Attendance Matters
Did You Know? Attendance Matters
Every school day matters. When students attend school regularly, they have more opportunities to learn, build relationships, develop important skills and prepare for their future.
The Lansing School District's Pledge to Be Great, Stay Less Than 8 initiative encourages students and families to work toward fewer than eight absences during the school year. While we understand that illness, appointments and other circumstances sometimes make missing school necessary, we want to help students be at school as often as possible when they are healthy and able to attend.
To help families stay informed, the district will send a weekly attendance check each Friday with information about a student's absences and where they stand in relation to our goal.
This initiative is about awareness, partnership and support, not punishment. If something is making it difficult for your child to attend school regularly, we want to know. Together, we can identify barriers, connect families with support and help students make the most of every school day.
Because Greatness Shows Up.
Why Attendance Matters
Every school day is an opportunity to learn, grow and connect.
Did you know that chronic absence means missing 10 percent or more of the school year for any reason, including excused absences?
In the Lansing School District, students have 172 days of school each year. That means missing approximately 17 days means a student has missed about 10 percent of their school year.
And those days can add up quickly.
According to Attendance Works, regular attendance matters beginning as early as preschool and kindergarten. Students who are chronically absent are:
- Less likely to read proficiently by third grade
- Less likely to achieve in middle school
- Less likely to graduate from high school
Attendance also affects more than academic achievement. When students miss too much school, they miss opportunities to build relationships, develop problem-solving skills and strengthen other important social skills.
Being present at school gives students more opportunities to learn, participate, build connections and make the most of their educational experience.
Transportation Assistance
Transportation
If you have any questions in regards to Transportation, please call 517-755-3017 or send an email to tat@lansingschools.net.
CATA
Students can sign up for an unlimited ‘Student Semester’ CATA pass and expand their transportation options.
Ride to school? ✓
Ride to work? ✓
Ride to the mall? ✓
Ride to a friend’s house? ✓
CATA has your student covered!
31-Day Adult Pass (one per family)*
*Available upon request.
Visit CATA's website for routes.
*All subject to transportation requirements.
CATA Questions? 517.394.1000
Families Overcoming Rough Times (F.O.R.T.)
The Families Overcoming Rough Times (F.O.R.T.) Program assists Lansing School District students who are living in temporary or inadequate living situations.
The F.O.R.T. Program assists qualified students with:
- Transportation to and from school from wherever the student is living
- Clothing necessary for the child to attend and participate in school
- Personal hygiene items and school supplies
- Cap and gown to participate in graduation commencement
- Enrollment within 24 hours, without required documentation if unavailable
- Many other needs so that the student may fully participate and achieve at school.
If you or someone you know has children who attend school with the Lansing School District and are having difficulty maintaining a permanent and adequate residence due to:
- Foreclosure
- Eviction or being asked to leave
- Safety concerns
- Housing code violation red tags
- Guardianship or suitable home placement
- House fire
- Natural disasters
- Any other situation beyond their control
and are living with another family, shelter, motel, car, campground, or other place not meant for a person to live in permanently within the last 6 months, they may qualify.