Learn About Attendance Terms

Below is a list of key terms commonly used when discussing student attendance and chronic absenteeism. To learn more about each term and how it's applied in the context of improving attendance, click on any term to explore a dedicated article that breaks it down — with practical examples, best practices, and how schools can take action in improving attendance.

Chronic Absenteeism

Definition: Missing 10% or more of the school year for any reason—excused or unexcused.

ADA (Average Daily Attendance)

Definition: The average number of students attending school each day, used to calculate school funding in many states.

Excused Absence

Definition: Absences approved by the school due to illness, medical appointments, religious observances, etc.

Unexcused Absence

Definition: Absences not justified under the school or district’s attendance policy.

Truancy

Definition: A legal term referring to unexcused absences that violate compulsory education laws.

SARB (School Attendance Review Board)

Definition: A panel that brings together school and community resources to address persistent attendance problems.

MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports)

Definition: A framework for delivering interventions at increasing levels of intensity.

Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 Interventions

Definition: Levels of intervention under MTSS; Tier 1 is universal, Tier 2 is targeted, Tier 3 is intensive.

Wraparound Services

Definition: Non-academic supports addressing barriers like health, housing, and transportation to improve student attendance and engagement.

Early Warning Systems (EWS)

Definition: Tools or systems that use data to identify students at risk of dropping out due to absenteeism.

Attendance Contracts

Definition: Agreements between families, students, and schools to improve attendance behavior.

Attendance Success Plan

Definition: A supportive, goal-oriented plan developed with families to improve attendance by addressing underlying barriers.

Intervention Tracking

Definition: The process of logging and monitoring actions taken to address absenteeism.

Student Support Services

Definition: Counseling, mentoring, and wraparound services that support student well-being.

Family Engagement

Definition: Actively involving families in their child's education to improve outcomes.

Home Visits

Definition: In-person visits to a student’s home to re-engage families and address attendance barriers.

Attendance Awareness Month

Definition: A national campaign held every September to raise awareness about the importance of attendance.

ADA Hold Harmless

Definition: A funding provision where districts do not lose ADA funding despite low attendance under certain emergencies.

Parent Notification Requirements

Definition: Mandated outreach when students miss a certain number of days (often by mail, phone, or email).

Attendance Recovery Programs

Definition: Programs allowing students to make up for lost instructional time to avoid truancy penalties.

Barriers to Attendance

Definition: Factors that prevent students from attending school regularly, such as transportation, housing, or mental health.

School Climate

Definition: The quality and character of school life, influencing student engagement and attendance.

Attendance Incentive Programs

Definition: Rewards or recognition systems used to motivate students to attend regularly.

Engagement Metrics

Definition: Data points (participation, login frequency, etc.) used to assess student involvement.

SART (School Attendance Review Team)

Definition: Data points (participation, login frequency, etc.) used to assess student involvement.

Tiered Reengagement Strategies

Definition: Attendance interventions aligned to the level of absenteeism severity.

Tardy

Definition: Arriving late to class, which may contribute to patterns of absenteeism.

Chronic Absenteeism Dashboard

Definition: A data visualization tool that monitors absentee trends across schools or districts.