City Leaders Urge Regular School Attendance

More Than 26,000 SLPS Students Return to School on Monday

August 14, 2015 | 2 min reading time

This article is 11 years old. It was published on August 14, 2015.

back-to-school

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 

Friday, August 14, 2015 1 p.m. 
 

WHERE 

Mayor's Office 
City Hall, Room 200 
1200 Market Street 
St. Louis, MO 63103
 

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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