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The Importance of Attendance
Regular
school attendance is a key to student success. Students
who are absent miss valuable classroom activity
including hands-on experiences, discussions, and
opportunities to strengthen relationships that form a
classroom community. In order for students to learn,
they must first be at school. Missing any part of a
class can leave a student feeling “out of the loop.”
This is why it is important to place a high priority on
not only getting your child to school, but also getting
your child to school on time.
Arizona state law requires that children between the
ages of 6 and 16 attend school, and that parents are
required to ensure that their children attend. Arizona’s
truancy laws have now become much tougher, authorizing
consequences for not only the truant student, but also
for the student’s parents.
Arizona’s truancy laws (A.R.S. 15-802 and 15-803),
define two circumstances when a student may be cited for
failing to attend school.
- A
student is “habitually truant” when he or she has
five or more unexcused absences from school.
“Truant” means an unexcused absence for at least one
class period during the day.
- A
student has “excessive absences” when the student
misses more than 10 percent of the required number
of school days per year, whether the absence is
excused or unexcused.
If a
student experiences a significant number of
excused/unexcused absences or truancies, both the parent
and the child could be issued a citation for violation
of the truancy law. A citation would require that both
the parent and the child appear in court regarding this
matter.
Consistent attendance is now part of the overall formula
the state uses in determining the proficiency label each
school receives each year. In response to No Child Left
Behind, federal legislation emphasizing increased
achievement for all students, each school receives an
extra gain score point for maintaining a 94% attendance
rate or greater at each elementary and middle school.
The Kyrene School District is committed to taking steps
to comply with these new legislative changes. If you
should have any questions, please contact your school
principal.
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