For every day a student misses school – excused or unexcused – the Elk Grove Unified School District loses $30 in state funding.  The district has an attendance campaign with a goal of educating students and parents about the importance of regular school attendance for both students’ academic progress and the district’s funding.

EGUSD increased its attendance by 0.31% from 2010-11 to 2011-12.  This amounts to nearly $950,000 in additional funds.

The Elk Grove Unified School District actively promotes regular school attendance through an incentive and promotion campaign called No Excuses – Go to School.  The campaign is designed to keep students thinking, “I need to go to school today.”  Experts agree that regular school attendance improves learning and the educational experience.

The No Excuses – Go to School attendance campaign begins with the promotion of the idea that students should not use excuses to miss school.  The program is an outreach approach to parents and community members through school newsletter articles, press releases, letters home, posters, PA announcements, contests, school-wide recognitions and flyers.

Student support is sought through monthly incentives donated by local businesses and community members.  Every month at each of the district’s 63 schools a list is compiled of students with perfect attendance.  From that list one student’s name is drawn to receive an incentive.  In addition, each month all the students’ names go into a raffle for the grand prize drawing at the end of the year.  The program reinforces by reminding schools and students each month that strong school attendance brings rewards.

Thanks to the 21 brands of the Elk Grove Auto Mall, high school seniors participate in a special attendance program.  One lucky senior with perfect attendance in all classes for at least five calendar months and at least a 2.0 GPA has the opportunity to receive $20,000 towards the purchase of a vehicle from the auto mall. Click here for official rules.

The No Excuses – Go to School attendance campaign is only possible through the support of community members and businesses.  If you would like to donate to the campaign, please contact Torrey Johnson, Senior Communications Specialist, at (916) 686-7732.
Click here for more information about the attendance campaign.