What is Chronic Absenteeism?
A student who misses 10% or more of their school days, which averages to just two days a month, for any reason, is considered chronically absent. Every absence, excused or unexcused, (including suspensions), is a learning opportunity lost. Chronically absent students are more likely to fall behind academically and less likely to graduate from high school. Addressing chronic absenteeism and developing good attendance habits is a solvable problem for which we all share responsibility.
Resources to Promote Attendance
Attendance Awareness Communication Toolkit
The Mississippi's Department of Education’s Every School Day Counts - Attend to Achieve communication toolkit highlights the benefits of regular school attendance and emphasizes ways to prevent students from being chronically absent. School districts and community organizations can download the toolkit materials to promote regular school attendance. The toolkit includes a poster, flyer and social media graphics:
- Poster: Every School Day Counts
- Flyer: Tips for parents
- Social media graphics
- Web graphics
- PowerPoint slide
- School Attendance Officers
Attendance Works
Attendance Works provides many resources to aid districts, schools, communities, and families in reducing chronic absenteeism:
Research and Data
- Why Chronic Absenteeism Matters: What the Research Says
- Mississippi School- and District-Level Chronic Absenteeism Reports