Attendance... District Goal 97 percent
Posted: October 02, 2009
Student achievement is directly tied to attendance. When children are in classrooms receiving daily instruction and encouragement from the teacher, success is within the reach of every child! Regular attendance is vital to a child achieving and learning to their greatest potential. Research shows that attendance is the single most important factor in student success in school. We, as educators, are responsible for teaching and helping children succeed. Learning builds day by day. A child who misses a day of school misses a day of valuable learning. Children can make up assignments when they are absent, but they miss out on the important discussions, the questions, the explanations by the teacher, and the thinking process that helps learning come “alive”. Research also indicates that children who are in school most of the time achieve much better on state tests (such as the ISAT) and college placement/aptitude tests.
Furthermore, Idaho schools receive state and federal funding based on the reported average daily attendance of our students. Every absence translates into lost revenue for our school district. Lost revenue means fewer resources to educate our children. If we can raise our student attendance from an average of 94% to 97% our state aid payments over the school year would increase significantly, not to mention the academic increases we would achieve.
It has been said that every effective organization identifies a cause or purpose to rally the people it serves. Our school district will be energized by a common purpose that focuses everyone's attention on achievable goals. We invite you to be a part our district’s attendance goal. Please join us in promoting positive attitudes, high student achievement, and improved school attendance!
By: Dr. Scott A. Rogers, Superintendent, Minidoka County Schools