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Attendance Matters - Middle and High School

First page of the PDF file: CTSecondaryBANNER_STAY_ON_TRACK_ENG

 

 

Pay Attention to Attendance: Keep Your Teen on Track in Middle and High School

 

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Absences can be a sign that a teen is losing interest, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty.
  • By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a teen may drop out of high school.
  • Missing 10% (just 2 days each month) can drastically affect a teen’s academic success.
  • Attendance is an important life skill that will help your teen keep a job and graduate from college.

WHAT YOU CAN DO


Communicate with the School
  • Contact your child's teacher(s) and let them know how to reach you.
  • Ask for help from school officials, after-school program providers, other parents or community agencies if you need help with food, housing or some other challenge.
  • Know the school's attendance policy and the consequences for absences.
  • Check on your teen's attendance to make sure they are attending all of their classes.
Make School Attendance a Priority
  • Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day so your teen knows this is your expectation.
  • Encourage your teen to maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework or getting a good night’s sleep.
  • Avoid scheduling non-urgent dental and medical appointments when classes are in session.
Help Your Child Stay Healthy and Engaged
  • Make sure your teen gets the flu vaccine and other required shots.
  • Find out if your child feels comfortable in school, is engaged and has a trusted adult or close friend at their school. If this is a concern, consider contacting your child's teacher or school counselor.
  • Check in weekly about your teen’s academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors and use the PowerSchool parent portal.
  • Stay on top of your teen’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping class. Teens who have a hard time making friends can feel isolated.
  • Ask for help when you need it. School stay, after-school program providers, and other parents or community agencies are available to help families, obtain food or housing and address other experiences that make it difficult to attend and participate.

 

Developed in partnership with ConnectEd, Families in Schools, and Parent Institute for Quality Education.

Visit www.attendanceworks.org for more downloadable resources.

 

 

Printable / PDF Resources

First page of the PDF file: CTParentHandout_SECONDARY_ENG
First page of the PDF file: CTParentHandout_SECONDARY_SPAN