The New Jersey Department of Education is joining other states in recognizing September as Attendance Awareness Month, and it is also planning a series of activities for the 2024-2025 school year aimed at reducing student absenteeism and encouraging consistent school attendance, according to an advisory. Efforts include:
- The NJDOE has launched its attendance awareness social media campaign. Please engage with the NJDOE’s various social media accounts to amplify the importance of regular school attendance.
- The Conditions for Learning webpage is now available and contains supporting materials to assist local educational agencies to launch their own attendance awareness campaigns.
- One-pagers.
- Guidance.
- Posters and fliers.
- Letter templates.
The NJDOE points out that for students to learn and achieve their fullest potential, it is critical that they are in school and engaged in the learning process. Chronic absenteeism is defined as having missed 10% or more days of school for any reason, including excused and/or unexcused absences.
This means a student can be considered chronically absent if they miss as few as two days of school a month over the school year. Chronic absenteeism negatively affects academic performance, increasing the risk of lower grades and dropping out. For example, Attendance Works reports that students who are chronically absent are more likely to have lower standardized test scores and grades than students who regularly attend school.
Additional Information
- Visit the Conditions for Learning webpage to access Attendance Awareness Campaign materials.
- Review Data-based Decision Making for Addressing Chronic Absenteeism, which demonstrates how the New Jersey Tiered System of Supports framework can aid districts in efforts to understand and address barriers to regular attendance.
- Review updated guidance, Reporting Student Attendance and Determining Chronic Absenteeism.
For any additional questions, please contact the NJDOE’s Office of Student Support Services via email.