Let’s Talk About Why Attendance Everyday Counts!
Download Our New Toolkit
Most children miss a few days of school each year without long-term consequences. However, when they are chronically absent, defined nationally and in North Carolina as missing 10 percent of enrolled school days in one academic year for any reason, their school success is at risk. In NC a student who misses about 18 days total is considered chronically absent.
In North Carolina, in 2015-2016 (most recent data available) 11 percent of North Carolina elementary school students were chronically absent and there are disparities by race and ethnicity.
Regular school attendance in the early years supports children being on track for becoming proficient readers. Research demonstrates that regular school attendance is key to early literacy development, learning, achievement and motivation. Chronic absence in kindergarten is associated with lower levels of literacy in the first grade and lower likelihood of grade-level reading by the end of third grade.
We can address the obstacles to regular attendance starting on the first day of kindergarten so children have the best opportunity to learn and succeed in school.
NCECF has developed an AttendaNCe Counts Community Toolkit to support community partners in highlighting the importance of regular attendance in the early grades. The tools aim to strengthen NC Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and other community efforts to reinforce school districts and schools working to improve attendance.
Here’s what’s inside the toolkit:
- AttendaNCe Counts Fact Sheet
- AttendaNCe Counts Issue Brief Updated 2018
- Attendance Awareness Month Proclamation for Superintendents
- Social Media Tools to get the word out about why attendance counts and Attendance Awareness Month in September.
Download the tools now to get ready for Attendance Awareness Month in September.
More tools for Attendance Awareness Month can be found on the Attendance Works website.