Join the Movement for Better Attendance
Join our Be Present S.C. campaign to encourage consistent school attendance and help ensure every student has the best opportunity to succeed! Your involvement is crucial in creating a brighter future for South Carolina’s students. Let’s work hand in hand to inspire consistent school attendance and foster a culture of learning.
About Be Present S.C.
The Be Present S.C. campaign is dedicated to improving school attendance across South Carolina. Most recent data shows that our state’s chronic absenteeism rate is at 22.5% — making nearly one in four SC public school students chronically absent. The S.C. Education Oversight Committee undertook the campaign after it was bought to the committee’s attention chronic absenteeism’s negative impact on student achievement. By raising awareness, we aim to empower parents and students to prioritize school attendance. Our goal is to foster a community where every child attends school consistently, paving the way for academic success and a brighter future.
Common Questions
Find answers to your questions about the importance of regular school attendance.
What is Chronic Absenteeism?
A chronically absent student is any student who is absent for 10 percent (or more) of the enrollment period. This is usually 18 days for most students, as the typical enrollment period is 180 days. Excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions all count towards a student’s chronic absenteeism rate.
What should I do if my child is sick?
Always consult your child’s healthcare provider if you have specific concerns about your child’s health. (The following is not intended to take the place of local health departments or school district health guidance.) Keep your child at home if they have a fever, have thrown up two or more times in the past 24 hours, or has diarrhea. See our resource sheet for tips on when it is OK to send your student to school.
These tips are provided by Attendance Works in partnership with Kaiser Permanente and the National Association of School Nurses
How does school attendance affect a student's future?
Data shows that students who are chronically absent do not achieve as well academically. For the 2023-24 school year, only 37% of SC students who were chronically absent were on grade level for English Language Arts compared to 57.8% of their peers. Likewise, only 23% of students who were chronically absent are on grade level for math compared to 47% of their peers. Attendance matters!
What resources are available for students struggling with attendance?
Contact your student’s school if you have concerns about your child’s attendance. Some schools have attendance contracts that they can work with parents to help develop a plan to address any issues that are impacting attendance.
Resources for Parents and Students
Resource Library
Explore a collection of resources to help parents and students
Chronic Absenteeism School Data
[Describe chronic absenteeism data dashboard]
Be Present S.C. Pledge
Encourage students to commit to attending school regularly by signing the Be Present S.C. attendance pledge.