Showing Up Together!
What is it?
Nationally, an estimated 5 million to 7.5 million students are at risk academically each year because they are chronically absent — missing up to 10 percent or more of school days in excused and unexcused absences.
Celebrated for the first time in September 2013, the Attendance Awareness Campaign is a nationwide recognition of the connection between school attendance and academic achievement. The goal is to mobilize schools and communities to promote the value of good attendance and to take concrete steps toward reducing chronic absence.
WASD continues to take the local lead in joining up with the national campaign, organized by the national nonprofit Attendance Works to motivate students and parents by promoting the academic and social benefits of attending school more regularly.
Why is it important?
Students belong in school. Too many children are missing too many days.
Literally tens of thousands of children, even in the early grades, are chronically absent, missing nearly a month or more of school every year. In our community, approximately one in six students missed nearly a month of school last year.
Children who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are much less likely to read proficiently by the end of third grade and are more likely to have poor attendance in later grades. By middle and high school, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign that a student will drop out. This is especially true for those students living in poverty who need school the most and are sometimes attending the least. At WASD, out of the 4,661 students enrolled, 3,124, or 67%, are economically disadvantaged.*
Chronic absence is a problem we can solve when schools, families and community partners work together. Across the country, hundreds of communities like ours are launching their own campaigns according to the framework set forth by Attendance Works. It's a vital first and important step in calling attention to the importance of school attendance.
* Enrollment number represents that of the 2022-2023 school year.
How can you help?
Whether you are a parent, teacher, principal, superintendent, elected official, business leader, after-school provider, or you represent a public agency or faith-based organization, you have a role to play. Please partner with us in sharing this message.
We are seeking partners to help with the following:
- Advertise and Advocate: Display our campaign materials in your business or organization.
- Give Your Time: Volunteer to distribute our campaign materials within your community or organization.
- Become a Sponsor: Contribute resources (financial or gifts in-kind) to support our efforts and be publicly recognized as an active partner right here on our campaign webpage.
Join us today! Tell us how you'd like to partner with us simply by emailing us by clicking on the button below. A representative from our Showing Up Together! campaign team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
