|
Why Attendance Matters to Early Childhood Educators
Attendance Works is a non-profit initiative that collaborates with schools, districts, states, communities, and organizations to promote equal opportunities to learn and advance student success by reducing chronic absence. Here is what they have to say about preschool attendance.
Promoting attendance is an effective way of partnering with families to prepare children for success in kindergarten and beyond. Consider the following:
• Regular attendance allows children to benefit from participating in quality early education. Research shows that students who miss too many days of preschool have weaker literacy and numeracy skills entering kindergarten. This is especially true for children from families living in poverty, who gain the most when they attend but lose out more when they are absent.
• A habit of attendance IS a school readiness skill. Along with social-emotional and readiness skills, consistent on-time attendance is a habit that lasts. Children who are chronically absent in preschool are far more likely to be chronically absent in later grades.
• Good attendance reflects strong parent engagement. Attendance improves when families feel welcome and supported and when they understand what their children are learning in a program. Attendance often improves when parents are encouraged to problem-solve with staff members when their child is missing too much school.
Click here for more information on ways early education providers can make a difference.
| 
