Regular attendance is essential for school success. As important as school success is, it’s just one reason why regular attendance is critical. Students who skip school are more likely to:

• Fall behind their classmates.
• Drop out.
• Join a gang.
• Use alcohol or illegal drugs.
• Get arrested.You can influence your child to reduce risks and increase his chances for success (unless he is ill or there is an emergency).

To keep attendance up:

• Make clear to him that you expect him to be in school. Let him know you place a high priority on this.
• Have consequences if he is truant. Discuss these with him in advance.
• Schedule doctor appointments during non-school hours if possible. If this is truly not possible, write a note to his teachers and the office staff explaining his absence.
• Remember that school is his job and don’t keep him out of school to work outside the home.

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