National Attendance Month 2022

DeSoto ISD Recognizes National Attendance Month
Posted on 09/07/2022
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DeSoto ISD joins school districts across the nation in recognizing the month of September as National Attendance Awareness month. While school communities across the globe have long touted this topic and focus for centuries, the Attendance Matters organization formalized an annual campaign specifically encouraging school districts across the nation to promote the importance of school attendance and its impact on student success to students, staff, parents, and families. 


During this month, DeSoto ISD has instituted several initiatives and activities for parents and students to deepen their understanding and raise awareness of the importance of regular school attendance and the impacts of chronic absenteeism. 


Specifically, the DeSoto ISD Student Support Services Department will partner with campuses to reiterate the attendance messages through weekly parent and daily student communication to guide the discussion and bring the topic to the forefront. 


This year, Fri-YAYS, (Your Attendance, Yields Success) adds a little fun into the activities to allow student-themed-dress days on Fridays in September. Also, students will have campus activities that will recognize a student of the week and month who meets the stated attendance program criteria throughout the month.


Week 1 - Sept. 9th

Be Smart About Good Attendance


Wear College Gear

Week 2 - Sept. 16th

Team Up Against Tardies


Wear Favorite Sports Shirt Or Jersey

Week 3 - Sept. 23rd 

We’re “Glowing” Crazy About Good Attendance


Wear Neon Colors

Week 4 - Sept 30th

We Are Wild About Good Attendance 


Wear Animal Print


*All attire worn must remain in alignment with the district standard of dress as noted in the student handbook and code of conduct manuals.


The National Center for Children in Poverty, (www.NCCP.org), surmises that students have to be present and engaged in order to learn. When students regularly attend, starting as early as preschool and kindergarten, they have an opportunity to achieve academically and thrive. 


The research on the impacts of absenteeism shows the long-term effects on student success stating that when students are chronically absent, (missing 10% or more of the school year or 18 days over an entire year), they are less likely to read proficiently by third grade, achieve in middle school and graduate from high school.


Keeping students in school and on time for class is a job for everyone in the school community.

  • Parents can provide a contingency plan for students to get to school. Help students build relationships with friends and staff and encourage them to ask for the support needed.
  • Teachers and district staff can ensure that students have a positive, engaging and supportive learning environment and keep an open line of communication with parents and students.
  • Students can prepare for school ahead of time, complete assignments, stay engaged with the lesson, communicate needs and be a good model for attendance to peers and leaders. 

In DeSoto ISD, the goal is to promote good attendance and reduce chronic absences and tardies and all students maintain a  perfect or at least 95 % daily attendance rate.