Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Attendance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senior administrator urges parents to curb chronic absenteeism; district posts "Every school day matters" banner
Summary
At a recent RSU 12 school board meeting, the district highlighted chronic absenteeism (defined as missing more than 10% of school days), unveiled an "Every school day matters" banner and described attendance interventions after citing student learning losses from repeated late arrivals.
The senior member of the administrative staff at RSU 12 told the school board that chronic absenteeism is a pressing problem and that the district is launching an "Every school day matters" campaign to press parents for better attendance.
The administrator said chronic absenteeism is defined as any student who is absent more than 10% of school days and warned that the district has been "significantly above" that threshold at some schools. "Every school day matters," the administrator said, describing a 25-foot banner displayed at Whitefield intended to reinforce that message.
The presentation included a classroom example meant to show the stakes: the speaker described a third-grade student who routinely arrived between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m.; the administrator said the student's literacy scores "descend[ed]" as a result. "An empty seat learns nothing," the administrator told the board, urging parents to avoid scheduling vacations during instructional days.
Board members were told the district has an attendance committee using intervention strategies to reduce absences and chronic lateness. Staff framed the campaign as part of a broader effort to improve state assessment outcomes after the unusual conditions of the pandemic years.
The board did not take a formal vote on the attendance campaign during the meeting. Staff said they will keep the board informed as the attendance committee implements engagement and support strategies for families.
