Dear Lovejoy Families,
Happy Friday Leopards! We are excited about the long weekend ahead. I hope this will be a time for you and your family to rest, recoup, and reconnect.
School attendance matters. It matters for your child’s learning, the success of our schools, and for essential funding. School attendance is a baseline factor in determining school success. A missed school day is a missed opportunity for students to learn. Regular attendance fosters a classroom connection between teachers and students. Attending school also provides time for social interactions with peers.
Attendance is the most significant driver in the funding Lovejoy ISD receives from the state each year. A 3% reduction in our yearly average daily attendance (ADA) can cause the district to lose $800,000 in funding. The state requires districts to have a set attendance taking time. We take student attendance at 10:00 a.m. and this determines the ADA funding that Lovejoy ISD receives for that date. If a student is on campus at that time, LISD receives approximately $50.00 per student. If a student is absent at 10:00 a.m., ADA for the entire day is lost.
What can you do? Please make strong school attendance a priority. Additionally, whenever possible, schedule appointments for your children at a time that allows them to be in school at 10:00 a.m.
Any conversation about attendance needs to be in the context of health and safety as it relates to COVID-19 and other illnesses. If your child is sick, please keep them home. Sick children at school is counterproductive to community health and to overall attendance rates.
We can’t wait to see you on Tuesday morning. I hope you spend the long weekend doing the things you love with the people you love.
