Contra Costa Co.: September Marks School Attendance Awareness

PLEASANT HILL, CA – Attendance matters to high achievement, Contra Costa School District officials want to get across in September as students head back to class.

With that, the district is taking part in the National Attendance Awareness Month by joining forces with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Office of Education, Probation Office and Superior Court.

According to the national advocacy group, Attendance Works, chronic absenteeism leads to negative effects ranging from lower achievement levels to graduation rates. In a day and age filled with excessive testing, missing days can thrust students in a tailspin of confusion with no light at the end of the tunnel.

On a national level, more than 5 million students miss nearly a month of school from excused to unexcused absences. Chronic absenteeism is defined as failing to show up for 10 percent of the school year, meaning 18 days to the standard season.

“This campaign is designed to provide resources to schools that engage school communities and boost student attendance as soon as children enter school,” Contra Costa Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata said.

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