Attendance

FACT: 

Excused, unexcused and verified are terms used only to track a student's reason for missing school. There is no real difference between each type of absence. Regardless of the reason a student has missed school, the impact on their learning is the same. All absences count against a student's total attendance percentage.

North Kansas City Schools, the Board of Education, and the state of Missouri expect students enrolled in school to attend regularly. Beyond this expectation, it is a critical aspect of safety that we can account for each and every student during the school day. The district defines three main types of absences:

• Unexcused: The student is not at school and a parent/guardian has not made contact with school staff. 
   
• Excused: The student is not at school. A parent/guardian has contacted the office to inform them (and provided written verification, if requested) that the absence is for one of the following reasons acceptable under the Missouri Compulsory Attendance Act: 
  • Personal illness (of the student)
  • Doctor/dental appointments
  • Serious illness or death of a member of the family or close friend
  • Emergencies at home, such as fire or flood
  • Religious holidays
  • Professional appointments that cannot be scheduled outside the school day
• Verified: The student is not at school, and a parent/guardian has notified the school of the reason, but it is not for one of the acceptable "excused" reasons above. 

FACT: 

Tardiness and late arrival will negatively impact your child's attendance percentage. Getting a good start to the day is essential, and many classrooms have special routines in place to help students begin their day positively. Missing these steps or any special announcements or events held in the morning can cause a student to feel "behind" for the remainder of the day. 

Leaving early also negatively impacts a child's attendance. It may cause them to miss out on important end-of-day routines or special opportunities. We encourage families to wait until regular dismissal time to pick up their child whenever possible. 

FACT: 

Our curriculum and instructional plans are designed for students to learn from their teachers in school each day through direct interaction. In a normal day, students have opportunities to work individually, in partners and small groups, and with their teacher, with time to ask questions and review key ideas for structured practice. This cannot be easily replaced by take-home instructions and make-up work. This is especially true when students are out of school for several days in a row. Families are asked to plan vacations/trips during times when school is not in session.

FACT: 

Missing just two days per month is defined as chronic absenteeism and has been proven to negatively impact a child's success at school. Two days per month equals an attendance percentage of 90%, below the goal of 95% for all students. If your child's attendance falls to a level that indicates chronic absenteeism, our school staff will reach out to you to create a plan in support of their success. 

FACT: 

School attendance percentages do affect how much funding a school receives from the state. Schools create their budget based on how many students they expect to have in class each day. This is how class sizes, staffing and resources are distributed, ensuring we are ready to educate those children enrolled in each building. State funding for public schools is based partially on average daily attendance. When less students attend, less overall funding is received from the state. This means that now, less resources will be available than anticipated, with the potential to cause funding shortages and reduction in services we are able to offer. 

While student attendance affects school funding, our primary goal is to provide a high-quality education to every student we serve. Research shows that students learn best when they attend school at least 95% of the time. We want all students to benefit from a great education, from great teachers! And we know that attendance is a key factor in their success, both now and in the future. This is why NKC Schools believes attendance truly matters. 

FACT: 

Attendance is an issue that can impact our entire district community. While students miss school for a variety of reasons, each day away represents a missed chance for them to learn and requires extra work for them to get caught back up. Our teachers and staff work hard to ensure that all students benefit a high-quality education, but this is made more difficult with gaps and missed lessons due to absences. 

Attendance issues have also increased nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic (School Pulse Panel). If your student is struggling with anxiety or concerns about coming to school, please don't hesitate to reach out to the school principal or counselor. NKC Schools believes that school should be a safe, welcoming place for all, and we will work with your family to ensure your student feels comfortable and supported.