On September 15, 2022, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board voted to approve a resolution declaring September as Attendance Awareness Month.
Did you know that children suffer academically if they miss 10 percent of school days? At least one out of every 10 students in the United States misses 10 percent of the school year? That’s the point when absences—excused or unexcused—start to add up to academic trouble. These attendance gaps lead to achievement gaps. Starting in kindergarten, chronic absence impacts the ability of 3rd graders to read well. By 6th grade, it’s a warning sign that students will fail classes or even drop out of high school. This September, join the Attendance Awareness Campaign by using your influence to shine a light on attendance. Let’s all work together to make sure all kids attend today so they can achieve tomorrow.