If you’ve found it difficult to convince your children that skipping school is not a good thing, you now have some more backing. There is solid research that supports the long-held tenet that regular school attendance is essential in ensuring that children receive a high quality education.

The data suggests that students who are in school every day get better grades, score better on standardized tests, and are more likely to go to college. That’s why “Mind Your Future: Be in school on time every day” is the theme for DPS’s attendance effort, backed by local PACs (Partners Against Crime), the DPS PTA Council and community agencies.

DPS encourages parents to:

• Send notes promptly following excused absences
• Ensure that your child comes to school on time, well rested, and with the necessary supplies for school
• Make sure that your child is at the bus stop or gets to school on time
• Help your child build a sense of responsibility for attending every day

There are legitimate reasons students may be absent and these absences may be excused: illness or injury, quarantine, death in the immediate family, medical or dental appointments, court or administrative proceedings, religious observances, and educational opportunity.

A student is absent from school when the student is not present for at least half of the school day, whether the absence is excused or unexcused. The principal or designee may excuse student absences for these reasons, provided that satisfactory evidence of the excuse is provided to the principal. All other absences are unexcused.

To find out how you can get involved with the effort to improve student attendance in Durham Public Schools, contact social workers or home-school coordinators at their schools, or the DPS Office of Student Services at 560-2063.