Chronic Absenteeism Explained: Why Attendance Matters for Your Child’s Success
What Is Chronic Absenteeism?
A student is considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of the school year, which is about 17 days in a 174-day school year. This percentage only includes unexcused absences.
While 17 days may not seem like much at first, they add up quickly. Missing just two days a month can significantly affect a student’s learning and overall achievement.
Unexcused vs. Excused Absences
In Nevada, absences are classified as excused or unexcused based on the reason and whether proper documentation is provided. Excused absences typically include illness or medical appointments (with a doctor or therapist note) and religious observances. Providing documentation helps ensure the absence is coded correctly and the student’s absence is marked as excused. Excused absences do not count towards a student’s chronic absenteeism percentage.
Known absences are those that may warrant a student missing school but are still considered unexcused under
Unexcused absences also occur when a student is absent without an approved reason or when required documentation is not submitted. Examples may include being sick without a doctor’s note, oversleeping, or family trips. Unexcused absences add up and contribute to a student’s chronic absenteeism percentage. Because attendance data impacts both student progress and school accountability measures, including NSPF ratings, it is important that families communicate with the school and submit documentation promptly so absences can be recorded accurately.
Why Attendance Is So Important
📚 Academic Growth and Achievement
Learning builds day by day. Lessons connect to one another, and classroom discussions, guided practice, and teacher support cannot always be replicated at home.
Chronic absenteeism can lead to:
- Decreased academic growth
- Lower achievement in reading and math
- Difficulty mastering grade-level standards
- Falling behind peers
When students miss instruction, it becomes harder to keep up with academics, and catching up can feel overwhelming.
📊 Impact on School Performance (NSPF Scores)
Attendance does not just affect individual students; it also impacts our entire school community.
Chronic absenteeism affects:
- Individual student performance data
- Overall school academic outcomes
- Our school’s Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) rating
- SNACS charter contract with Washoe County School District
Strong attendance helps ensure students perform at their highest potential and supports our school’s overall success and accountability measures.
📝 The Importance of Providing Doctor or Therapist Notes
If your child is absent due to illness, medical appointments, or therapy sessions, we kindly ask that you provide documentation from your doctor or therapist whenever possible. Even Teledoc notes can qualify for an excused absence. Submitting these notes allows our team to properly code and document the absence. Accurate documentation helps ensure that attendance data is reported correctly and supports our school’s NSPF rating. Most importantly, it ensures your child’s record reflects the true reason for the absence. If you ever have questions about submitting documentation, our front office is happy to help. Not sure if your child is too sick for school? Check this guide from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
🔁 Risk of Retention and Disenrollment
When students miss significant instructional time and struggle to meet grade-level expectations, retention may become a consideration. Consistent attendance greatly reduces this risk and helps ensure students are prepared for the next grade level. Chronic absenteeism may even lead to un-enrollment at SNACS, and we don’t want that for any student.
💛 Social and Emotional Well-Being
School is more than academics. Students who attend regularly:
- Build friendships
- Develop confidence
- Strengthen problem-solving and communication skills
- Maintain strong connections with teachers and staff
Frequent absences can make students feel disconnected or anxious about returning, which sometimes leads to even more missed days. If your child is experiencing school-related anxiety, here are some tips to help.
How We Can Work Together
We know that barriers to attendance can arise, such as illness, transportation challenges, family responsibilities, or other concerns. If your family is experiencing difficulties that affect your child’s attendance, please reach out. We are here to partner with you and connect you to support. As always, you can email familyengagement@snacs.org to be connected with our Family Engagement and Support team.
Together, we can monitor attendance regularly, communicate early about concerns, problem-solve barriers, and celebrate improvements and positive attendance habits.
Every Day Makes a Difference in Chronic Absenteeism
Your partnership matters. When students are present, they are more likely to grow academically, feel connected, and reach their full potential.
Thank you for prioritizing attendance and helping your child build strong habits that will benefit them for years to come.
If you ever have questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here for you. Reach us at the front office at (775)677-4500 or email familyengagement@snacs.org to be connected to our Family Engagement Team. See our blog for other topics you might be interested in.