What Kids Need

When kids feel connected, supported, and understood they are more likely to show up engage and learn.

Attendance is more than being present - it's about being connected, building relationships, and creating opportunities for growth. Every day a student is at school is another opportunity to learn, strengthen relationships, develop important skills, and feel like they truly belong.

As educators, you play an important role in helping students see the value of showing up. A warm greeting, a genuine check-in, encouragement after a difficult morning, or simply letting a student know they were missed can make a meaningful difference. When students feel seen, supported, and connected, school becomes a place where they want to be.

• Building Belonging: Help every student feel noticed, welcomed, and valued.
• Celebrate Consistency: Recognized positive attendance patterns and personal growth.
• Lead with Curiosity: When absences become frequent, seek to understand barriers before making assumptions.

1. Find the real reason before choosing the solution. Ask the child "what is making school hard right now?"
2. Give them something to look forward to. If the child is not wanting to go, connect them to a trusted adult, a classroom job, breakfast with a friend, morning check-ins, favorite activity or meaningful responsibility that can create reasons to want to be at school.
3. Make mornings predictable. Consistent bedtime, morning routines, prepared clothes and fewer last-minute decisions reduce friction.
4. Notice presence, not just absence. Instead of only focusing on the times the child misses school, send positive messages when attendance is improving.

Nine Days. 5%. Remember those numbers.

Missing 5% of the school days which is about 9 days in a school year is considered chronic absenteeism. In recent 2024-2025 data, nearly 1 in 4 students nationwide were chronically absent. Attendance is not just about grades! It is about learning, relationships, routines, and belonging.

Research summarized by the US Department of Education shows that students who are chronically absent over multiple years in preschool through second grade are much less likely to read at grade level by 3rd grade.

How do we motivate kids to attend?

For some students, the issue isn't motivation. The research points to several different contributors. These include disengagement, lack of connection, academic or behavioral struggles, health needs, transportation, caregiving responsibilities, housing instability, and other barriers (Institute of Education Sciences, 1/25/26). So rather than asking "how do we make them go to school?" ask "what is getting in the way of coming to school?"