September 2019

Dear Parents,

Teachers, staff, and administrators at Canyon Crest Elementary are committed to help every student receive the best educational experience possible. A student’s learning is compromised when they are not in school. Last year Canyon Crest had 15.3% absenteeism, a concerning statistic that we would like to improve by minimizing student tardies and absences. Chronic absenteeism hinders a child’s successful learning experience. Research shows the negative effects of school truancy:

Did you know that . . .

• Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school.
• Absenteeism and its ill effects start early. One in 10 kindergarten and first grade students are chronically absent. Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade.
• By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
• Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school year, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that is known as chronic absence.
• The academic impact of missing school is the same whether the absences are excused or unexcused.
• When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.

For more information and facts about attendance, go to attendanceworks.org.

State and district attendance policies require that a child be in attendance 95% of the school year. Of course, if a child is ill they should not be at school, but travel and appointments should be kept to a minimum during the 180 days students should be in attendance. If your child will be missing school due to illness, please call to excuse them and arrange for assignments to be picked up from the teacher. Please remember, however, that worksheets and assignments cannot take the place of a teacher’s instruction in the classroom.

Each month we will be celebrating students who have zero tardies and absences. Please encourage your child to be at school on time and ready to learn so they can be successful and excel in their formal education. If you have concerns, please let us know how we can support you.

Sincerely,

Rene Cunningham, Principal

PRIOR APPROVAL ABSENCE REQUEST INFORMATION

CANYON CREST PRE-APPROVED ABSENCE REQUEST

PROVO SCHOOL DISTRICT ATTENDANCE POLICY

PROVO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICY / STUDENT ATTENDANCE: ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT – BOOST SCHOOL ATTENDANCE