Every student of school age (6 to 18 years) must attend school on each instructional day unless excused. A key factor in school success is regular attendance.
Partnership between home and school is critical to ensure student success. Parents and schools share responsibility for ensuring that students attend school and succeed in the school environment. The school is a focal point in students’ lives, where home, school, and community partners can connect and work together to support student success.
Patterns of attendance and lateness are often the signs of problems in other areas of a student’s life (e.g., academic, social/emotional, or medical issues, problems in the home environment or the community).
Because regular attendance is a key factor in school success, absenteeism is a serious concern. It has a direct, negative effect on student achievement. Addressing attendance issues is a complex problem. Research points to the importance of understanding the causes of absenteeism in order to apply effective strategies and interventions.