Attendance Matters: A Deeper Look Into Attendance Awareness at WSD

September 17, 2026

September is Attendance Awareness Month, but in Westminster School District, helping students attend, engage and learn is a year-round effort.

Last school year, WSD achieved an attendance rate above 95 percent. Through the District’s attendance support and extended and make-up learning opportunities, students also recovered more than two million hours of instruction.

That is worth celebrating. It reflects early mornings, dependable routines, communication between families and schools, and the work of staff members who stepped in when students needed extra support. More importantly, those hours represent real learning: lessons completed, skills strengthened, questions answered and time spent with teachers and classmates.

“An attendance rate above 95 percent is something our entire community can be proud of," said Superintendent Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D. "It reflects the commitment of our students, families and employees, who understand that being at school matters. Every day gives our students another opportunity to learn, connect and grow.”

Westminster School District students are off to a strong start this school year, with attendance rates reflecting an impressive commitment to learning. During the first 10 days of school, Hayden Elementary School led all elementary schools with a 97.72% Average Daily Attendance (ADA), while Warner Middle School earned top honors among middle schools with a 97.80% ADA. Districtwide, nine schools achieved attendance rates above 96%, including Clegg (96.25%), DeMille (97.54%), Eastwood (96.40%), Hayden (97.72%), Meairs (96.06%), Schroeder (97.15%), Sequoia (97.00%), Stacey (97.11%), and Warner (97.80%). These strong attendance numbers highlight the dedication of WSD students, families, and staff, and reinforce the district's message that every day in school matters for student success.

Why One School Day Matters

A single absence may not seem like much, especially when a student is otherwise doing well. The concern is how quickly individual days can add up.

A student who misses just two days each month misses 600 minutes of instruction. That also means a student will miss approximately 6,000 minutes over the course of a school year. That is nearly a full month of instruction.

Students can make up an assignment, but it is much harder to recreate everything that happened in the classroom that day: the teacher’s explanation, a class discussion, hands-on practice, group work and the opportunity to ask questions in the moment.

Regular attendance helps students build academic skills from one lesson to the next. It also gives them the consistency they need to develop routines, friendships and a sense of belonging at school. Arriving on time is part of that routine. Students who begin the day with their classmates are better prepared to settle in and participate without having to catch up.

There will always be times when a child needs to miss school. Children get sick, medical appointments are sometimes unavoidable and families experience emergencies.

Students should stay home when they are experiencing symptoms that meet the District’s illness guidelines and should return to school when it is appropriate for them to do so. Families can review District health guidance, including when a student should stay home or return to school, on the WSD Health Services page.

The goal is not perfect attendance at the expense of a child’s health. The goal is to avoid preventable absences, communicate promptly when an absence is necessary, and make a plan before missed instructional time begins to grow.

What Do These Attendance Terms Mean?

Attendance terminology can be confusing because “truancy” and “chronic absenteeism” do not mean the same thing. California law generally requires children ages 6 through 18 to attend school, with specific exceptions. California Education Code §48200 establishes the compulsory education requirement for children who are 6 years old or older and under 18, unless otherwise exempted by law.

Truancy

A student may be considered truant after 3 unexcused full-day absences, 3 unexcused late arrivals or absences of more than 30 minutes, or a combination of these during the school year. When this happens, the school will notify the parent or guardian.

Chronic Absenteeism

A student is considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of their school days. Both excused and unexcused absences count toward this total.

That distinction matters. A family may communicate every absence and provide the proper documentation, but the student can still become chronically absent because of the amount of instruction missed. An excused absence prevents the absence from being classified as truancy; it does not replace the learning time. Families can find definitions, requirements and an explanation of California’s intervention process through the California Department of Education’s truancy guidance.

What Happens When Absences Begin Adding Up?

WSD’s first response is to understand what is happening and determine how the school can help. Families may receive an attendance notice, phone call or invitation to meet with school staff. These communications should not be ignored, but they should not be viewed as a conclusion that the family has done something wrong, either. They are an opportunity to review the student’s attendance record, correct inaccurate information and address concerns early.

Depending on the circumstances, a school may help the family develop an attendance plan or connect them with support for transportation, health, housing instability, mental health, school supplies or other needs that are making regular attendance difficult. If unexcused absences continue after repeated notices and interventions, a student may be classified as a habitual truant. The family may then be referred to a School Attendance Review Board, commonly called SARB. The purpose of SARB is to bring the family, school and community agencies together to resolve serious attendance problems before legal action becomes necessary.

California law does allow progressively stronger consequences for continued truancy, including penalties for parents or guardians who fail to ensure that a child attends school. Those steps are generally reserved for ongoing cases in which required interventions and offers of support have not resolved the problem. The best time to address an attendance concern is well before it reaches that point. Returning a phone call, attending a school meeting and being open about the barrier can make a meaningful difference.

“We know attendance challenges are not always simple, and our first question is how we can help,” said Dr. Elsie Briseño Simonovski, Director of Whole Child & Family Engagement. “When families communicate with us early, we can work together to keep students learning and address barriers before they become larger concerns. Families do not have to figure it out by themselves. We pride ourselves on building strong, trusting relationships with our families. We are here to connect, listen, support and work together to find solutions that help every student succeed.”

WSD’s Whole Child & Family Engagement Department works with school sites and families to identify attendance barriers, conduct outreach and connect families with District and community resources. Support may include help with food, clothing, school supplies, transportation in eligible circumstances, housing instability and other needs that affect a student’s ability to participate in school.

What Families Should do When a Student Will be Absent

Knowing what to do before an absence occurs can prevent confusion later.

If your child is sick or an emergency occurs:

1. Contact your child’s school office as soon as possible.
2. Give the school the reason for the absence.
3. Keep the school updated if the absence lasts longer than expected.
4. Ask the school how your child can catch up on essential learning after returning.

If you are scheduling an appointment:

• When possible, schedule it before school, after school or during a school break.
• If the appointment must take place during the school day, please bring your student to school before the appointment whenever possible.
• Provide any documentation requested by the school office.

If you are considering travel or another planned absence:

• Review the WSD school calendar before making reservations.
• Whenever possible, plan travel during scheduled holidays and breaks.
• Contact the school before making final plans if the trip will include school days.
• Ask whether Short-Term Independent Study is appropriate for the circumstances.
• Do not assume that telling the school about a trip automatically excuses the absence or provides attendance credit.

Short-Term Independent Study: Plan Before The Absence

WSD’s Short-Term Independent Study Program, or S-TISP, allows eligible students to continue learning while away from school for one to 15 school days due to health or other personal circumstances.

Families should contact their child’s school office before the absence begins—ideally two to five school days ahead—so there is time to complete the written agreement and for the teacher to prepare standards-based assignments.

Students participating in S-TISP must complete the assigned work and return it within five school days after returning to school. When the requirements are met and the work is completed on time, the student may receive attendance credit for the participating days.

Simply requesting work after a student has already left does not automatically create an independent study agreement or change how the absences are recorded.

Families can find the complete process, requirements and contact information in the Short-Term Independent Study section of WSD’s Whole Child & Family Engagement page.

More Opportunities to Recover and Extend Learning

WSD provides several ways for students to receive additional instruction. Availability, enrollment requirements and schedules may vary by school and time of year.

Saturday School gives participating students an opportunity to recover missed instructional time while receiving academic support in a welcoming setting. Families should contact their school office to ask about upcoming dates, eligibility and registration.

Summer learning programs provide additional time for students to strengthen essential skills, receive targeted instruction and prepare for the next grade level. Information about summer opportunities is shared with families as programs and eligibility are confirmed.

Expanded and after-school learning offers homework assistance, enrichment and additional time for students to build skills outside the regular school day. Information is available through the WSD Extended School Program.

These programs can make a real difference, as shown by the two million instructional hours WSD students recovered last year. They are important supports, but they are not intended to make routine absences inconsequential. The strongest option remains having students in class, on time, whenever they are healthy and able to attend.

Parents Top 5 Ways to Support Positive Attendance

Every school day is an opportunity to learn, connect and grow. Regular attendance helps students stay on track academically, build relationships and feel connected to their school community.

Here are 5 simple ways families can support positive attendance:

Start the Night Before

Help your child get ready for the next school day by preparing clothes, backpacks and anything they need the night before. A consistent bedtime routine can make mornings easier.

Make School a Priority

Talk with your child about the importance of being at school every day and arriving on time. Remind them that every day is a chance to learn something new and connect with others.

Build a Morning Routine

A predictable morning routine can help reduce stress and make getting out the door easier. Give your child enough time to wake up, get ready, eat and arrive at school on time.

Stay Connected With Your School

If your child is having difficulty attending regularly, let the school know. There may be a reason underneath the attendance concern, and your school is here to listen and help identify solutions.

Celebrate the Wins

Notice and celebrate your child's progress. Getting to school on time, improving attendance or making it through a challenging week are all reasons to celebrate!

At WSD, we believe attendance is about more than showing up. It is about helping students stay connected, continue learning and have the opportunity to reach their goals. If something is making it difficult for your child to attend school, please reach out to your school. We are here to help. Supporting attendance starts with connection. Here are simple ways families can S.U.P.P.O.R.T. their students:

• S — Stay Informed: Stay connected with your child's school, teacher and attendance information. Knowing how your child is doing helps you respond early.
• U — Understand Before Responding: If your child is struggling with attendance, take time to understand what may be behind it. There may be a need or challenge that is making it difficult to get to school.
• P — Promote Independence: Give your child opportunities to take ownership of their routines, responsibilities and school attendance.
• P — Praise Effort: Recognize your child's effort and progress. Celebrate the small wins, such as getting ready on time, making it to school or improving attendance.
• O — Open Communication: Talk with your child about school, friendships, learning and anything that may be making school difficult. Keep communication open and supportive.
• R — Reach Out and Ask for Help: You don't have to figure it out alone. If something is getting in the way of attendance, reach out to your school. We are here to listen and help.
• T — Trust the Process: Positive change takes time. Work together with your child and school, stay connected and celebrate progress along the way.

Every Day Counts. Stay Connected. S.U.P.P.O.R.T. Your Student.

At WSD, we believe strong attendance starts with strong connections between students, families and schools.