, requires children from age 8 to 17 to attend a public school, private school or a district-approved home school program. Children who are 6 or 7 years old are not required to be enrolled in school. However, if parents enroll their 6 or 7 year old, the student must attend full time. And, school districts are required, under RCW 28.225.020 and RCW 28A.225.030 to take a series of actions when students accrue absences.
Also by law, we notify parents/guardians when their student is absent. If a student reaches a certain number of unexcused absences the school will contact parents/guardians to create a plan to support good attendance. Find information about excuse and unexcused absences, tardies and attendance procedures in the district’s Student & Family Information Guide and Policy 3122 Excused and Unexcused Absences
