September is Attendance Awareness Month, and IUSD would like to remind our parents and families of the importance of consistent school attendance and the impact of chronic absenteeism on student success.
What is Chronic Absenteeism?
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year, regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused. This translates to approximately 18-20 days of absence per year. Absenteeism can create significant gaps in learning, making it difficult for students to keep up with their workloads and meet academic and social goals.
Why Does Attendance Matter?
School attendance is a central factor in student success. While academic achievement is one clear outcome of consistent attendance, the benefits go beyond grades and test scores. Daily attendance supports the development of friendships, collaboration and a sense of belonging within the school community. These skills are critical for preparing students to become engaged, well-rounded citizens.
The impacts of chronic absenteeism include:
- Academic Impact: For instance, frequent absences in kindergarten are linked to lower cognitive skills in early childhood and reduced academic performance by age 15. Missing only 10 classes in ninth grade can lower the likelihood of attending college by 2 percent.
- Social and Behavioral Consequences: Students who are often absent may feel disconnected from peers and disengaged from school, which can contribute to social isolation and emotional difficulties.
- Increased Dropout Risk: Students who experience even one year of chronic absenteeism are seven times more likely to drop out of school.
- Long-Term Outcomes: Chronic absenteeism can negatively affect college persistence, lifetime earnings and overall health.
Causes of Absenteeism
In IUSD and across California, absenteeism rates have tripled since before the pandemic. The primary contributing factors include:
- Illness: While illness is sometimes unavoidable, many students remain at home for minor symptoms or fatigue. As a reminder, these are the health guidelines for school attendance.
- Outside Commitments: Early dismissals for extracurricular activities such as athletics or arts programs diminish both instructional time and social participation.
- Extended Vacations: Increasingly, families are missing two to six weeks of the school year for travel. Families are strongly encouraged to schedule vacations during school breaks to minimize disruption. As a reminder of IUSD’s break schedules, check out the traditional and year-round calendars.
Regardless of the reason, both excused and unexcused absences have the same impact: lost instructional time and missed opportunities for social connection.
How Families Can Support Regular Attendance
As our educational partners, families play a critical role in establishing and maintaining healthy attendance habits, which include:
- Making School a Priority
- Communicate with your child about the importance of attending school each day.
- Schedule medical appointments and travel outside of school hours whenever possible.
- Maintain consistent bedtime and morning routines to support timely arrival.
- Fostering Positive School Experiences
- Encourage peer relationships and engagement in school activities.
- Demonstrate interest in your child’s learning by asking questions about their school day.
- Participate in school events and volunteer opportunities when feasible.
- Partnering with the School
- Contact teachers or staff if your child is experiencing school-related anxiety, social challenges, or chronic health concerns.
- Utilize school resources designed to support families and students.
Work collaboratively with school personnel to identify solutions when attendance concerns arise.
For additional information about attendance supports and student engagement resources, please visit the Student Support Services webpage.