The Benefits of Good School Attendance

The Benefits of Good School Attendance

Bland ISD is rich in tradition of academic excellence, competitive extracurricular programs, and respectful staff and
students. I receive compliments everywhere I go about how well behaved our students are. When scores and ratings
come out, we are one of the first schools called on to see how we did. Other districts and programs want to measure up
to Bland ISD. The Bland Mission statement reads… “The mission of Bland ISD is to encourage and support the personal
growth of its students in their development of attitudes, knowledge and skills; the most important skills to be taught are
how to think, how to learn, and how to act.”… these skills are important for our students success as adults regardless of
what career path they take. I do believe one of the most important life skills to have is “showing up.” Being on time and
being present is so important for success, whether it’s as a student, spouse, parent, employee, etc.… it pertains to all
aspects of life.
We only have 170 instructional days with the students now. Research shows that students who miss school consistently
are at risk of lower academic achievement, failure, losing eligibility for program involvement, and even dropping out of
school all together. There is a direct correlation between good attendance and academic achievement. Attending
school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. Research also shows that students who miss
fewer days become better readers, increase their odds of higher academic success, and the chance of earning a high
school diploma. Good attendance helps to build strong relationships with teachers and peers, which can foster a sense
of belonging and reduce anxiety about socializing with others.
Prior to the pandemic, Bland had an attendance rate every year of 97-98 percent. Since the pandemic, we have ranged
between 92-95 percent. That loss of 5 % on average equates to 9 days of school missed, which is 70 hours of instruction.
It’s our goal to achieve the higher levels of attendance and regain our traditional excellence in the classroom. I believe
that increasing our attendance to 98% is attainable with the help of our families.
What can families do?
1. SET THE TONE - Set the tone with good attendance on day 1 and 2. August 8th and 9th are crucial days for setting
up the classroom procedures and expectations, not to mention getting back among friends and getting ready for
the school year.
2. REGULAR ROUTINES - Help with regular routines for bedtime and getting up in the morning. Lay out clothes and
backpacks the night before as part of the nightly routines on school nights.
3. AVOID CONFLICTS - Avoid scheduling vacations when school is in session. We only have 170 precious days to
accomplish our goals academically. Avoid medical appointments on school days if not an emergency. If you
have an appointment on a school day, make it later in the afternoon, so the student can still attend most the
day.
4. MAKE IT RELATABLE - Talk about the importance of regular attendance, even in your own lives, with work and
family.
5. SEEK HELP - Seek support of school staff (Principals, teachers, and counselors) to help with transportation if
issues arise. Some students truly have anxiety about being at school, but our staff is here to help with those
issues, and it’s better to address those fears while they are younger and start developing good attendance
habits.