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Attendance Matters

Attendance Matters

Strategies for Families

Attending school regularly helps childrenbuild healthy attitudes about themselves and learning.

Families can supportstudents in meeting attendance and academic expectations by doing the following:

  • Promote positive attendance habits:Assist your child in developing stable bedtime and morning routines.
  • Help students stay engaged:Checkyour child’s attendanceand seek advice from educators and other families aboutways to make your child comfortable attending school and excited about learning.
  • Communicate with school staff: Whenfamiliesproactivelyengage with the district, they cannamesolutions before a studentis considered chronically absent.

Attendance Works offers resources for families of students from Prekindergarten through grade 12.

Common Barriers and Solutions

For families, communicating with schools is a critical part of improving attendance. NYSED encourages families to talk to their child’s school about challenges they may be experiencing. Often, schools can offer resources and support that families may not be aware of.

Reliable transportation
  • Some districts may have a bus driver available tocircleback to pick up students if they miss the bus.
  • Some districts may have a staff member who isallowedto pick up the child and drive them to school.
  • A “Walking School Bus” may be organized within the school district. This is a group of children walking to and from school accompanied by one or more adults.
Clean clothes and hygiene products
  • School districts may have a variety of resources to support families, including on-site community closets offering clothing, footwear,and hygiene items;allowingstudents to use on-site laundry facilities; and supplying students with laundry detergent to bring home. 
  • School districts maylookto partner with laundry facilities in their community to offer free laundry days.
  • Families may also find existing resources in their community through the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)at 1-888-55HEARS (1-888-554-3277).Anyone can contact the HEARS Family Line, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Food insecurity
  • Most districts statewide offer free breakfast and lunch to students.
  • Some school districts may offer on-site food pantries, weekendand summer lunch programs, or have existing relationships with community-based food pantries.
  • The(SNAP) issues electronic benefits that can be used like cash to buy food.
  • Families can access athat distributes food to their local county.
Medical
  • Families should communicate with the school as early as possible whentheir child is sick.
  • When a child is experiencing an ongoing medical issue or illness – and they’re expected to be absent fromschool 10 days or more overa three-month period – families may be able to accesshomebound instruction.This is an educational service provided by a school district to resident students.
  • If your child needs medical care andis uninsured,you may be eligible for health insurance throughor.You can also access medical care through a safety net hospital in your area.
  • When possible, schedule appointments during school breaksto prevent a child from missing lessons at school.
Mental Health
  • Communicate with theschool’s counselor, psychologist, or social workerto discuss availablesupport if a childexperiencesa mental health concern that impactsattendance at school.
  • When a child is experiencing an ongoing mental or emotional illness, and they’re expected to be absent from school 10 days or more over a three-month period, families may be able to accesshomebound instruction.This is an educational service provided by a school district to resident students.
  • Some schools offer(OMH)school-based mental health clinics. These clinicsprovide counseling and behavioral health services to students during the school day.You canor call OMHCustomerRelations at 1-800-597-8481.
Bullying
  • In New York State, bullying, harassment, and discrimination of any kind are prohibited in schools under theDignity for All Students Act.
  • Immediately report incidents of bullying, harassment, ordiscrimination to your school’s Dignity Act Coordinator.
Academic Difficulties
  • Share concerns related to academic difficulties with your child’s teacher. They can identifysupport, interventions, or strategies that may help improve academic performance.
  • Schools use different levels of support based on the child’s need. To learn about the available help, contact your child’s teacher or building principal.