Attendance Matters

One of the most important aspects of a student's ability to achieve academic success is to go to school every day. In fact, research has shown that it usually takes students three days to catch up with school work for every day they’ve missed. By making your child’s school attendance a priority, you will be taking an important step in supporting your child’s school success, and setting a good example. Every day counts.

Why Attendance Matters

Each student adds a unique presence to the learning community, and the learning journey is richer and deeper when classroom peers learn together. Students with regular attendance are much more likely to do well in school and beyond.

1. Attendance and Success: Good attendance is closely linked to doing well in school. When students are in school every day, they have more opportunities to learn and grow. On the ﬂip side, if students are often absent, it's harder for them to stay on track.

A. Elementary: Students who attend regularly in grades K-3 are more likely to read on grade level.

B. Middle School: By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

C. High School: By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

2. Absences Add Up: Every day of school counts towards your child's journey of growth and discovery. Chronic absence is deﬁned as 18 days a year—or just 2 days a month – even if those absences are excused! Missing this much school in kindergarten can lower achievement in 1st grade and, for some students, through 5th grade.

3. Building Conﬁdence: Being present when information is delivered is critical. When your child misses one day or one lesson, that means when they return to school, they may have missed something critical to their understanding of the next several days of instruction. Consistently attending school helps students stay on track and feel conﬁdent in their progress. When students are present and they're actively engaged in their learning journey, this boosts their motivation and eagerness to return to school each day.

4. Addressing Barriers: It's important to ﬁgure out what's keeping your child away from school and address it as soon as possible. Keep in mind complaints of a stomachache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home. Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with schoolwork, dealing with bullying or facing some other diﬃculty. Whether it's transportation issues, health problems, or something else, contact the school to support and help ﬁnd solutions that can make a big diﬀerence in your child's attendance and success.

Source: Oregon Department of Education

Oregon Attendance Supports

Attendance Rules anD StatuTes

Resources for Schools and Districts

Resources for Families and Community

Every Day Matters

The Starting Strong Attendance Practices resource offers districts some considerations for creating systems that support students all year long.

FAQs

What is the law?

Except as provided in ORS 339.030 (Exemptions from compulsory school attendance), all children between the ages of 6 and 18 years who have not completed the 12th grade are required to regularly attend a public full-time school during the entire school term.

All children five years of age who have been enrolled in a public school are required to attend regularly the public school while enrolled in the public school.

Research shows excessive absences have a negative effect on grades and learning. Absences cause students to fall behind in completion of required course work. Participation in class discussion, lectures, group projects, audiovideo presentations, and demonstrations are required activities, which often cannot be made up outside the classroom. Students who are frequently absent are in jeopardy of failing classes and losing credit

What's the difference between chronic absenteeism and truancy?

Absences add up! Missing just 2 days per month means a child misses 10% of the school year.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of class, which is equal to 18 days over the academic year.

Under state law, elementary schools are required to conference with parents/guardians when an elementary student has five absences for any reason in a month or ten absences over the course of the year. The purpose of the conference is to identify the barriers to the student’s regular attendance. The conference will also identify support and resources that may be made available to the family so that the student is able to regularly attend school.

Truancy is defined as when students miss school without a valid excuse.

Under Oregon state’s truancy law, the school and district are required to take specific actions when students are truant.

Parents will be notified in writing or by phone after one unexcused absence in a month.

A parent conference will be initiated after three unexcused absences in a month in order to improve the student’s attendance.

The parent and school must enter into a contract to improve the student’s attendance after five unexcused absences in a month, or the case may be referred to a Community Truancy Board.

The school district may file truancy petitions with the juvenile court after seven unexcused absences in a month, or fifteen unexcused absences in an academic year.

Oregon's Statewide Chronic Absenteeism Plan

The 2015 Oregon Legislature enacted House Bill (HB) 4002 which directed the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Chief Education Office (CEdO) to develop a joint statewide education plan to address chronic absences of students. HB 4002 also specified elements of the plan and directed the two agencies to collaborate with representatives of the Department of Human Services, Oregon Health Authority, Early Learning Division and community and education stakeholders.

In the 2015-16 school year, nearly 102,000 students in Oregon - more than one in six children - were chronically absent from school. Nationally, Oregon’s chronic absenteeism rate consistently ranks within the bottom 20 percent of states. Chronic absenteeism in Oregon has a disproportionate impact on specific populations: Oregon’s American Indian and Alaska Native students, students with disabilities, students of color, students experiencing economic disadvantage and students who have received at least one out-of-school suspension.

Chronic absenteeism is a concern for students in every grade, with higher rates in kindergarten and 1st grade and then again across all high school grades. These high absenteeism rates lead to devastating outcomes such as students dropping out, low graduation rates and even juvenile justice contacts. Chronic absenteeism is a complex issue that requires a thoughtful and complex response. Schools and students cannot fix this problem alone.

Cross-sector partnerships with local and state health agencies, community based organizations, community and business members and families must be leveraged to provide essential wraparound support to address the root causes of chronic absenteeism for all students. Creating these partnerships and welcoming school environments can impact absenteeism rates, high school graduation rates, school discipline and academic performance. Best and promising practices are most successful when they are systematically applied with knowledge of the local context.

What can parents, guardians or caretakers do?

Plan Ahead

Help your child get to school on time every day by planning ahead. Encourage your child to prepare for the next school day by laying out clothes the night before and helping to fix lunches. Daily attendance routines, created at home or in school, can reduce stress for students and families and create a sense of safety and security, especially after chaotic transitions.

Follow school guidelines and attendance policy, and report excused absences immediately. At the beginning of the school year, review school rules and make sure you understand who to call if your child will be absent.

Schedule Family Events with Your Child’s School Schedule in Mind

Try to plan holiday celebrations or family trips during weekends or school vacations. In the case of family emergencies or unexpected trips, let the school know as soon as possible and speak to your child’s teacher to set up a means for your child to work ahead or bring important assignments on the trip.

Limit absence due to medical appointments or illness. If possible, avoid scheduling doctor appointments during the school hours. Keep your child at home only in the case of contagious or severe illnesses.

Take an Active Role

Stay involved with your child’s daily experiences at school by asking how the school day went. Listen carefully to what your child shares with you about their successes and struggles. Make it a point to meet your child’s teacher and friends.

Promote a restful environment. Limiting stimulants before bed has shown to improve sleep performance. Instead of TV or video games before bed, relaxing activities like reading, stretching, or meditation can help a child get the advised 8-12 hours needed to properly function.
Identify potential sources of anxiety. If your child frequently appears upset or reluctant to go to school and cannot tell you why, schedule an appointment with their teacher or school counselor to talk about possible sources of the anxiety.

Promote Engagement

Being in school helps students to get to know peers, teachers and school staff, and to create trusting relationships that motivate students to participate in learning.

Schools help students and families gain access to basic resources such as meals, physical and mental health services, and fun enrichment activities including sports, clubs, music, afterschool and summer programs.