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Waukegan district staff urge daily attendance, warn chronic absences harm learning
Summary
A Waukegan CUSD 60 Student Outreach representative explained why daily school attendance matters, defined chronic absenteeism as missing 10% of the school year (about 18 days), listed common causes and offered remedies and district resources for families.
Mr. Valadez, a member of the Student Outreach department at Waukegan CUSD 60, told parents that daily attendance is critical to students’ academic progress and long-term opportunities. "Cada día de clase cuenta," he said, adding that regular attendance builds academic skills, routines and social connections that support success.
Valadez defined key terms parents often find confusing. He said attendance rate measures the percentage of school days a student is present. He described chronic absenteeism as missing 10 percent or more of the school year—about 18 days total, or roughly two days per month—and warned that even small, repeated absences add up. He said unexcused absences are counted as truancy, while excused absences include illness and legitimate family emergencies.
The outreach staffer outlined common reasons children miss school: illness, transportation breakdowns, caregiving responsibilities and a lack of connection or engagement with school. He noted that illness is sometimes unavoidable but said for mild symptoms students can often attend safely. He also urged families to schedule medical and dental appointments outside school hours when possible.
Valadez connected attendance to learning milestones, saying students who miss frequently are less likely to read at grade level by third grade and face increased risk of falling behind academically and disengaging later in school. He said research links chronic absenteeism to a higher likelihood of dropping out of high school.
To reduce barriers, he asked parents to set consistent bedtimes and morning routines, encourage participation in school activities, and to contact the school if they need help. He recommended parents consult the school nurse when they are unsure whether a child should stay home and to contact the school office about transportation or other supports. "Si tiene alguna pregunta o necesita apoyo, no duden en contactar a nuestra oficina o a su escuela," he said.
The presentation was a parent-facing outreach message rather than a request for board action. No formal motions or votes were reported during the segment. The district representative emphasized partnership between families and schools and pointed to district resources to help address attendance barriers.
