Starting Strong: Maximizing Attendance in the First Month of School

The first weeks of school are crucial for setting the tone for the entire academic year, especially when it comes to attendance. Research shows that absenteeism in September can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. In fact, half of the students who miss 2-4 days in the first month go on to miss nearly a month of school overall. 

Despite this, a recent NPR study revealed that only 5% of parents consider chronic absenteeism a major concern. This disconnect highlights the need for a robust back-to-school attendance campaign that educates families about why attendance is critical to student success, in school and beyond. 

Make Attendance a Community Challenge

One fun way schools can establish positive attendance patterns from the outset is to launch a “First Month Attendance Challenge.” Creating a campaign focused on perfect attendance for the first month of school is not only a great way to educate parents about the critical importance of early attendance, it’s also a slam dunk for establishing good attendance habits from Day 1. 

Here are the steps to follow: 

1. Announce the challenge to the community before the new school year starts.

Try a Top 10 Reasons for Attendance list that you share via your newsletter, social media, or centralized communication platform (like SchoolStatus Connect) as a launch.

2. Engage the Community:

Involve the PTO, class representatives, and teachers in promoting the attendance challenge. This community-wide approach reinforces the importance of attendance and creates a supportive environment for families.

3. Prioritize Personalized Outreach:

Before the school year begins, have teachers and counselors connect one-on-one with families, either via text, phone, or video chat, especially those who have struggled with attendance in the past. Use these conversations to:

• Introduce the challenge
• Encourage families and set positive expectations
• Understand potential barriers to attendance
• Offer support services (e.g., transportation assistance, laundry services, meal programs, academic support)
  

4. Institute Weekly Challenges:

Create fun weekly attendance challenges to maintain momentum. Celebrate wins via:

• Weekly updates in school communications
• Class text messages
• Individual messages to students who are succeeding
• Encouraging notes to those who are struggling
  

5. Don’t Leave Out Rewards!

Implement a tiered reward system to incentivize consistent attendance, like:

• Class-level rewards (e.g., pizza or ice cream parties)
• Individual certificates
• Public recognition in school communications
• Attendance Hall of Fame
  

6. Use a Data-Driven Approach:

Use attendance tracking tools like SchoolStatus Attend to monitor progress and identify trends. This data can help you:

• Tailor interventions for struggling students
• Recognize and reinforce positive attendance patterns
• Adjust your strategies as needed throughout the month

By focusing on daily attendance from Day 1, schools not only set the stage for a successful year of learning, but for a successful K-12 journey. Every day counts in a child’s education, and establishing strong attendance habits early on is a direct line to a cap, gown, and a little Pomp and Circumstance 12 years down the road.