2017-18 Attendance Matters Awareness Campaign

Dear Seattle Public Schools families,

Seattle Public Schools believes attendance is one of the most powerful predictors of academic achievement and having your student in their seat, ready to learn for the entire school day will benefit them, their classmates, and the whole school community.

This year we are driving home our belief by launching our Attendance Matters awareness campaign focusing on the first 20 days of school and beyond, and we are asking for your participation.

Our goal is to increase student attendance through growing awareness, spreading the word, and developing relationships with students and families so they will be able to make it to their classrooms every day, on time.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Starting in kindergarten, too many absences (excused or unexcused) can cause children to fall behind in school.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
• By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
• By being present at school, your child learns valuable social skills and has the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with other students and school staff.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

We miss your student when they are gone and we value their contributions to their school. We would like you to help ensure that your student attends regularly and is successful in school. We would also like you to help spread that message by joining the Attendance Matters conversation and following the hashtag #SchoolEveryDay on social media. Share your thoughts, look for resources, and help spread the word that Attendance Matters.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

• Don’t let your child stay home unless they are truly sick, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or a contagious rash.
• Avoid appointments and travel when school is in session.
• Keep track of your child’s attendance using the Source to stay up to date.
• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine that includes finishing homework and packing backpacks the night before.
• Have a back-up plan in place with family members, neighbors, or other parents for getting your child to school in case something comes up.
• Contact your child’s school and/or visit www.seattleschools.org/attendance with any questions.

Sincerely,

Seattle Public Schools Attendance Department