📈 Attend to Achieve-Attendance Awareness Month

Posted Date: 09/04/26 (08:00 AM)

ATTEND TO ACHIEVE

EVERY SCHOOL DAY COUNTS

An open notebook on a dark background displays the text "Attendance AWARENESS MONTH" and "LAMAR COUNTY SCHOOLS", surrounded by school supplies.

Dear Parents and Families,

September is National Attendance Awareness Month, a time dedicated to highlighting the critical importance of daily school attendance and the impact that missing school has on student success. We encourage you to take this opportunity to reflect on practical ways you can support your student's academic growth simply by being present each day. We would also like to ensure every family understands the updated state requirements regarding school attendance and how we can work together to help our students make the most of every instructional minute.

Understanding Chronic Absenteeism

According to the Mississippi Department of Education, chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year—which equates to just two days a month—for any reason, including excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions. Research shows that missing this much instruction drastically impacts a child's academic growth, and chronically absent students are more likely to fall behind and less likely to graduate.

Important Updates: Mississippi SB 2103

In response to rising rates of chronic absenteeism statewide, the state Legislature updated Mississippi’s Compulsory School Attendance law (SB 2103), which went into effect for this school year. These updates set clear, strict thresholds to help families and schools prioritize every minute of the school day.

A graphic features the text '2 DAYS A MONTH' above 'That's all it takes to be CHRONICALLY ABSENT' on a dark background.

Key changes to the law include:

The 66% Rule: Students must be present for at least 66% of their individual instructional day to be counted as present for the day.
Excused Absence Limits: Students may receive a total of five cumulative excused absences each semester, which includes both parental and medical excuses. Any additional absences require direct approval from District Administration to be considered excused.
Mandatory Parent Notification: Schools must initiate contact and begin intervention after a student reaches just three cumulative absences, whether they are excused or unexcused.
School Attendance Officer Referral: After five cumulative unexcused absences, a student automatically moves into the state-required truancy process and is referred to the district's state-assigned School Attendance Officer.

LCS Requirements

Under SB 2103, our district is legally required to actively monitor daily attendance, implement tiered intervention strategies for students at risk of chronic absenteeism, and report unlawful absences to the School Attendance Officer by the end of the next business day. This means you may be contacted accordingly if your child begins missing school. Our goal is not to be punitive, but to fulfill our state mandate while partnering with you to remove barriers preventing your child from being at school.

How You Can Help Prioritize Daily Attendance

Developing strong attendance habits is a shared responsibility. Here are a few practical ways you can support your child's attendance:

A digital icon of a attendance sheet with two people icons and checked or crossed boxes.

Set a Consistent Routine: Establish a regular bedtime and morning routine to reduce stress and ensure your child is ready for the day.
Schedule Appointments Strategically: Whenever possible, schedule medical and dental appointments outside of school hours.
Communicate with the School: If your family is facing challenges with transportation, health, or other barriers to attendance, let us know. We are here to connect you with supportive resources.
Submit Excuses Promptly: Keep track of your child's absences and always turn in a valid excuse within the required timeframe.
Thoughtfully Schedule Vacations: Consider scheduling extended trips when school isn't in session.
Be Proactive: If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers and school counselors for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
Stay on top of your child’s social contacts: Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.

Every school day counts toward your child's future. We appreciate your cooperation and partnership as we work together to comply with these new state laws and ensure our students experience all the excellent learning opportunities available to them.

Our district is committed to providing equitable learning opportunities in safe environments that challenge, motivate, and empower 21st-century learners.