GOV
City Leaders Urge Regular School Attendance
More Than 26,000 SLPS Students Return to School on Monday
This article is 10 years old. It was published on August 14, 2015.
WHAT
As students in the City of St. Louis return to school this week and next, City leaders are stressing the importance of children, especially in younger grades, getting to school every day. Absenteeism can create long-term effects on a child's ability to succeed.
- Missing just 10 percent of the school year in the early grades can leave students struggling throughout elementary school.
- A chronically absent child (missing 18 or more days per school year) will typically be unable to master reading in Grade 3, will start failing classes in Grade 6, and will face a much higher risk of dropping out in high school.
- Absences affect the entire classroom if the teacher has to slow down the learning process to help certain children catch up.
- Low-income children are most at risk. They are four times more likely to have poor attendance in early grades than other students.
WHO
Mayor Francis Slay
Dr. Kelvin Adams, St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent
Judge David Mason, St. Louis Circuit Court Juvenile Division
WHEN
WHERE
Contacts
Maggie Crane, Office of the Mayor: 314.622.4072
Patrick Wallace, SLPS: 314.345.2227
Thom Gross, Circuit Court: 314.622.5685
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Department:
Office of the Mayor
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Topic:
Public and Private Schools
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