December 11, 2023
December 11, 2023
Dear District 67 Families,
As we approach Winter Break and look toward the New Year, we want to ask District 67 families for your help prioritize school attendance.
Chronic Absenteeism
Chronic absenteeism is a serious issue in Illinois and across the county, and we are not immune. Defined by the Illinois State Board of Education as "absences that total 10% or more of school days of the most recent academic school year, including absences with and without valid cause," chronic absenteeism is a barrier to learning. Because of this, student attendance data is reported annually in Illinois and counts for 10% of the State Report Card summative designation for each of our District 67 schools. More on that here.
The Importance of Attendance
Regular attendance in elementary and middle school is a crucial factor in academic achievement and social-emotional development. The Department of Education reports that “children who are chronically absent in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the third grade,” a key predictor of future academic success. In addition to academic benefits, regular attendance instills important life skills such as time management, responsibility, and self-discipline, particularly for our middle schoolers, who are working to develop the resilience and work ethic necessary to succeed at Lake Forest High School.
Doing the Math
Beyond illness, there are, of course, other times we all may choose to take our students out of school. That is certainly your right as parents/guardians. Multiple absences can have significant ramifications. In our District, chronic absenteeism (10% of school days) is equivalent to missing 17.6 days of class. Our Technology team has made it easier than ever to track these days. Parents and guardians are asked to report and monitor student absences via the PowerSchool parent/guardian portal. If you have questions about using the PowerSchool portal, please contact Julie Patrick (jpatrick@lfschools.net) or Shauna Buday (sbuday@lfschools.net).
We ask for your partnership in addressing chronic absenteeism. Attending school gives our students the opportunities and resources they need to learn, grow, and succeed.
With gratitude,
Matthew L. Montgomery, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Lake Forest School Districts 67 and 115
300 S. Waukegan Rd.
Lake Forest, IL 60045
847-604-7420