Every school day gives students the chance to learn, build confidence, connect with teachers and friends, and discover what is possible for their future.
Regular attendance helps students stay engaged in learning from the early grades through graduation. Chronic absence means missing 10% or more of the school year for any reason, which can add up to about two days each month. In Florida, about 31% of students were absent 10% or more of the school year in 2023-24, showing that attendance is an opportunity for every community to support student success.
There is also encouraging momentum. Nationally, chronic absenteeism decreased from about 31% in 2021-22 to 28% in 2022-23, a reminder that positive attention, strong family partnerships, and community support can make a difference.
Attendance Awareness Month is an opportunity for families, schools, foundations, and community partners to work together so every student has the support and encouragement to show up, participate, lead, and keep moving toward success.
The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations and Leader in Me are partnering to support Attendance Awareness Month and help communities across Florida share the importance of students showing up to school each day. Together, they have created ready-to-use resources that make it easy for schools, families, organizations, and community partners to spread the message.
Below, find links to the Attendance Awareness Toolkit, email signature badge, and student poster and PSA contest to help bring the campaign to your community.
Attendance Research and Resources
Understanding what helps students show up consistently is an important part of improving attendance. The Consortium and several member education foundations are helping lead work across Florida to better understand the factors that influence attendance and identify practical, community-based strategies. The Consortium report Evidence-Based Interventions to address Chronic Absenteeism‘s executive summary and full report highlight the importance of relationships, family and community partnerships, engaging school experiences, and continuous improvement. Leader in Me’s Building School Cultures Where Students Show Up research brief complements this work by examining how school culture, student connection, meaningful responsibility, family partnership, and early support can strengthen attendance. Together, these resources provide education and community leaders with research, insights, and practical approaches to help create school environments where students feel connected, supported, and motivated to attend.
Attendance Awareness Tools
For poster contest rules or to enter your artwork click HERE