One of the best predictors of student success is daily attendance. Higher attendance rates
also correlate to fewer academic and behavioral problems at school as well as lower dropout
rates.
“School attendance is essential to academic success,” said Eddie Joslin, Child Welfare
and Attendance Supervisor for the Beauregard Parish school system. “There is no substitute for
participation in classroom activities, discussions, and interactions with teachers and other
students.”
September is Attendance Awareness Month, a time to focus attention on the importance
of school attendance and set the stage for a positive and successful school year, he said.
Being in the classroom daily is critically important as it is a key indicator of student
achievement, but it also affects a student’s promotion for each grade level. The Louisiana
Department of Education has established regulations
concerning a student’s school attendance which requires
students to attend at least 167 days (or equivalent minutes
based on each school’s daily schedule) to earn credit for
courses and be eligible for promotion to the next grade.
All absences from school must be approved, and
school handbooks provide specific information concerning
acceptable reasons for excused absences and the
conditions in which students can make up missed work.
Our schools also provide for students to make up time and
engage in credit recovery in the event they have missed
classroom time.
“We make every effort to help our students recover
the time and work missed when they have excused
absences,” explained Joslin, “but the best scenario is for
students to be present each day in class.”
The school system is also in partnership with the Beauregard Parish District Attorney’s
Office, which runs the Beauregard Truancy and Assessment Service Center (TASC) and the
Families in Need of Services (FINS) programs to provide early identification and assessment of
truancy and to help coordinate interventions to prevent the continued or chronic absences of
students at school.
“The TASC/FINS programs help our community by interrupting the cycle of truancy and
reducing the negative effects of truancy for our
students, our schools, and our community,”
Joslin explained.
“Building a habit and culture of regular
attendance at school takes all of us – parents,
educators, and our community – realizing the
critical importance of regular school attendance
for our students and promoting school
attendance throughout the school year,” concluded Joslin. “Being present each day allows
students to take full advantage of the educational opportunities at school and sets them up for
success, now and for their futures.”
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