Skip to main content

This alert has expired. Please change the scheduled time and publish to show again or delete.

City of Phoenix official website

Make a Payment
Report an Issue
Public Records
City Careers
Menu
Menu

Attendance Matters Phoenix

An preschool or early elementary school student uses scissors to cut a piece of paper which has a cartoon giraffe on it. The giraffe appears to have been colored by a child.

Here Today, Ready Tomorrow

Attendance Matters Phoenix is a citywide initiative designed to help families, schools, and community partners strengthen daily school attendance and support student success.  The initiative is part of Attendance Matters led by Valley of the Sun United Way, in partnership with Attendance Works and Read On Arizona, and this campaign promotes consistent attendance through clear messaging, accessible resources, and community collaboration. 

Helpful Assets
Student Attendance Data

Why Attendance Matters

Chronic absenteeism, missing 10% or more of the school year, affects academic achievement, social development, and long-term educational outcomes. Students who attend school regularly build stronger reading skills, maintain learning momentum, and develop relationships that help them thrive. Consistent attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. 

Across Phoenix, average chronic absenteeism dropped from roughly 30% in 2022 to 23% in 2025, showing steady progress, yet still higher than the statewide average. Continued support from schools, families, and the community ensures this positive trend continues. 

Read More About Chronic Absence
An adult and a young student sit together at a semi-circular table in an elementary school classroom. They each have a booklet open in front of them.

About the Campaign

Attendance Matters Phoenix reinforces the importance of showing up, especially during the first weeks of school, after extended breaks, and throughout September’s Attendance Awareness Month. The campaign centers on supportive, multilingual messaging that encourages families, strengthens routines, and builds a culture of showing up every day. 

City leaders help amplify this message through public communications, school partnerships, and community engagement.

An adult and a young student sit together at a semi-circular table in an elementary school classroom. They each have a booklet open in front of them.

Key Focus Areas

September offers a powerful opportunity to build strong attendance habits that last all year. Throughout the month, Phoenix:

  • Launches unified, citywide attendance messaging
  • Shares the official City Proclamation
  • Supports school-based events and family engagement
  • Promotes early-year routines that set students up for success
A toddler sits on the floor on a bright blue and green rug. The toddlers legs are in front of him, and in his lap is a white board on which he is practicing writing the letter 'W.'

Students can lose academic skills over the summer. Strong attendance in May and returning to school on time in August help reduce learning loss. Students who attend consistently before and after summer experience stronger academic gains throughout the year.

A young student and an adult sit together at a rectangular table in either a school or office setting. The adult has a colorful flyer and other paperwork on the desk in front of him.

The campaign promotes:

  • Supportive, nonpunitive attendance messaging
  • Multilingual resources
  • Culturally responsive communication
  • Partnerships with schools, youth-serving organizations, and local districts
In what appears to be a (very colorful) elementary school classroom, a young student with her back to the camera appears to be jumping up and down while her adult teacher looks on with a happy expression with his arms outstretched. Other students are seated around the area -- some on a blue rug and others in small chairs.

The Attendance Matters Phoenix Toolkit provides ready-to-use messages for:

  • Attendance Awareness Month
  • Summer learning loss
  • Holiday-themed reminders
  • General year-round attendance encouragement

Examples include:

“Every school day matters. Missing just two days a month adds up—let’s support daily attendance.”

“Summer learning loss is real. Strong attendance before and after break keeps students confident and ready to learn.”

“A successful year starts with showing up, especially in September.”

To elevate attendance across Phoenix, the City will:

  • Share consistent messaging beginning in late August
  • Promote weekly attendance reminders during September, May, and late summer
  • Tag local districts and youth organizations to broaden digital reach
  • Use branded campaign graphics and digital tools:
    Together, We Can Make a Difference