There is a popular quote that says, “80 percent of life is showing up”. When it comes to success in school and life, the positive effects of showing up are evidenced-based. School attendance is a baseline factor in determining student success. This may seem obvious, but less obvious are the consequences of poor attendance. I recently saw an advertisement that said students miss an average of 22 school days a year. If true, that statistic is shocking. Attendance and student success is highly correlated. If you don’t show up, chances of success are fleeting. A 2008 Arizona State University study by the Rodel Community Scholars tracked students from kindergarten through high school and found that dropout rates were linked to poor attendance, beginning in kindergarten. What’s more, elementary school students who miss an average of just two school days per month often have difficulty keeping up with their peers academically and tend to fall behind in reading. With reading being a key to success in other academic subjects, this is a risk no one can afford to take. However, when students are able to read on grade level by the end of third grade, they are three to four times more likely to graduate from high school and attend college, post-graduate or professional development classes than their peers who struggle with reading.

The effects of poor attendance are serious for our entire community, not just the students who miss school. In addition to falling behind in academics, students who are not in school on a regular basis are more likely to get into trouble with the law and cause problems in their communities. There are a number of reasons a student’s attendance may suffer – family illness, housing instability, involvement in the juvenile justice system, bullying and harassment, or family care-taking responsibilities that keep them home. This is why the community must also take a stand and support efforts that improve school attendance.

As parents, staff and community members, we can work together to create welcoming environments at our schools by volunteering, supporting cleanup efforts and voting in favor of school bonds. We can demonstrate kind behavior in our daily lives as we communicate with others in person and over social media, and support efforts to educate students of the harmful effects of bullying. We can promote a joy of learning and confidence in all children. We can help our vulnerable students by ensuring they get the basic necessities – a roof over the head and healthy food in their bellies. And if we really want to get involved, we can join the Community Truancy Board and help repeatedly absent students find their drive and get on a path to success. For more on that call Christy Mertens at 360-965-2025. My challenge for all of us as we approach the upcoming school year is to be positive examples for our local students. When we all make school attendance a priority, and we all show we care, we help our child get better grades, develop healthy life habits, avoid dangerous behavior and have the best chance possible for a successful future. Thank you for your continued support of each of our students.

Pete Lundberg is president of the board of the Marysville School District, which has a monthly column.