Increasing Attendance in Early Childhood Learning Environments

Attendance Matters in the Earliest Years

A common misconception is that missing school only becomes an issue in elementary grades.  However, early education experts agree that establishing foundational literacy and math knowledge as well as developing strong social and emotional skills are critical to academic success throughout a child’s lifetime.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as two or more days per month, or ten percent of the school year. 

“Chronic absence—especially if it persists from preschool into the early grades—is a proven early warning that children are off track for reading proficiently by the end of third grade, a pivotal point for children’s success in school.”

— “Early and Often: Showing Up in Preschool Matters 2.0,” by Attendance Works 

Evidence gathered in 1998 through the The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (Kindergarten Cohort)2 —showed “Greater absenteeism in kindergarten was associated with lower achievement in reading, math, and general knowledge at the end of first grade.”

Families and caregivers may be experiencing numerous barriers that prohibit regular class attendance for the young children in their lives. These obstacles can include temporary illness or ongoing health concerns, job loss, transportation availability or affordability, food and housing insecurity, and mental health issues.  

While many of these impediments are beyond our control, below are a few suggestions to help create conditions that increase attendance.

Considerations to Increase Attendance

We all know the power of good habits. And those of us in the early childhood education sphere know from experience that attending preschool daily increases child outcomes and is a habit with the potential for enormous rewards.

Multiple parties are involved in building a habit of regular attendance in early childhood. They include:

• Children

Very young children rely on caregivers to get them to school. When they develop relationships with their teachers and other students and are excited about daily activities, their caregivers may be inspired to get them to school on time, every day.

• Families 

Sharing in a child’s excitement and knowing how school affects their children’s potential growth might inspire habits, routines, and motivation to attend school daily.

• Staff 

Building relationships with the children and families, and communicating clearly about the program, potential, and benefits of attendance helps build enthusiasm and support by families and parents. Additionally, staff can assist with any necessary resources.

Many of the same strategies for creating quality relationships can be used to combat chronic absenteeism.

Quality Relationships and Messaging to Increase Attendance

Many of the same strategies for creating quality relationships can be used to combat chronic absenteeism.

If a child has a strong connection to their teacher or another adult in their learning environment, that child may be able to influence their own daily attendance. Likewise, creating quality relationships with parents can be a motivating factor by helping them see how much they and their child are missing when they don’t show up for school.

With funding from the Overdeck Family Foundation and collaboration with Attendance Works, the Ad Council Research Institute (ACRI), conducted a mixed-methods research study to provide insight and guidance on communicating to caregivers why regular attendance is so important to child development.

One key takeaway from the report is that chastising parents or emphasizing the consequences of missing school does not work. More effective messaging uses a positive tone to highlight the benefits of attendance and the opportunities available to the child when they are present in the classroom.

[C]hastising parents or emphasizing the consequences of missing school does not work.

A Healthy Environment: Never Underestimate the Power of Soap and Water

Creating a healthy environment in preschool can also provide a good example for families and children at home. Regular hand-washing routines that include scrubbing (sing that A-B-C song!) and thoroughly drying with clean towels can go a long way toward suppressing germs. Teach children the “why” behind covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze (try the glitter germ experiment). 

Read books that explore emotions and ask children to share their own feelings about school, friends, and family. Finally, make sure there is a good balance between needed physical exertion and rest time during the day.

All of these things will help keep little ones healthier and avoid missing days due to illness.

Habits and Routines: Help Families Stay On Track at Home

Ask caregivers what habits and routines they currently use at home and suggest ideas to help with school attendance. Creating predictable routines and regular bedtimes, choosing clothes to wear and laying them out the night before, and packing backpacks so they are ready to go in the morning are a few suggestions.

Monitor attendance and call out any hint of chronic absenteeism early. Co-create a plan with the family that encourages daily attendance. Find ways to engage and support the family that does not feel punitive; engagement should feel welcoming and be a shared positive. 

Anecdotal evidence and small data sampling show that strong family engagement can improve attendance.

The relationships between family engagement and chronic absenteeism are so powerful, the Learning Heroes/TNTP study found, they might actually be stronger than the effect of poverty. In other words, when a school invests in building relationships with families, it presents a real opportunity to address inequities.”

“Reduced Absenteeism Relies on Family Engagement,” by Eyal Bergman and Zenzile, in Principal Magazine, September/October, 2024

Partnership for Increased Attendance

What does a family partnership look like?

• Asking questions to get to know the family
• Listening to their hopes, dreams, and ambitions for themselves and their children
• Defining pathways and providing resources to help achieve those goals
• Creating practical ways to work together and creating a schedule for the school year
• Agreeing upon mutually useful communication methods and timelines
• Meeting regularly to confer on progress and discuss challenges

Practices that work:

• A welcoming school culture and quality interactions
• Knowing your students and community through conversation and equitable data collection
• A continual focus on sensitivity and empathy for different ideas and lifestyles
• Family involvement and empowerment: Do parents and caregivers know how they can help and be involved? Do they know where they can get help if they need it?
• Events such as school orientations, back-to-school nights, parent workshops and other family events that include music, spoken word, or other artistic presentations—are there talents within your student’s family and community that could be shared? 
• Consistency and persistence; never give up!

Take Care of Yourself

Teaching is exhausting work. Make sure you are taking measures for your own physical and mental health.

Ask for help from the administration or district when you need it. And don’t forget the power of professional development for support among peers.

Related Reading:

Read another blog: Quality Interactions in Early Childhood: 5 Essential Building Blocks

Read another blog: Developmentally Appropriate Practice In Early Childhood