Supporting ‘Attendance Awareness Month’
September is Attendance Awareness Month. Many school districts in the Dayton area and around the nation are participating in activities to highlight the importance of strong student attendance at the beginning of school and throughout the year.
Attendance Works, sponsored by the United Way, is one nationwide initiative providing information and resources to help families and schools support strong school attendance.
Ohio schools are in the second year of implementing the requirements of House Bill 410, legislation that outlines processes for improving attendance and sets higher expectations for student attendance. While opinions vary regarding some requirements of the new law, there is no question that improving attendance is a critical factor in raising the academic success of students.
Study after study has clearly demonstrated that attendance is a key, controllable factor in academic achievement. As a community, we all need to find ways to support excellent school attendance for the success of our children and the future of our communities.
Habitual student absence starts a cycle of poor attendance that is difficult for students to change. Students are being asked to learn at a faster pace and at higher levels than ever. When a student misses a day, the student often must catch up with the learning objectives of the previous day while trying to understand the more complex lesson that day in class that is based on the previous day’s learning.
The feeling of being “lost” only becomes stronger when one day of absence turns into two, three or more. When students need to “catch up” continually, they often become discouraged and do not want to come to school, and the cycle of poor attendance and academic struggle continues.
Like any routine, once a habit is established, it is tough to change. Strong elementary attendance forms the foundation for academic achievement and an attendance ethic in children to go to school every day as they get older. Conversely, students who have poor attendance in elementary school tend to struggle with attendance and grades in middle and high school.
Unfortunately, poor attendance habits developed in school often become a problem when people enter the workforce. The cycle of poor attendance continues to impact the quality of life for many.
I hope you will join the efforts of your local school districts to encourage excellent school attendance with all of the school age children you know. Encourage children to get involved in school activities.
Participation in clubs, the arts and sports is a strong motivator for students to get to school every day. By developing consistent attendance habits early and throughout a child’s school career, parents, family members and friends are helping to form the foundation for a lifetime of success.