Proclamation
WHEREAS, the nation is experiencing a school absenteeism crisis, making good attendance more essential than ever to student well-being, achievement and graduation, WHEREAS, students and families are more likely to show up and engage when there are positive conditions for learning at school, including physical and emotional health and safety; a sense of belonging, connection and support; academic challenges and engagement; and adults and peers with social emotional competency, WHEREAS, reducing chronic absence (missing 10% or more of school for any reason) requires a comprehensive trauma-informed approach that starts with prevention and early intervention, including developing routines and trusting relationships that create a sense of belonging rather than responding with punitive action, which research finds is not particularly effective, WHEREAS, improving attendance and engagement takes schools, families, elected leaders and other community partners working together to rebuild regular and trusting communications and to identify and address barriers to being in school, WHEREAS, taking attendance daily in a caring, consistent manner is essential to identifying when students begin to miss too much school, and for noticing - as soon as possible - when students are starting to miss too much school and engaging students and families with needed support and resources, NOW, THEREFORE, I, Matthew Serratto, Mayor of the City of Merced, do hereby recognize September as National Attendance Awareness Month.
Signed this 3rd day of September 2024
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Matthew Serratto, Mayor of Merced