In California, a child is chronically absent if he or she misses 10 percent of the school year for any reason. Did you know that children who are chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade? And, by 6th grade, chronic absenteeism is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.
Regular attendance is crucial to a child's success and that is why the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is joining districts across the country to celebrate Attendance Awareness Month this September.
Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student's academic success. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success—in school and in life.
Some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances, but when students miss too much school, regardless of the reason, it causes them to fall behind. A child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent.
It's important that everyone in Sacramento County—school and business leaders, parents, guardians, students, teachers, doctors, and neighbors—work together to make sure that children get to school on time, every day.