It is important that parents and students recognize the direct relationship between academic success and regular school attendance. When students are absent, much of the classroom activity cannot be replicated. The benefit of lectures, discussions and participation is lost forever. When students are absent, it places additional stress on teachers as well as the student who must make up missed work in order to go on to the next concepts in the curriculum. Additionally, when students place little value on school attendance and punctuality, they are forming lifelong habits that will carry over into high school, higher education and the workplace. Studies have shown that students with poor attendance records in elementary school are much more likely to drop out of high school and achieve lower grades. Students should be absent only when it is absolutely necessary.

Arizona State law requires students to attend classes 95% of the school year. This means that students should be absent no more than 9 days. Understandably, there are circumstances (illness or family emergencies) when a student cannot make it to school. However, students should attend class every day that they are able. The state requires publicly funded schools to report all student absences and tardies or early pickups, and to administer consequences if a student has poor attendance. Furthermore, the State penalizes the school financially and in the area of academic standing if the average attendance for the school falls below the 95% level.