Each September, communities across the country recognize National Attendance Awareness Month and recommit to helping children and young people show up, stay connected and thrive in school. When young people have strong relationships with their schools and communities and the support they need to overcome barriers, they are more likely to attend school consistently and stay engaged.
Chronic absenteeism remains a significant challenge. A student is considered chronically absent when they miss 10 percent or more of the school year for any reason. In 2024-25, the 22.6 percent national chronic absence rate is still much higher than the 15.4 percent rate in 2019. When students miss too much school, the impacts can extend beyond the classroom, affecting educational attainment, future opportunities and the long-term well-being of communities.
Mayors and municipal leaders may not oversee their local school districts, but they have an important role to play. Cities can bring together schools, families, youth, community organizations and public agencies to identify why students are missing school and coordinate solutions.
Throughout the school year, city leaders can take three steps to help more young people attend school consistently, stay engaged and have the opportunity to thrive.
1. Make Attendance a Community-Wide Priority
City leaders can use their platforms to reinforce a simple message: showing up matters, and helping young people attend and engage in school is a shared community responsibility.
One easy place to start is by issuing an Attendance Awareness Month proclamation each September. Attendance Works provides a customizable proclamation that mayors and other elected leaders can adapt for their communities. Cities can also use the month to elevate local attendance data, recognize community partners and bring attention to the barriers students and families face.
2. Understand Why Students Are Missing School
Chronic absence is often a signal of a larger challenge. Transportation, health needs, housing instability, safety and other barriers can all make it difficult for students to attend consistently.
NLC’s Student Re-engagement Fact Sheet outlines ways municipal leaders can partner with school districts and community organizations to address these challenges. Cities can convene partners across education, transportation, housing, health, social services and youth programs — while ensuring students and families are part of identifying both barriers and solutions.
3. Include Afterschool in the Strategy
High-quality afterschool programs can help young people build relationships with caring adults and peers, explore their interests and develop a sense of belonging. They can also provide another connection point for families and young people who may be beginning to disengage from school.
That makes afterschool providers important partners in community-wide attendance efforts. NLC’s Making the Case for Afterschool Programs: A Messaging Toolkit gives city leaders and partners messages and strategies for communicating the value of afterschool and building support for high-quality programs.
Attendance Is a Community Issue
Schools cannot solve chronic absenteeism alone. Transportation, health, housing, safety, relationships and access to engaging opportunities can all influence whether young people make it to school and stay connected.
Cities touch many of those systems every day. Attendance Awareness Month is an opportunity for municipal leaders to use their voices, partnerships and resources to help remove barriers and strengthen the connections young people need to thrive.
A proclamation can start the conversation. Cross-sector partnerships can help communities address barriers. And afterschool opportunities can help young people stay connected.
This September, and throughout the school year, city leaders can send an important message to every young person in their community: Your presence matters.
Why Attendance and Engagement Matter
Regular school attendance is critical to helping young people succeed academically, socially and beyond. NLC’s resource explores the impact of chronic absenteeism and why student engagement should matter to mayors and other local leaders. Learn how your city can use its leadership, partnerships and resources to make student attendance and engagement a community-wide priority.
About the Author
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Addressing Chronic Absenteeism: An Interview with Attendance Works
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