ACPS Observes Attendance Awareness Month

Attendance Awareness Month in September underscores the importance of being in school and on time each day. Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is participating in the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) “All In” attendance campaign, which targets absenteeism across the Commonwealth.

There is so much that a student misses out on when they are absent, including daily instruction and opportunities to build relationships with their peers and teachers. Instilling the good habit of regular attendance, starting in preschool and throughout the childhood years, leads to increased chances that students will read on grade-level in elementary school and graduate from high school on time.

A child who demonstrates regular attendance attends school 95% of the school days. At ACPS, this means having nine or fewer absences for any reason throughout the school year. The school division has prepared a helpful webpage further explaining the benefits of regular attendance with resources, including our attendance video series.

Being absent can lead to lower academic achievement due to missed instruction, regardless of whether the absence is excused or unexcused. Absences can also be a sign that a student is having difficulty with school work, facing peer conflicts or other possible challenges or starting to question their ability to be successful at school. Students should only stay home on days when they are sick. If your child is repeatedly feeling ill in the morning, and then feels better later in the day, contact your school’s counselor, social worker, psychologist or nurse for support.

Families can help achieve positive attendance for their child by establishing a consistent bedtime and morning routine. Keep track of the ParentSquare attendance updates sent to our families each day. Plan trips when your child is not in school as indicated by the ACPS Academic Calendar.