School Attendance Matters...

Are You In The Game?

March 2023 - Home/School Attendance Newsletter

We are well into March which means Spring and Minnesota's statewide testing are just around the corner! Your student has spent the year working on high-quality grade level academic content with their teachers and peers, and soon it will be time to measure their progress towards Minnesota's academic standards. Though student progress is measured year round by teachers and for all grade levels, MCAs (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments) begin in third grade.

Reading and mathematics tests are administered in grades 3–8 and high school (students in grade 10 take the Reading MCA, and students in grade 11 take the Mathematics MCA). The Science MCA is administered to students in grades 5 and 8 and in the high school grade when students take a life science or biology course. (MDE, 2022)
For more information on statewide testing you can review information at the Minnesota Department of Education at https://education.mn.gov/mde/fam/tests/

We are committed to highlighting the positive impact of daily school attendance in the growth, development and success of our students learning journey. Research shows the direct correlation of high absenteeism rates lowering outcomes on student performance, including statewide assessments. As we prepare for the upcoming testing window, our collaborative efforts between home and school must continue to be focused on students being in their classrooms, each and everyday, at the ring of the bell. This includes monitoring school tardies, health care appointments during the school day and vacation schedules.

Watch for your student's district assessment schedule in the near future or reach out to your child's teacher(s) if you have questions. Thank you for your attention to this important topic. We appreciate your partnership!

How Can You Help Prepare Your Student For Tests And State Assessments?

Test and Study Preparation Wins For All Ages!

Good attendance! Be present each and everyday. The more students are in school for the entirety of a school day, the better their overall performance and connectedness to their school community.
Consistent, age appropriate sleep patterns. How much sleep does a child need? Here are the age appropriate recommendations from the CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/features/getting-enough-sleep.html
Breakfast = Brain Power...a healthy breakfast is the best start to the day for your scholar.
A dedicated, quiet study space - Creating a home study space provides value surrounding conditions that support learning. This will also provide consistency as students move from home to school as homework and study prep is assigned. This is important even for our littlest learners!
Watch For Communication - Watch your student's backpack and any school communication modes for information regarding testing. If you have questions, reach out to your student's teacher(s).
Stay Positive! Be a champion for your leaner, exude confidence in their efforts and empathize with any nervousness they show. This is one snapshot of a student's learning; promote taking deep breaths, "Can do" self talk and giving it their very best shot!