Attendance counts!
Attendance Counts for Learning, Wellness & Funding
If your child will be absent for more than a day due to vacation or illness, ask your teacher for an independent study packet. If independent study occurs, Wade Thomas will receive revenue for attendance during the absence. Every day counts!
Research and experience tell us that regular school attendance significantly influences student’s success – academically, socially, and emotionally. Without a strong foundation in the lower grades, students often fall behind as they move up the grades, and catching up and feeling good about their learning and themselves can become daunting.
In addition to the negative impact avoidable absences can have on a child’s development and overall success in school, there is also a consequence to the District’s revenues. Every day a student attends school, the day is counted towards our ADA (see the article above to learn more).
With roughly 1700 students enrolled in RVSD and 180 school days, that equals 306,000 possible student days in a school year. If each student in the District takes one day off, the District loses approximately $105,000 in revenues. With a current ADA rate of 93%, down from our historical 15-year average of 96%, we are losing an additional $544,000 per year.
We know students miss school for a wide range of reasons and we understand that some absences are unavoidable due to sickness, religious observances, family emergencies, or other unpredictable circumstances. RVSD is committed to maintaining the highest possible attendance rates in each of our five outstanding schools, and as our partners in your child’s education, you play a key role in helping us maximize your child’s opportunities for success and ensuring we receive as much funding as possible.Here are some strategies to use at home:
- Take trips during non-student days.
- Reinforce with your child the importance of daily and on-time attendance.
- Don’t let your child stay home unless they are truly experiencing symptoms of illness.
- If your child is anxious about going to school, check in with teachers and other school staff for support. Sometimes a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety.
- Schedule medical or other appointments during non-school hours. If appointments can only be scheduled during school hours, have your child attend for any part of the school day.
Should you have any questions regarding your child’s attendance or how we can work together to ensure that they are participating fully in their educational experience, please contact your child’s school.
Let’s join together to increase our attendance rate to 96% or higher this school year!