NESD aims to boost attendance as school year begins

“We’re excited to focus on helping students achieve success through regular attendance, working alongside families to address any challenges or anything that might arise,” Lair explained.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance numbers in the division plummeted.

“It’s a focus that we have, and hope to help families with any kind of barriers, help students with…anything that they’re feeling that is stopping them from regular attendance.”

The NESD’s goal is to have 80 per cent of students attend 90 per cent of the school year.

Lair said there are several reasons for the drop in attendance, one of which is the lack of realization how quickly missing school days grow.

“Just missing two days per month places a student well below the 90 per cent benchmark in attendance,” said Lair.

Prior to the pandemic, the division had 78 per cent of students attend at least 90 per cent of school days.

“We dropped to only 55 per cent of our students attending 90 per cent of the time,” Lair said. “Safe to say there are many reasons across communities and families why that attendance hasn’t been…a focus.”

The problem is not solely an NESD issue, with Lair stating that attendance has dropped across the province since the pandemic. She added that the division is not alone in their attendance focus for the 2026-27 school year.

Lair said learning in the classroom often cannot be taken for homework, and students need to be in school to experience the opportunities that teachers are providing.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

by Cam Lee

NESD aims to boost attendance as school year begins

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