WHY IS GOOD ATTENDANCE IMPORTANT?
GOOD ATTENDANCEWhen a student misses a day or two or three in school, they are missing vital information. There are components of each
lesson that is linked and leads to the next lesson. Missing that
component can stunt your child’s knowledge
and growth.
Math
English
Science
Music, Art, PE, Health
Good AttendanceThere is a relationship
between attendance and achievement.
Chronic absences, whether excused or unexcused, can
reduce even the best teacher’s ability to provide learning opportunities for
your student.
MISSING SCHOOL
=MISSING
OUT!
What are some of the causes of absences?
SCHOOL CLIMATE
•Students that do not have relationships with staff or other students, tend to feel out of place in the school environment. •Students sometimes may not feel challenged if high expectations are not set for them in the school environment. •Student’s may feel bullied and unsafe.
Pellerin (2000)
Relationships
Safety
Low Expectations
Support
DEMOGRAPHICS
What are some of the causes of absences?
MALES
LOW INCOME
NO HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION
Truancy is higher among males than females.Truancy is higher among low income families.Truancy is higher in families where there is only one parent.Truancy is higher in families where the parent(s) do not have a high school diploma.
SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES
Baker, et al, 2001, Corvill-Smith, Ryan, Adams, & Dalicundra 1998
What are some of the causes of absences?
Unavoidable and Excused
There are some absences that the State of North
Carolina will acknowledge as excused absences or
lawful absences. When a student is absent for
these reasons, a note is needed from the parent
to document the absence. The absence can not be excused without that
documentation.
Sickness/Medical
Appointments
Court
Death in Family
Accidents
What are the barriers to attendance?
Choosing the wrong friends can lead to other issues such as drug/substance use, unwillingness to respect authority, and can often causes the student to get behind in school. Being unable to relate to people around them because of language barriers or cultural barriers and they choose to not attend school. Prior retentions that places the student with other students not in their age group.Problems at home such as domestic violence, poverty, unemployment
Barriers
Friends
Bullying
Language
Drugs/Alcohol
Unable to relate
Conflict at Home
What does the law say? Every parent, guardian or custodian
having charge or control of a child under age seven who is enrolled in a public school in grades kindergarten through two shall also cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in session unless the child has withdrawn from school.
N.C. Gen. Stat. Sec. 115C-378(a).
What does the law say? (Continued)
No person shall encourage, entice or counsel any child of compulsory attendance age to be unlawfully absent from school.
N.C. Gen. Stat. Sec. 15c-378(b).
What does the law say? (Continued) The parent, guardian, or custodian
of a child shall notify the school of the reason for each known absence of the child, in accordance with local school board policy.
N.C. Gen. Stat. Sec. 115C-378(b).
Consequences of AbsencesDelinquency
Drop Out
Social Impa
ct
Financial
Impact
Consequences-continuedPredictions are that chronic absences often leads to negative behaviors such as:
Drug UseSuspensionsTeen PregnancySneaking out of the home without permission.Skipping SchoolHigher Crime among teens.
(Bryant & Zimmerman 2002)
Delinquency
Consequences-continuedDrop Out rates increase when absences are
high. Less students end up graduating if the
attendance issues are not addressed.
Drop Out
Consequences-continued• Chronic
absenteeism has a Social Impact in that students begin to believe that education is not important.
• Less education impacts the workforce.
Social Impact
Consequences-continued Lower salaries for those who are
truant. (Baker, 2001) Many low paying jobs have been
sent to other countries. Therefore, jobs that use to be available to drop outs are no longer available.
Again, businesses lose out because of youth who “hang out” and/or commit offenses during the day and such businesses often make decisions to not create jobs in such areas.
Financial Impact
In ConclusionWhen looking at young children that have had chronic absenteeism beginning in kindergarten, they end up with negative outcomes in first grade and in the years to follow. They are also lower achievers in math, reading and general knowledge.
Romero, M. & Lee, Y (2007) A National Portrait of Chronic Absenteeism in
the Early Grades. New York, NY, The National Center for Children in
Poverty
In ConclusionLack of commitment in school attendance often leads to other risk .
Strong commitment from the student and the parent can be a protective factor against some of these risky behaviors among youth.
Truancy: First Step to a Lifetime of
Problems by Eileen Garry,
Juvenile Justice Bulletin, October 1996
In ConclusionRemember:
School attendance is important and it teaches your child values that will be reflected in all they do in the years to come. Support them and help them be in school every day.
MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS IN
SCHOOL
From the Social WorkerKimberly Chavis
For more information:Call 910-785-3780 and schedule a meeting to discuss any attendance questions you may have.
A link concerning NC Compulsory Law is provided on Prospect School web site under Classroom Websites
Attendance letters will go out to the parents on the first and third week of each month.
Look for other resources on the School Social Worker web page.
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