Problems with absenteeism start surprisingly early: National research shows that one in 10 kindergartens and first-grade students are chronically absent, meaning that they miss 10 percent of the school year, or about 18 days of instruction, because of excused and unexcused absences.

Chronic absence can have consequences throughout a child’s academic career. Children who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are less likely to read proficiently by third grade, and students who don’t read well by that critical juncture are more likely to struggle in school. They are also more likely to be chronically absent in later years, since they never developed good attendance habits.

By middle school, chronic absence becomes one of the leading indicators that a child will drop out of high school. By ninth grade, it’s a better indicator than how well a student did on eighth grade tests.

Think about what you can do within your own family and neighborhood to help get more kids to school, and join us in our effort to make every day count!

Remember, students who Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow. Don’t let absences add up.