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Every Day Counts

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, schools across the country have seen a steady decline in attendance rates among all grade levels with chronic absenteeism increasing from 16% in 2019 to an estimated 33% in 2022, according to Attendance Works.

The increase in absenteeism comes at a time when student performance has shown some of the largest declines in decades, according to the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP).

Attendance Matters!

Attendance directly impacts student achievement. A student who regularly misses two days per month (or 10% of the school year) is considering chronically absent and statistics show that these students are at a higher risk of falling behind, scoring lower on tests, and dropping out.

Other outcomes, include:

  • Kindergartners and first graders are much less likely to reach at grade level by the end of third grade if they miss just two days a month.
  • Chronic absenteeism by sixth grade is one of key signs that a student may drop out of high school.
  • By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
  • Students who regularly attend school are more likely to graduate and find good jobs. In fact, high school graduates earn, on average, a million dollars more than a dropout over a lifetime, according to Attendance Works.

When to Stay Home

While attendance is important, so is a safe and healthy learning environment. Families should keep students at home if their child experiences any of the following:

  • A temperature of 100.5 degrees or higher.
  • Vomit, diarrhea or started antibiotics within the last 24 hours.
  • Have red eyes with thick or crusty drainage.
  • Have open sores that are red and draining.

For further information on fighting the flu and stopping the spread of illness, please visit our Health Office on the District website. If a student is sick and unable to come to school, families should notify their building’s front office/nurse’s office in writing as soon as possible.

Encouraging Attendance

Often when a student is chronically absent at a younger age, they tend to experience the same or worse attendance later in life. Reversing Chronic Absenteeism has been a focus at Midlakes since the pandemic and rates have improved. However, we all can play a greater role to encourage better attendance.

To help encourage attendance, families can:

  • Set a regular bedtime and morning routine. 
  • Lay out clothes and ready backpacks the night before.
  • Avoid letting their child stay home unless truly ill. (Understand that some complaints of a stomach pains or headaches may be a sign of anxiety versus being ill.)
  • Talk to teachers, counselors and other parents for advice on how to alleviate a child’s anxiety about going to school or other issues.
  • Develop back-up plans to get to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor or another parent.
  • Avoid scheduling family vacations, medical appointments, and extended trips when school is in session.
     

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

â–ºAttendance in Early Grades | SPANISH
â–ºKeep Your Child on Track in Middle/High School | SPANISH
 

Physician notes and Public Health orders can be faxed to Midlakes Elementary School at (315) 548-6709, Midlakes High School at (315) 548-6329 or emailed to the Elementary School Nurse Michele Tyman or Middle/High School Nurse Heather DeRuyter. Parents/Guardians may reach the Elementary Health Office at (315) 548-6720 or the Middle/High School Health Office at (315) 548-6320.