Improving Your Student's Attendance

What Role Does a Parent/Guardian Have in School Attendance?

Missouri law says… "All parents or guardians having custody or control of a child between the ages of seven and sixteen, must ensure that the child is enrolled in and regularly attends some public, private, parochial or home school meeting the statutory requirements for home schooling, or a combination of such school for the full term of the school." (RSMo 167.031)

Ritenour School District says… "The District places a high priority on regular student attendance and punctuality because they have a high correlation with success in school and in life.

When there is reasonable cause to suspect that a student's absence is due to the neglect of the parent, or that the student is being subjected to home conditions or abuse that cause the truancy, referrals are made to the Children's Division, Juvenile Court, or the Student Abuse Hotline as appropriate. Investigations may also involve juvenile and court authorities." (JED)

What Can Parents/Guardians Do to Promote School Attendance?

Children need to learn how to be responsible citizens. Attending school every day is one of their early responsibilities. Parents can partner with the schools to make the school experience a successful one.

Helpful Parent Tips:

• Positively reinforce your child for good attendance.
• Establish fixed routines.
• Be a good role model.
• Listen to what your child is saying. Find out why he/she does not want to attend.
• Let your child know what is expected of him/her.
• Meet with your child's teachers and counselor.
• Take an interest in your child's schoolwork.
• Make appointments for weekends or evenings.
• Get involved with the school. Attend parent meetings, conferences and school activities.
• Give your child appropriate home responsibilities that provide time for schoolwork.
• Set goals with your child.
• Establish priorities regarding the school.
• Support the school's efforts to help your child.
• Encourage your child to join a team, club or activity.
• Monitor your child's use of time, friends, activities and interests.
• Spend quality time with your child.
• Make sure your child exercises, eats a balanced diet and gets plenty of sleep.
• Seek professional or medical help if the child refuses to attend school or frequently complains of illness.

What is Educational Neglect?

When a child is continuously absent from school through intent or neglect of the parent or caretaker, there is educational neglect. When a child is absent through his/her own intent, this is truancy and not reportable as child abuse/neglect.

Examples of neglect:

• Having students stay home to take care of family members or do chores.
• Extending the weekend by missing Monday or Friday.
• A parent not getting their child fed or dressed on time for school.
• Excusing your child to go on shopping trips, get haircuts or sleep.

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

Why must my child go to school regularly?

A good education will help your child get a good start in life and prepare for the future. Students who frequently miss school may:

• Have difficulty keeping up with assignments and coursework.
• Have difficulty getting and retaining a job.
• Be at risk of getting in trouble or becoming the victim of a crime.
• Have a lower income later in life.
• Be at risk for substance abuse.
• Experience social difficulties.

When is it okay to keep my child at home?

• Illness: too sick to attend school, high fever or contagious.
• Injury: severe enough to miss school.
• Death in the family.
• Religious observation.
• Legal situation.
• Medical/health appointment: attendance is expected before and after the appointment. All absences require a parent phone call and appropriate documentation.

What if I have questions about my child's attendance?

Contact your child's principal, counselor or social worker regarding any attendance-related questions.

Did you know?

The state of Missouri grades school attendance based on the number of students who attend school 90 percent or more of the days throughout the year. The goal is to have 90 percent of all students attend at least 90 percent of the time. Attendance is an important part of keeping Ritenour fully accredited by the state of Missouri.