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Attendance Matters

Attendance Matters

Strategies for Families

Attending school regularly helps children泭build healthy attitudes about themselves and learning.

Families can support泭students in meeting attendance and academic expectations by doing the following:泭

  • Promote positive attendance habits:泭Assist your child in developing stable bedtime and morning routines.泭
  • Help students stay engaged:泭Check泭your childs attendance泭and seek advice from educators and other families about泭ways to make your child comfortable attending school and excited about learning.泭
  • Communicate with school staff: When泭families泭proactively泭engage with the district, they can泭name泭solutions before a student泭is considered chronically absent.

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

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Common Barriers and Solutions泭

For families, communicating with schools is a critical part of improving attendance. NYSED encourages families to talk to their childs 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 to泭circle泭back to pick up students if they miss the bus.
  • Some districts may have a staff member who is泭allowed泭to 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,泭and hygiene items;泭allowing泭students to use on-site laundry facilities; and supplying students with laundry detergent to bring home.
  • School districts may泭look泭to partner with laundry facilities in their community to offer free laundry days.泭
  • Families may also find existing resources in their community through the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)泭泭at 1-888-55HEARS (1-888-554-3277).泭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, weekend泭and summer lunch programs, or have existing relationships with community-based food pantries.泭
  • The泭泭(SNAP) issues electronic benefits that can be used like cash to buy food.泭
  • Families can access a泭泭that distributes food to their local county.
Medical
  • Families should communicate with the school as early as possible when泭their child is sick.
  • When a child is experiencing an ongoing medical issue or illness and theyre expected to be absent from泭school 10 days or more over泭a three-month period families may be able to access泭homebound instruction.泭This is an educational service provided by a school district to resident students.
  • If your child needs medical care and泭is uninsured,泭you may be eligible for health insurance through泭泭or泭.泭You can also access medical care through a safety net hospital in your area.泭
  • When possible, schedule appointments during school breaks泭to prevent a child from missing lessons at school.
Mental Health
  • Communicate with the泭schools counselor, psychologist, or social worker泭to discuss available泭support if a child泭experiences泭a mental health concern that impacts泭attendance at school.
  • When a child is experiencing an ongoing mental or emotional illness, and theyre expected to be absent from school 10 days or more over a three-month period, families may be able to access泭homebound instruction.泭This is an educational service provided by a school district to resident students.
  • Some schools offer泭泭(OMH)泭school-based mental health clinics. These clinics泭provide counseling and behavioral health services to students during the school day.泭You can泭泭or call OMH泭Customer泭Relations at 1-800-597-8481.
Bullying
  • In New York State, bullying, harassment, and discrimination of any kind are prohibited in schools under the泭Dignity for All Students Act.
  • Immediately report incidents of bullying, harassment, or泭discrimination to your schools Dignity Act Coordinator.泭
Academic Difficulties
  • Share concerns related to academic difficulties with your childs teacher. They can identify泭support, interventions, or strategies that may help improve academic performance.
  • Schools use different levels of support based on the childs need. To learn about the available help, contact your childs teacher or building principal.泭