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Attendance

Elementary school attendance is critically important as it establishes the foundation for lifelong learning, academic achievement, and social development. When children miss school, they miss out on the opportunity to learn. The more school children miss, the harder it is for them to keep up with those who attend school regularly.  While some absences are unavoidable for health reasons or other important family matters, we also know that when children have missed school, even for good reasons, too many absences can cause them to fall behind.

Key reasons why consistent attendance matters:

Academic Achievement

  • Regular attendance ensures students don't miss essential instruction in foundational skills like reading, writing, and math. Missing class can lead to learning gaps that are difficult to close later.

Social and Emotional Development

  • Being in school helps children develop important social skills, such as teamwork, conflict resolution, and communication.
  • School provides a structured environment that supports emotional growth through interactions with peers and teachers.

Building Habits and Responsibility

  • Regular attendance helps children develop habits of punctuality and accountability, which are essential life skills.
  • It teaches the value of commitment and responsibility early on.

Preventing Chronic Absenteeism

  • Chronic absenteeism (missing 10% or more of school days) can significantly hinder academic progress and is linked to lower performance on standardized tests.
  • Early absenteeism can predict future attendance problems and even dropout rates​.

Access to Resources

  • Schools often provide access to meals, counseling, and other services that support students' well-being.
  • Attendance ensures students can participate in enrichment activities and interventions designed to support their individual needs. 

Going to school regularly matters for your child’s success and achievement!

Please ensure that your children attend school every day and also arrive on time so they benefit as much as possible from what is taught in the classroom.   

Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:

  • Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime  
  • Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before
  • Establish an evening and morning routine
  • Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick (e.g child has a fever, is throwing up or has diarrhea versus a minor stomach ache or runny nose)
  • Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session
  • Talk to teachers, the principal, or counselor if your children feel anxious about going to school
  • Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up-  Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school

INDEPENDENT STUDY AGREEMENTS


ENGLISH
SPANISH
A Short Term Independent Study Agreement is an optional alternative instructional agreement by which students may achieve curriculum objectives and fulfill requirements if they must miss school for 3 or more days. While Independent Study (IS) can both help students keep up with missed assignments while they are out of school, there is no substitute for in person learning and IS should only be used when school absences of three days or more cannot be avoided. Families must apply for IS and agreements are not guaranteed.

  • An Independent Study Agreement is an educational plan with work provided by teachers for students who are going to be out of school for three (3) or more consecutive days not to exceed fourteen (14) for reasons other than illness or injury.
    1. The Short Term Independent Study Agreement length is not to exceed fourteen (14) school days. 
    2. A Short Term Independent Study Agreement is required and must be signed by the parent, student, teacher, and site administrator prior to beginning Independent Study. 
    3. The agreement specifies the amount of work to be completed, the amount of time to be spent each day, when the work will be turned in to the teacher, and how the work will be evaluated.
    4. The agreement must be requested at least five school days prior to a planned absence to ensure teachers can prepare materials. 
    5. Independent Study WILL NOT be issued for the first two weeks or the last two weeks of school. 
    6. The Independent Study Agreement must be approved and completed BEFORE the student is out of school. 
    7. Refer to Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 6158 for further information.  
    8. Students must submitted all of the IS completed work in order to receive credit for attendance. If work is not completed and submitted, absences will be considered unexcused.