Parent Tips for Attendance

• Help your child understand that school is their very first job!
• Help your child develop good habits
• Appointments and vacations
• Attendance records

Help your child understand that school is their very first job!

• Make great school attendance a priority for your child.
• Talk to your child about the importance of daily attendance in every class and how it helps his/her learning. 
• When students miss so much school they will not be prepared for Kindergarten, learning to read by the third grade, failing courses in middle school and dropping out of high school. 

Help your child develop good habits

• Help your child practice good daily habits like:
  • finishing homework and placing it in his/her backpack
  • laying out clothes and the backpack in the evening
  • having a regular bedtime for a good night's sleep
  • leaving early enough in the morning to get to school on time.
  • turn off electronic devices one hour before bedtime. 
• Help your child build responsibility skills by reminding them to make up any missed school work after an absence.

Appointments and vacations

• Make every effort to schedule doctor, dentist, and other appointments after school hours.
• If your child must be out of school for an appointment, get him/her back to school for at least part of the school day.
• Plan vacations when school is not in session.

Attendance records

• Contact the school every time your child will be absent.
• Check your child's attendance regularly on Home Access Center or with school staff.
• Use Home Access Center to keep your contact information up-to-date with the school (phone numbers, address, parent work location, email address, etc.).