It's a fact that students who attend school regularly, learn more and are more successful than students who do not. Parents who make regular school attendance a priority also are helping their children learn to accept responsibility.

Attendance patterns are formed early in life. Children who develop good attendance habits in the early grades will be more likely to continue them throughout their school careers. Here are some ways to support your child's good attendance.

1. Get your child to school on time, every day, and make sure homework assignments are completed on time.

2. Absences due to car trouble, a late bus, and bad weather are considered Unexcused and will go on your child's permanent record.

3. Extended vacations, long weekends, and frequent doctor appointments scheduled during school hours will cause your child to fall behind in class.

4. Being in school every day raises your child's chances for scoring well on important tests throughout the year.

5. Follow the proper school guidelines for reporting excused absences in a timely manner.

6. Allow your child to stay home only when he/she has a contagious illness or is too sick to be comfortable.

7. Make sure your child exercises, eats a balanced diet, and gets plenty of sleep. This will help him/her to be mentally and physically ready to learn, and strengthen the immune system.

8. Read all information sent home by the school and visit your campus website frequently. Post important dates on a family bulletin board or on the refrigerator.

9. Give your child enough time to get ready for school in the morning. Prepare lunches, pack school bags, and lay out clothing the night before. 

10. Monitor your child's attendance through the Gradebook.

• Calls from the campus attendance, teachers, or administrators

• Parent notification system phone calls

• Home visits

• School progress reports

• School report cards

• Attendance conference letters and court referrals

Printable Handouts:

• Every Child Every Day Counts! Your Child's Success Begins with Attendance - 10 Tips for Good Attendance

• Cada niño cada día cuenta! El Éxito De Tus Hijos Empieza Con La Asistencia - Diez Consejos Para La Buena Asistencia

It is well known that the adolescent years are particularly stressful years for students, and making the move from elementary to middle school and middle school to high school can bring about behaviors that were not present before. Despite this transition, you can help your child by immediately taking one or more of the following actions:

• Check report cards for absences, low conduct marks and grades; 

• Call the school if you think your child has been skipping school or has been truant; 

• If the school calls you, DO NOT COVER UP to get your student off the hook. You are only teaching them that there are no consequences for breaking rules. 

Remember that children need parents who care enough to enforce rules and are available to provide help when it's needed.

Value education and give it high priority in your family! Convey a positive attitude about school and treat going to school as part of the normal course of events, something that is expected of your child. Let your child know that school is the most important thing in their life at this time, and that their future job opportunities will depend on how well they handle their present "job" (school). Help your child develop good study and work habits. Get to know your child's friends as they have more influence on your child at this time in their life than you do. Get personally involved in school activities, go to sporting events, attend plays and concerts, join the PTA, and volunteer. Know what's going on at school.

If you are concerned about the attendance at your school, here are some questions you might ask your principal and your school's parent teacher association (PTA):

• Does the school provide a welcoming atmosphere for students and parents? 

• Do students feel safe at school? 

• What actions does the school take to follow up on students who are absent? 

• Do teachers call parents when students are frequently absent? 

• Does the school know why students are absent? The school cannot address the problem if administrators don't understand the causes. 

• Has the school taken steps to forge a positive relationship with local law enforcement, business and community members to work together to encourage students to come to school? 

• Does the school reward students for good attendance? 

• What can parents do to help the school encourage all students to attend?