Kyrene Elementary School District is taking a proactive approach to absenteeism with the launch of a dynamic new campaign: Here Today, Thrive Tomorrow. Every Day Counts. The initiative aims to educate families about the critical impact of missed school and to provide resources and solutions that build lifelong attendance habits.
The district’s campaign emphasizes that even a few missed days per month can have significant academic consequences. One striking Kyrene infographic shows how missing just two days per month will add up to an entire year of missed education by the time a student reaches high school.
In a message to the Kyrene community, Superintendent Laura Toenjes stressed that school attendance isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a foundation for learning and future success.
“School districts are required by law to inform parents and guardians of the potential legal consequences of missing school,” Superintendent Toenjes said. “However, in Kyrene, our primary concerns are the potential learning consequences.”
Arizona law requires children between the ages of 6 and 16 attend school, and failure to send a child to school is a Class 3 misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 15-802). Once a student reaches five unexcused absences or 19 total absences, both the student and their parent or guardian could face legal consequences ranging from fines to community service.
However, Kyrene’s campaign is focused on prevention and partnership. Families will receive notifications when a student reaches 4, 8 and 13 absences, to encourage dialogue and offer support.
“If a student exceeds 18 absences, a more formal letter will be sent, but it is our goal to partner with families before that happens,” Toenjes wrote.
The notices, which Kyrene schools began sending earlier this year, state that students who regularly attend school “build relationships with teachers and peers, have higher self-esteem, achieve or exceed grade level standards, and build lifelong attendance and punctuality habits.”
The need for the campaign is underscored by national trends. Across the country, chronic absenteeism has soared since the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools hoped attendance would stabilize after the pandemic, but districts nationwide report absentee rates remain high and, in some cases, have nearly doubled from pre-pandemic rates.
Kyrene aims to stay ahead of that trend with its new information campaign and regular reminders for families. The district has developed a trove of resources to help students maintain good attendance habits, including guidelines for when to stay home sick and best practices for ensuring students make it to school consistently and on time.
Families can access these resources and learn more about the campaign at www.kyrene.org/attendance.