Fall has arrived in the UP! The weather feels a little cooler, and the leaves are turning glorious colors. Schedules seem really busy, with meetings, sports, extracurricular activities, work, school, and family events all going on. What gives when families feel swamped? What can we do as educators to help students and families make school attendance a priority? Several districts in the EUP began studying attendance last year and considered ways to improve it.

According to Bridge Magazine (Lohman, Sept. 17, 2026), 27.2% of K-12 students are chronically absent. Chronic absence means missing 10% or more of the school year. A school year typically has 180 school days. Chronically absent students are missing 18 days or more of school!

Across the UP, districts are participating in a UP-wide attendance campaign, “Every Day Counts!” to highlight the importance of school attendance. This project is supported by the MiFamily Engagement Centers Region 1, with partial funding from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential. Many schools have shared these posts on their social media pages. Have you seen the posts? Please share them with others as you see them.

Strong attendance is closely connected to literacy and achievement. Strong readers are more likely to succeed in school, graduate from high school, and have greater career opportunities. Kids who attend school regularly learn good habits that translate into a strong work ethic. School attendance can also build positive relationships.

As parents, educators, and community members, let’s make school attendance a priority!

#EUPISD        #EveryDayCounts    #UPAttendance

 Lohman, I. (2026, September 17). Michigan absenteeism inches down; 1 in 4 still miss too much school. Bridge Michigan. https://www.bridgemi.com