Attendance Matters Fall Update: Every Day Counts

Here we are! The first several weeks of the 2025–2026 school year are complete. The excitement (or nervousness) of the first day is behind us, and we are settling into a rhythm. 

Did you know that chronic absenteeism means missing just 10% or more of the school year? That’s just 18 days total, or only 2 days per month!  

It doesn’t matter if the absences are excused or unexcused — they all add up. And this is why attendance is one of the Bellevue School District’s key focus areas this year. 

Why Attendance Matters 

• Half of the students who miss 2–4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school by year’s end. 
• Kindergarten and 1st-grade students who miss 10% or more of school show up to a 5% drop in academic progress on average. 
• Students chronically absent from Pre-K through 2nd grade see their reading scores drop by more than 26%. 
• By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes the leading indicator of high school dropout. 
• On the positive side, when students improve their attendance, graduation rates increase by up to 28%. 

What Families and Students Can Do 

• When you have an appointment, attend school for the part of the day you are available. 
• Use the “Too Sick for School” guidelines to decide if your student should stay home. 
• Partner with your school counselor, IEP team, or administrator if your student is struggling with school attendance. 
• Avoid scheduling trips or vacations during the school year.

Bellevue School District’s Attendance Goal 

This year, the district aims to: 

• Reduce chronic absenteeism by 1–2 percentage points for all students 
• Reduce it by 2–3 percentage points for underserved groups

What We’re Doing 

• Proactive family and student outreach and partnership 
• More consistent and accurate recording of attendance in alignment with district policy 
• Stronger parent communication and engagement 
• Ongoing school supports that include extra help for students and early signs to catch challenges before they grow.  
• Development and implementation of clear intervention decision rules 

You may notice a stronger focus on attendance this year, and it might even feel like there’s more urgency, a greater pressure. That’s because regular attendance is one of the biggest factors in a student’s success. When students are in school consistently, they build stronger relationships with teachers and friends, keep up with learning, and feel more confident. Our shared goal is simple: helping every student thrive — academically, socially and emotionally.  

If we work together, we can make a lasting difference. So, here we are — let’s keep showing up.