Every Day Counts - We need you here!
Every Day Counts is a district-wide attendance initiative designed to strengthen student engagement, reduce chronic absenteeism, and ensure every student can succeed. Centered on the belief that showing up matters, this campaign brings families, students, schools, and staff together to promote daily attendance and help students finish the school year strong.
Students are considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of the school year (about 18 days) for any reason. Even when absences are excused, missing this amount of school time can make it harder for students to keep up with learning, build relationships, and stay connected to their school community. Regular attendance helps students feel confident, supported, and ready to succeed.
Families play an important role in helping students succeed. Supporting daily routines, encouraging students to share their voices, and celebrating progress all make a difference.
Together, we continue to carry forward a simple and powerful message: Every day counts–show up, connect, succeed.
Every Day Counts Chronic Absenteeism Challenge School Awards
March 2026 Division Campaign
Elementary School Design Challenge
On March 6, elementary students will participate in a school-based Design Challenge designed to boost engagement and attendance on half days as part of the Every Day Counts – We Need You Here campaign.
Using the book "We are Definitely Human," students will take part in a sci-fi–inspired engineering challenge that encourages creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. Through hands-on design and imaginative thinking, students will explore what it means to be human while applying engineering and design-thinking skills in a fun, interactive way.
Student Voice Competition: Student Videos and Posters
As part of the Every Day Counts, students across all grade levels are invited to participate in a Student Voice Competition that amplifies student voice and promotes daily attendance.
Students will create short videos, photos, or posters that explain why every day counts, raise awareness about chronic absenteeism (missing 10% or more of the school year), and encourage peers to show up and stay engaged. Through storytelling, creativity, and real student perspectives, the student voice competition helps make attendance meaningful and relatable.
Selected submissions may be featured in schools and across district platforms, celebrating students who use their voices to support a culture of attendance and shared responsibility.
Every Day Counts Pledge Cards
Family Attendance Pledge Cards are a key part of the Every Day Counts Campaign and are designed to strengthen the partnership between schools, students, and families.
Through the pledge, students and families commit to positive attendance habits: being at school on time, communicating with schools when challenges arise, and supporting healthy daily routines. Families are also invited to share a personal reflection by completing the prompt “Every day counts because…”, helping students connect attendance to their learning, goals, and well-being.
By returning the pledge card, families reinforce the importance of showing up every day and contribute to a district-wide effort to reduce chronic absenteeism and support student success. Students selections will be to present their “Every day counts because...” story.
March Chronic Absenteeism School Challenge
As part of the Every Day Counts campaign, schools will participate in a Monthly Chronic Absenteeism Challenge focused on measurable improvement and collective action.
Elementary, middle, and high schools will each have the opportunity to earn a banner of recognition by demonstrating the largest reduction in their current chronic absenteeism rate during the month of March. This challenge celebrates schools that successfully engage students, partner with families, and implement effective attendance supports.
By highlighting progress rather than perfection, the challenge reinforces shared responsibility and encourages schools to build sustainable strategies that help students show up, stay connected, and succeed, because every day counts.
Every Day Counts Because...
Important Attendance Information
Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy
According to the Virginia Department of Education, attendance has been increasingly the focus of attention among school divisions and educators. Regular attendance is a significant factor in a student’s success:
- Chronic absenteeism correlates to low academic achievement;
- Absenteeism is a powerful predictor of dropout rates;
- Absenteeism has been linked to poor outcomes later in life.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing ten percent or more of the academic year for any reason, including excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions. Based on a 180-day school year, that means approximately 18 days per year or 2 to 3 days per month.
Truancy is the act of accruing one or more unexcused absences, where the parent is unaware of or does not support the student’s absence, or where the parent’s provided reason for the absence is not acceptable to the school administration.
Missed instruction, regardless of the reason, can have significant academic consequences. Therefore, the broader emphasis is on improving attendance for every student.
