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Attendance Matters

Attendance Matters

Strategies for Families

Attending school regularly helps children听build healthy attitudes about themselves and learning.

Families can support听students in meeting attendance and academic expectations by doing the following:听

  • Promote positive attendance habits:听Assist your child in developing stable bedtime and morning routines.听
  • Help students stay engaged:听Check听your child鈥檚 attendance听and seek advice from educators and other families about听ways to make your child comfortable attending school and excited about learning.听
  • Communicate with school staff: When听families听proactively听engage with the district, they can听name听solutions before a student听is considered chronically absent.

Attendance Works offers resources for families of students from Prekindergarten through grade 12.

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Common Barriers and Solutions听

For families, communicating with schools is a critical part of improving attendance. 91精选 encourages families to talk to their child鈥檚 school about challenges they may be experiencing. Often, schools can offer resources and support that families may not be aware of.

Reliable transportation
  • Some districts may have a bus driver available to听circle听back to pick up students if they miss the bus.
  • Some districts may have a staff member who is听allowed听to pick up the child and drive them to school.
  • A 鈥淲alking School Bus鈥 may be organized within the school district. This is a group of children walking to and from school accompanied by one or more adults.
Clean clothes and hygiene products
  • School districts may have a variety of resources to support families, including on-site community closets offering clothing, footwear,听and hygiene items;听allowing听students to use on-site laundry facilities; and supplying students with laundry detergent to bring home.鈥
  • School districts may听look听to partner with laundry facilities in their community to offer free laundry days.听
  • Families may also find existing resources in their community through the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)听听at 1-888-55HEARS (1-888-554-3277).听Anyone can contact the HEARS Family Line, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Food insecurity
  • Most districts statewide offer free breakfast and lunch to students.
  • Some school districts may offer on-site food pantries, weekend听and summer lunch programs, or have existing relationships with community-based food pantries.听
  • The听听(SNAP) issues electronic benefits that can be used like cash to buy food.听
  • Families can access a听听that distributes food to their local county.
Medical
  • Families should communicate with the school as early as possible when听their child is sick.
  • When a child is experiencing an ongoing medical issue or illness 鈥 and they鈥檙e expected to be absent from听school 10 days or more over听a three-month period 鈥 families may be able to access听homebound instruction.听This is an educational service provided by a school district to resident students.
  • If your child needs medical care and听is uninsured,听you may be eligible for health insurance through听听or听.听You can also access medical care through a safety net hospital in your area.听
  • When possible, schedule appointments during school breaks听to prevent a child from missing lessons at school.
Mental Health
  • Communicate with the听school鈥檚 counselor, psychologist, or social worker听to discuss available听support if a child听experiences听a mental health concern that impacts听attendance at school.
  • When a child is experiencing an ongoing mental or emotional illness, and they鈥檙e expected to be absent from school 10 days or more over a three-month period, families may be able to access听homebound instruction.听This is an educational service provided by a school district to resident students.
  • Some schools offer听听(OMH)听school-based mental health clinics. These clinics听provide counseling and behavioral health services to students during the school day.听You can听听or call OMH听Customer听Relations at 1-800-597-8481.
Bullying
  • In 91精选 State, bullying, harassment, and discrimination of any kind are prohibited in schools under the听Dignity for All Students Act.
  • Immediately report incidents of bullying, harassment, or听discrimination to your school鈥檚 Dignity Act Coordinator.听
Academic Difficulties
  • Share concerns related to academic difficulties with your child鈥檚 teacher. They can identify听support, interventions, or strategies that may help improve academic performance.
  • Schools use different levels of support based on the child鈥檚 need. To learn about the available help, contact your child鈥檚 teacher or building principal.听