7 Positive Attendance Tips

Feeling connected at school depends on being there. Every day is an opportunity for your student to get to know their peers, and get the support they need from their teachers and other caring adults.

Here’s what you can do to help your student build good attendance habits:

1. Stay informed. Understand your student’s attendance to be sure absences aren’t adding up. The ParentVUE system can help you track your child’s attendance–and you can work with your school’s office team or administrator to correct attendance errors at any time. Visit the ParentVUE family portal to make sure your account is active and up-to-date, and sign up for school and district text alerts to stay in the loop.
2. Talk about it. Start a conversation about the importance of showing up for success in school and life, and for building relationships with teachers and friends. 
3. Set expectations. Unless your child is sick, they should be in school every day. Not sure if your child should stay home? See our guide to when it’s okay to stay home from school. 
4. Sleep matters. Set a regular bedtime and morning routine to help your student be rested and ready. 
5. Be prepared. Get ready for school day the night before, and build in a little extra time in case there is traffic or other delays.
6. Make a backup plan. If something comes up, have a family member, neighbor, or another parent help you get your student to school. 
7. Schedule carefully. Try to plan medical appointments and extended trips when school isn’t in session. Check the SFUSD Calendar when setting dates.