Attendance and tardiness are one of the last things that many students have in mind throughout the school year, but it is much more important than they may think. Not only do students risk losing hours of crucial information that could be used in future quizzes or tests, but attendance, and even being on time, could help students grow as people in the real world.

 The consequences that students face for skipping class are also very time-consuming, so it is easier for them to just initially attend classes than to make up for their absences later.

“Attendance is extremely important. I am a part of the attendance committee, which unites so we can address students with attendance issues. The district is very supportive of attendance issues because we provide multiple opportunities to work with the families and the students,” Carlo Escobar- Coronado’s graduation coach said.

A huge reason so many students don’t attend class is that they fail to see what the purpose is, especially if they can maintain good grades without being physically present at school.

 “At the end of the day, we are trying to prepare our students for a good future or for them to attend college. The best message I can give students with attendance issues is that it is not just about the grades or credits, but if you are not in class then you are not learning the knowledge and tools needed to be successful after high school,” Escobar said.

A common consequence of frequent absences is that students will be placed on 45-day contracts. These contracts entail that the school will check students’ attendance, and if no improvement is shown, the student and parent will be sent to court, where the issue will be taken care of legally.

“Everything is communicated through the parents. It usually works great, because through those meetings with the parents, we learn about student’s problems and crises and anything that causes attendance issues,” Escobar said.

In addition to facing potential punishments or detention, students who don’t attend class often fear that they may be jeopardizing their chances of graduating on time. Fortunately, issues with earning credits don’t occur because of attendance issues, but instead of how students are doing in class. Although attendance does not directly cause you to fail class, the chain reaction that it starts will likely eventually result in that

 “We do not really have that action in place. The whole idea is for students to recover their low credits or grades. But as far as recommending summer school, we do not have that. Currently, our district is using a system called “District of Innovation”-meaning attendance doesn’t cause students to lose credit. If they are not getting credits, it is because they are not doing their work and are not passing the class,” Escobar said.

Regularly attending class allows students to actively engage with course material. By being at school, students are able to interact with their teachers and fellow classmates, allowing them to retain information more easily. In addition, consistent attendance allows students to build a strong academic foundation, as well as a commitment to their education.