STUDENT ATTENDANCE: WHY IT MATTERS THAT YOUR CHILD IS IN SCHOOL?
Studies have consistently shown the many positive effects of student attendance at school. Students are more likely to get good grades, participate in school activities, grow socially and emotionally and have an overall positive education experience when they attend school regularly. Beside these important reasons, there are several financial reasons that schools encourage excellent daily attendance.
Every year Herscher CUSD #2 turns in a report to the State, known as the General State Aid request. Currently, our District is receiving almost 3 million dollars in General State Aid. One of the main factors in determining the amount of General State Aid that a District receives is ATTENDANCE. So, when your child misses school, our District loses General State Aid or frankly, money.
Specifically, the three best months of daily attendance is used to calculate an average of the District’s attendance. For Herscher CUSD #2, this number was 1947 students in 2008-2009, 1901 students in 2009-2010, 1870 students in 2010-2011 and 1830 students in 2011-2012. You can see that each year it has been decreasing. Now, some of this due to our decreasing enrollment, however some of this decrease is due to attendance as well.
EVERYTIME THIS NUMBER DECREASES BY JUST ONE STUDENT IT COSTS THE DISTRICT APPROXIMATELY $1, 475!!! (2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR).
Unfortunately, in order for the our District to count a student for full-day attendance they must be in attendance for 300 minutes or 6 hours (this does not count passing time, recess or lunch). So, doctor/dentist appointment or other reasons students may miss school can greatly affect the District’s potential revenue. Therefore, if you can make appointments or encourage your child to attend school it helps them and the District at the same time.
Please feel free to call or e-mail if you have any comments or questions. Thanks and have a great summer!
