“But if you are doing something, show up every day, and something good might happen-it’s not going to happen if you don’t show up.”

– Randy Newman

Jennifer Lawhead

Austin Aspires

Good attendance is essential to academic success. Therefore, Austin Aspires has joined a nationwide effort to celebrate Attendance Awareness Month in September.

We have pledged to raise awareness about the value of regular school attendance and focus on reducing chronic absenteeism in the new school year. Chronic absence is defined as missing 10 percent of the school year, for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Why is it important for students to attend school every day? Research indicates that poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade and that the academic impact of missing two days a month is the same whether the absences are excused or unexcused. As an educator and as a parent, this information was striking. Having an excused absence for two days a month didn’t seem outrageous. I certainly wouldn’t have linked have two excused absences a month to academic challenges. However, after reading the research I was convinced. Missing 10 percent of school (which averages out to two days a month) has a negative impact on academic outcomes. This however, is not the end of the story. When students improve their attendance rates, they also improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.

In September, schools, city agencies, community non-profits, faith-based groups, businesses and others around the nation are committing time and resources to raise public awareness and work with community partners to improve school attendance starting as soon as children enter school. What does that mean for parents, schools and community members? We have some ideas.

Parents are essential partners in promoting good attendance because they have the responsibility for making sure their children get to school each day. Regular sleep schedules, packing clothes and backpacks the night before and a healthy diet all impact school attendance. Be enthusiastic about school and share that enthusiasm with your child.

All school staff can promote positive attendance for their students by making sure students know they are valued when they walk in the school doors. Positive regard from the school secretary, lunchroom supervisors and bus drivers are powerful messages to young people! Emphasizing that students are wanted and needed at school is a powerful message that can be delivered from the school community.

Our community can make student attendance a top priority by identifying and addressing community barriers to attendance. Community factors that may impact attendance are access to transportation and high quality medical care.

During Attendance Awareness Month, we are asking school leaders, community advocates, parents and students to build a habit and culture of regular attendance. Contact Austin Aspires at 507.437.0920 or www.austinaspires.org for more information about how you can promote attendance in our community.