Attendance & Opportunity: Every Day Counts

Session Overview

This meeting builds trust and clarity around attendance. Families receive clear information about school attendance policies and have time to ask questions. The session highlights what students may miss beyond instruction, including relationships, activities, access to supports such as ELD or counseling, and long-term outcomes like graduation.

Families are invited to share input on how attendance can be communicated in ways that feel clear and respectful. The meeting concludes with ELAC identifying 2–3 recommendations for the school.

Family resources courtesy of Attendance Works (attendanceworks.org)

Purpose

To provide transparent information about attendance policies, create space for family questions and reflection, and develop ELAC recommendations that strengthen attendance communication and support. This meeting fulfills a California Department of Education requirement that ELAC advise the school on ways to make parents aware of the importance of regular school attendance.

This Meeting Covers:

• School attendance policies and time for questions

• Chronic absenteeism and what missing 10% of the school year means

• How attendance may affect credits, graduation, eligibility, and access to supports

• What students miss beyond instruction

• Barriers that may affect attendance and how schools can respond with support

• Family input on attendance communication

• Development of 2–3 ELAC recommendations aligned to California Department of Education requirements

Includes: 

• Facilitation Team Guide

• Bilingual Slide Deck (Canva – English/Spanish)

• Sign-In Sheet

• Outreach Flyer Template

• Topic-Specific Activities & Family Handouts

  • • • Attendance Works family flyers (grade-level specific, in many languages) https://www.attendanceworks.org/resources/handouts-for-families-2/ Link to additional Attendance Works resources

  • Ways to Participate and Lead in ELAC

  • ELAC Exit Ticket

Need a language beyond English and Spanish? Use the Canva editable files and Canva’s translation tool to create additional versions. You’re welcome to co-brand. Please keep Santa Cruz County Office of Education credited. 

• • Your Child's Multilingual Learner Journey

  • Ways to Participate and Lead in ELAC

  • ELAC Exit Ticket