"Attend Today. Achieve Tomorrow" Attendance Campaign

Pasadena Unified's "Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow" Attendance Campaign promotes improving attendance by 1% so that our students are successful in school and life. 

• In the elementary years, children who miss school are more likely to struggle academically and, in later years, to drop out entirely
• In the secondary years (middle/high school), attendance is the No. 1 predictor of dropout and graduation rates
• Attendance is the top indicator of being on track for graduation and for college and career readiness
• Nearly 67% of course failures were attributed to low attendance

What 1% attendance means:

Students do better in school and life, and raising attendance supports schools.  Raising one student's attendance impacts the whole school, and other schools in the district. California public schools are funded according to Average Daily Attendance - the number of students in school each day, and for middle and high schools, by periods.  

Raising school attendance in PUSD by just 1% means approximately $1.6 million more in funding for schools. That means schools can hire staff and develop programs to support students.

Building the habit of good attendance starts early

• Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in schools
• Student missing 10% (about 18 days) in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the third grade
• If a student misses only two days a month, they will miss 10% of the school year
• Students can begin to reverse their academic difficulties if they improve their attendance

Attendance Impacts Middle School and High School Students

• Chronic absenteeism (missing 10% of the school year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement
• A student who is chronically absent in any year between 8th and 12th grade is 7.4 times more likely to drop out
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other barrier holding them back from academic success
• When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating
• Attendance is an important life skill that will help a student to graduate from college and keep a job
• More information: via Attendance Works

Strategies for Elementary School Parents

• Set a regular bed time and morning routine
• Don't let your child stay home unless she is truly sick (i.e., fever, vomiting)
• Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up (possibly a family member, neighbor, or another parent)
• Schedule medical appointments and family trips for weekends and when school is not in session
• More information: via Attendance Works

Strategies for Middle and High School Parents

• Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night's sleep
• Encourage meaningful afterschool activities, such as sports and clubs
• Check on your child's attendance to be sure absences are not piling up. Attendance records can be accessed through the Aeries Parent Portal. Speak to your school to gain access to the Parent Portal
• Ask for help from school officials, afterschool programs, your community, or the Office of Child Welfare, Attendance, and Safety if your are having trouble getting your child to school
• More information: via Attendance Works

Attendance Flyers for Parents

Elementary School

• English
• Spanish

Secondary School

• English
• Spanish

For more information and additional resources, contact Paul-Michael Dalton, CWAS Counselor at 626.396.3600 ext. 88230