September is Attendance Awareness Month, a time to highlight why showing up for school matters — and why some children face real barriers to getting there every day.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days in a year for any reason, including excused or unexcused absences and suspensions. That adds up to about two days each month, or 18 days over the course of a typical school year.
Those missed days add up. Children who are frequently absent can fall behind academically, including in critica
l early literacy skills that lay the foundation for future learning. Absences can also mean missed opportunities to build friendships, develop social skills, participate in classroom routines, and feel connected to their school community.
For young children especially, chronic absenteeism is rarely as simple as “skipping school.” Health concerns can keep children home, while families may also face barriers such as unreliable transportation, food insecurity, housing or economic instability, and limited access to community resources. Families may not always realize how quickly occasional absences can accumulate or how important consistent attendance is beginning in the earliest grades.
Addressing chronic absenteeism means looking beyond the attendance record to understand what may be keeping a child from school. Stronger community supports, accessible health care, reliable transportation, family engagement, and clear communication from schools can all help families overcome barriers to regular attendance.
There is encouraging news in North Carolina. Chronic absenteeism has declined from its COVID-era high, although it remains above pre-pandemic levels. Continuing that progress will require schools, families, community organizations, and policymakers working together to ensure children have the support they need to be present and ready to learn.
Every school day is an opportunity to learn, connect, grow, and build a strong foundation for the future.
Learn more about chronic absenteeism and strategies to address it in our brief by Lisa Finaldi and Micere Keels: https://tinyurl.com/4svw3w2z