Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

September is Attendance Awareness Month: Engaging Families to Reduce Chronic Absence

As we begin this unprecedented school year, I invite local educational agencies to join me in welcoming families to a safe return to school. Despite the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our schools are welcoming places that foster the excitement of learning and preparation for the future.

Perhaps it has never been more important to celebrate September as National School Attendance Awareness Month enthusiastically to encourage all members of the educational community about the coming school year. Taking action to engage students and families is essential for addressing the absenteeism, enrollment declines, and educational inequities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. We can help our students and our families by building awareness about the connection between school and success, whether the educational program is in-person or through high-quality independent study.

Many promotional downloadable materials for the Attendance Awareness Campaign 2021 are available on the Attendance Works Campaign 2021 website. These include social media tools, elementary banners and posters, middle and high school banners, and attendance awareness campaign badges. For information on these resources, visit the Attendance Works Promotional Materials web page at https://awareness.attendanceworks.org/resources/promotional-materials/.

You can also help spread the word about the Attendance Awareness Campaign 2021 using social media tools. For information on these resources, visit the Attendance Works Social Media Tools web page at https://awareness.attendanceworks.org/social-media-3/.

You may also benefit from learning more about Pathways to Engagement: A Toolkit for Covid-19 Recovery Through Attendance. For information on this resource, visit the Attendance Works Pathways to Engagement web page at https://www.attendanceworks.org/resources/toolkits/pathways-to-engagement-a-toolkit-for-covid-19-recovery-through-attendance/.

As education leaders, we must find new ways to engage students and families and help them address the barriers to education caused by the pandemic. Thank you for your efforts in making National School Attendance Awareness Month a success!

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact Felicia Thomas-Hill, Education Programs Consultant, Educational Options Office, by phone at 916-323-1028 or by email at fthomashill@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction