Attendance Matters

Regular attendance is when a student attends more than 90 percent of school days. Students who are absent more than 18 days during the school year–which means missing only two days of school each month–are considered chronically absent and are at a higher risk of falling behind in school. This is true even when absences are excused.

According to state data, only 52% of students in Salem-Keizer Public Schools are considered regular attenders, making this a significant priority for our whole community.

Source: CDC Healthy Schools

Attending school helps develop the skills and knowledge necessary for personal and professional growth. This is because:

• Students have access to valuable resources at school.
• Students who attend school regularly can benefit from important lessons, helpful instruction materials, and supportive programs.
• School is also a space for students to make connections with others through daily interactions and by participating in clubs and extracurricular activities.
• Attending school helps students develop the skills, work ethic, habits, and knowledge to support a healthy lifestyle and future professional growth. In fact, students who graduate high school tend to earn significantly more money compared to those who don’t.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Kindergarten is a foundational age for forming good school habits and routines, including regular school attendance. Too many absences can lead to students falling behind.
• Students who attend school regularly are more likely to graduate high school.
• Regular attendance helps students be better prepared for college and careers after high school.
• Students who are chronically absent (missing 18 or more days of school per year) in the early grades often struggle to read by the third grade.
• Being chronically absent increases the chance that your student will not read or master math at the same level as their peers who attend school regularly.
• Being chronically absent is linked to lower academic performance and higher risk of dropping out.

Source: Chronic Absenteeism Statewide Plan (Oregon HB4002)

We want students to stay home when they are too sick to come to school, and sometimes it’s hard to know when sick is “too sick” for school.

A good rule to follow is if your child is throwing up or has a fever, keep them home. If they have mild symptoms of a common cold, like sneezing and a runny nose, without the presence of other symptoms, your student can still come to school.

List of Symptoms to Look Out For

If you are looking for a list of symptoms to look out for when deciding if you should keep your child home from school, please use this resource from  the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education.

• Attendance tracker – PDFs in English and Spanish are available to download and print to track the number of days your child is at school and to know when your child is at risk of falling behind.
• Zero Youth Bus Pass – Cherriots offers FREE public transportation for SKPS students. Learn more about how to ride for free with the Youth Zero Pass on Cherriot’s website.
• School staff – Our schools have dedicated staff members who help your child stay connected with resources that will help them be successful in school. If your family needs help so that your child can attend school more often, call your school and ask to be connected with the Counselor, School Community Outreach Coordinator or Attendance Support Staff.

Find help with food, emergency money, medical care, housing, and much more on Mid-Valley Resource's website.

Northwest Human Services continually updates these resources for our community. If you need help finding a resource, please call Northwest Human Services at 503-581-5535 or 1-800-560-5535.