Missing days of school can place a student behind in their schoolwork, put them behind in reading, and missing days can lead to academic failure and higher drop-out rates. September is Attendance Awareness month, stressing the importance of “Be Present, Be Powerful.”

Recently, the Danbury Collective, in collaboration with community partners, including Danbury Public Schools, designed a toolkit to help families understand chronic absenteeism, the effects it has on their children, and the many resources that Danbury offers to keep our students healthy and in school on time every day.

When students are absent, they are missing critical skills such as learning to read and write, development of social skills, and the many other services that school provides. For each day lost to absenteeism, a child loses 6.5 hours of instruction. A child who is chronically absent is missing 10 percent or more of the school year or 126 hours of instruction. Statistics show that 81 percent of kindergarten and first grade students who are chronically absent will read below grade level by the third grade. By sixth grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator of whether a student will graduate from high school, and only 11 percent of chronically absent high school students will receive the college degree they pursue.

The first weeks back to school are an important time to strengthen and forge relations, and to rebuild routines and rituals that create community at your school. Teachers work especially hard the first few weeks to create a sense of belonging in the classroom. When students are absent, they are missing important relationship-building activities.

Parents and families are essential partners in promoting good attendance because they have the bottom-line responsibility for making sure their children get to school every day. Just as parents should focus on how their children are performing academically, they have a responsibility to set expectations for good attendance and to monitor their children’s absences. Parents can help get their children to school on time every day by alerting the school to any barriers that prevent a child from attending school. Plan the next day by having a morning routine, preparing your child’s clothing, and packing the book bag.

Know the attendance policy. Check on your child’s attendance in PowerSchool to be sure absences are not adding up. Seek help from school staff if you need support. If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers or school counselors. Schedule doctor and dentist appointments after school, schedule extended vacation during summer breaks, and find out about safety and health precautions in place at your child’s school to keep them healthy.

Your school principal, nurse, social worker, or family liaison can help you overcome any barriers to good attendance. If you need further resources, contact the Danbury Public Schools’ Family & Community Engagement Center at 203-797-4734.

Anne E. Mead, Ed. D. is the Director of Family, School, and Community Partnerships for Danbury Public Schools. She can be reached at 203-830-6508 or by email at meadan@danburyu.k12.ct.us.