School Attendance, Truancy & Chronic Absenteeism: What Parents Need to Know

How many days has your child been absent from school over the past 4 weeks? Was it just one sick day or two? What about the day they left early for the dentist? Or the days you took off to extend a vacation? It can be hard to keep track.

Missing a day here or there may not seem like a problem. But school absences add up quickly. Missing two days a month—excused or unexcused—can add up to a child being considered chronically absent. The good news is that showing up at school has powerful, positive effects on children.

Why school attendance matters

Regular attendance at school does more than help your child learn. It also boosts their development and overall health. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages families to:

• reduce unnecessary absences
• learn about attendance policies where you live
• prioritize getting kids to school on time, every day (find 10 tips that can help, below)

Certain groups of students face more challenges attending school than others. Students in kindergarten and first grade, as well as students in high school, are more likely to be chronically absent. Students with disabilities, students living in poverty and students of color are more likely to miss school, too.

Students are chronically absent for many reasons.

There are some reasons for missed school days that cannot be avoided. Examples include the need to isolate during an infectious illness. It’s important for families to know when a child should or shouldn’t stay home for health reasons, when to seek care, and when it’s okay to return after an illness. (See “When to Keep Your Child Home from School.“) Staying up-to-date on recommended vaccines and boosters also helps keeps kids healthy and reduce absences.

When to take a closer look at school absences

If your child has been missing many days of school—or a few days every single month—it’s important to consider what’s causing the absences. There may be underlying reasons that need to be addressed with their doctor. For example:

• A nationwide study found that children with ADHD, autism or developmental delays are twice as likely to be chronically absent, compared to peers without these conditions.
• Children with common chronic illnesses, such as asthma and type 1 diabetes, miss more school when they are having more symptoms.
• Mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression, are common reasons for absences. Young people who experience bullying or an unwelcoming school climate are also more likely to miss school.
• Up to 5% of children have school-related anxiety and may struggle to understand or explain why they refuse to attend school.

Add it all up, and this creates a lot of empty desks and missed school time.

Don’t underestimate the harm these school absences can cause

Missing just two days a month of school―for any reason—can make life harder. Children who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are less likely to read on grade level by the third grade.

For older students, chronically absenteeism is strongly associated with school failure―even more so than low grades or test scores. When absences add up, these students are more likely to be suspended and drop out of high school.

When a child misses school, they miss out on more than just a good education. Their health and well-being may be impacted as well.

Beyond academics, school is a also major source of nutritious food for students. School is where many students get special services like physical or occupational therapy, behavioral health therapy and more.

Regular school attendance also provides an engaging environment. This can helps young people build relationships with peers and adults and gain a deeper sense of community and purpose.

10 tips to help get your child to school on time, every day

1. Set attendance goals with your child and track their progress on a calendar. Try offering small rewards for not missing any school, such as a later bedtime on weekends.
2. Help your child get a good night’s sleep. A lack of sleep is associated with lower school achievement starting in middle school. Not getting enough sleep is also linked with more, missed school and tardiness. Most younger children need 10-12 hours per night and adolescents (13-18 years of age) need 8-10 hours per night. Check how many hours your child needs here.
3. Prep the night before to streamline your morning. Have your child lay out their clothes before going to bed. Have backpacks and lunches packed. Develop back-up plans for getting to school in case something comes up, like a missed bus or an early meeting. Have a family member, a neighbor or another trusted adult on standby to take your child to school if you ever need help.
4. Schedule extended trips during school breaks. This helps your child stay caught up in school learning. It also sets the expectation for your child to be in school during the school year. Remember that even in elementary school, missing a week of classes can set your child behind on learning.
5. Stay up-to-date on routine well child and dental visits. These visits help ensure your child is on track with their growth and development. They also help keep them up-to-date on preventive care, including vaccines. Regular connections with your pediatrician and dental provider helps catch any health issues early. When possible, try to schedule these and other medical appointments before or after school hours.
6. Don’t have your child stay home unless they are truly sick. Reasons to keep your child home from school include a fever greater than 101 degrees F, vomiting, diarrhea, a hacking cough, toothache or other infectious illnesses. Keep in mind, complaints of frequent stomachaches or headaches can be a sign of anxiety and may not be a reason to stay home.
7. If your child has a chronic health issue such as asthma, allergies or seizures, talk with your pediatrician about developing a school action plan. Meet with and get to know the nurse at your child’s school. If you need guidance and documentation for an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan, ask for your pediatrician’s help getting services at school.
8. Talk with your child about the reasons why they do not want to go to school. School-related anxiety can lead to school avoidance. Talk to your child about their physical and emotional symptoms. Try to get them to talk about any emotional struggles they may have with issues like bullying, fear of failure or actual physical harm. If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, talk with your pediatrician, your child’s teacher or school counselor.
9. Follow the rules. Be sure you know what your school’s requirements are for when your child will be absent or late. If you are supposed to call, email or provide a doctor’s note after a certain number of days out, then do it. If we want our children to follow rules, we must lead by example.
10. Look for activities at school that match your child’s interests. Does your child’s school have a club or an after-school program that might interest them? Is there a school sports team or musical group they could join? Special activities like this can help kids connect with school and keep them motivated to attend.