Improving Student Attendance by Managing Tardiness & Behavior

We’ve all been there: that moment when you look at your attendance sheet and see the usual suspects—students who are either missing entirely or strolling in late like it’s no big deal. But let’s take a second to dig a little deeper. The real attendance issue isn’t just about kids skipping school—it’s about what they’re doing when they actually show up. Recently, we heard from school leaders during a webinar we hosted on managing tardiness, where they discussed how addressing tardiness head-on can transform overall engagement, all while improving student attendance. The insights shared from that session underscore that when schools implement clear systems of accountability and behavior tracking, the entire school culture improves.

The Role of Accountability in Improving Student Attendance

At the heart of every attendance issue is student accountability. It’s not just about being physically present—it’s about students understanding the value of their time in school and taking ownership of their behavior. When students are held accountable for their tardiness and attendance, they are more likely to recognize how their actions impact not only their learning but also the school community. A school-wide approach that includes clear tardy policies, automated notifications, and seamless reporting helps students grasp this responsibility.

As Kimberly Felix (Activities Director at Rio Linda High School) shared, “Before Minga, there was a campus-wide sense of apathy. With kids showing up tardy without any real consistent accountability in place for them, it created an overall lack of importance of being in class. Seeing the others get away with being late and skipping made even high-achieving students feel like it’s not important to be on time and present. It impacted attitudes towards learning and dragged the whole school culture down.” This sense of accountability creates a shared responsibility that encourages better attendance and punctuality, setting a positive tone for the entire school culture.

The Real Attendance Problem is More Than Just Skipping School

We often think of attendance as just a number on a sheet, right? A student’s present, absent, or tardy. But let’s be honest, the real problem isn’t just about missing a few days—it’s about how students act when they do show up.

So here’s the deal: Just because students are physically on campus doesn’t mean they’re fully present. Imagine this—students who show up but are mentally checked out, wandering the hallways or hanging out in the bathroom. They’re technically on campus, but they’re not engaging with what’s happening in class. This disengagement is just as problematic, if not more, than missing school altogether. The issue isn’t just chronic absenteeism—it’s the constant pattern of disengagement that’s playing out every day.

The Many Faces of Student Attendance Issues

• Complete Absenteeism: Students who don’t show up to school at all.
• Class Skippers: These are the ones who arrive but avoid class—maybe they’re in the bathroom, the hallways, or just somewhere other than where they’re supposed to be.
• The Disengaged: These students are technically in class, but their minds are elsewhere. You know the ones—staring blankly out the window or chatting with their friends instead of paying attention.

It’s important to remember, all of these behaviors stem from something deeper. Let’s talk about the root causes to start improving student attendance.

Why Are Students Skipping? Let’s Talk About the Why

We know this—attendance problems don’t just happen for no reason. There’s often something else at play. Maybe it’s bullying, which pushes kids to skip certain classes or avoid going to school altogether. Or maybe it’s family logistics—like issues with transportation or parental support—that make it harder to get to school on time.

According to the Student Engagement and Attendance Technical Assistance Center (SEAC), a crucial step in improving school attendance is identifying the root causes behind absenteeism and disengagement. It’s not enough to simply track absences—data collection and analysis can help pinpoint patterns and uncover underlying issues that impact student attendance. Using data in this way allows schools to design more effective interventions based on the needs of individual students, making the process more proactive.

And then, there’s the big one: disconnection. When students feel disconnected from school, they might just decide that showing up isn’t worth it. They may feel like no one notices or cares. That emotional disconnect is a huge factor in both chronic absenteeism and students choosing to disengage while physically at school.

Tardiness: The First Red Flag

It’s not just about being late. Chronic tardiness is often the first sign that a student is starting to check out. It’s a small thing that can easily be overlooked, but when you track it along with absences, you get a better picture of a student’s engagement level. Those little delays can often snowball into full-blown absenteeism. So, paying attention to those “just a few minutes late” moments is important.

Tackling Tardies A Whole-School Approach

Tardiness is more than just a punctuality problem—it’s a behavior issue that affects the entire school ecosystem. As we heard from school leaders during our tardy webinar, managing tardies isn’t as simple as marking attendance. It’s about creating a culture of accountability, consistency, and respect for everyone’s time.

One way to address tardiness and absenteeism effectively is by integrating attendance into a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), as suggested by SEAC. This approach involves providing universal supports for all students, targeted interventions for those showing early signs of disengagement, and more intensive support for students with chronic attendance issues. By embedding attendance strategies into a school’s broader MTSS framework, schools can provide the right level of support to each student based on their unique needs.

Kimberly added, “We had to adjust our tardy policy a bit after realizing the confusion around different thresholds. Now, the moment a student hits detention, they’re placed on the ‘no activity’ list, and that’s where we start intervening with MTSS.” Having data at their fingertips made it easier for the team to make informed decisions about interventions and adjustments.

Understanding the Impact of Tardiness on Schools

Before diving into solutions, it’s crucial to understand how widespread tardiness can disrupt both instructional time and school culture. “Tardiness was a daily headache,” said Kimberly Felix, Activities Director at Rio Linda High School. “We had kids who didn’t see the value in being in class on time. They didn’t understand the consequences, and the lack of clarity made it hard to hold them accountable.” This inconsistency caused burnout among teachers, who felt like they were doing the work of tracking tardies without seeing any real results.

Chris Bryant, Head Principal at Midland Legacy High School, shared his experience as an open campus: “We had droves of students showing up late, both after lunch and in the morning. It felt impossible to catch all of them. We were using Google Sheets, which was inefficient and really only added to the chaos.”

Timely Notifications & Family Support: A Game Changer for Attendance

While logistical issues, such as transportation, are common reasons for tardiness, schools often overlook the role family engagement plays in improving student attendance. By engaging families early and often, schools can address logistical and emotional barriers to attendance. Clear communication about school tardy policies and expectations ensures families are equipped to support their students in arriving on time and staying engaged throughout the day.

Incorporating automated systems like Minga can bridge this gap. When tardiness notifications are automatically sent to families, they are kept in the loop and can step in to support their child. However, the responsibility doesn’t just fall on families. There are instances where a student might be dropped off early but still manage to be late, requiring that tough conversation about why being late isn’t acceptable.

Automating notifications is an essential step, but reminders to students are just as important. Sometimes students don’t realize they’re approaching a consequence—like detention—for tardiness. A student might not realize that a second tardy is a warning or that their parents will be notified. These reminders are critical in reinforcing the behavior expectations.

For administrators, these notifications are invaluable. Not only do they reduce the burden on staff, but they also serve as an early warning system. By monitoring automated alerts, administrators can see when things are escalating and intervene before a student reaches the threshold for more serious consequences. Being proactive allows for intervention before minor issues become larger problems.

If you’re dealing with chronic tardiness at your school, consider the following steps:

• Create a clear, consistent tardy policy that is easy to track and enforce.
• Implement a closed-door classroom policy and use technology to enable students to self-check in for tardiness, automate passes, and manage tardy policies—reducing the manual tracking burden on teachers.
• Engage students in the process and empower them to take accountability for their own attendance.
• Keep families in the loop with automated tardy notifications to ensure they can support their students and manage logistics.
• Foster a school culture that values punctuality through consistent communication and accountability.
• Use positive reinforcement to reward timely behavior and encourage engagement.
• Create a sense of belonging for every student from the first day of school.

Shaping Hallway Culture to Improve Attendance

One of the biggest challenges schools face is what happens outside the classroom—especially in the hallways. Hallway culture often reflects a deeper disengagement. Students who are consistently tardy or skipping class are more likely to be found hanging out in hallways or restrooms.

Chris echoed this sentiment, adding, “We had zero tardies after lunch last year after implementing a stricter policy with Minga. We started scanning IDs, which worked because it was part of the school culture. Now students know that there’s no room for roaming the halls. They’re either in class or serving consequences.”

This speaks to the importance of creating a school-wide culture where everyone—administrators, teachers, and students—works together toward the common goal of reducing attendance issues. “If we have strong accountability and clear expectations in the hallways, it sets the tone for the entire school,” explained Chris.

Improving Student Attendance Starts with Accountability and Culture

Addressing tardiness and improving student attendance isn’t just about tracking numbers—it’s about fostering a culture where students understand the value of their time and presence in school. By implementing clear systems, using technology for tracking, and involving both students and staff, schools can create an environment where accountability is the norm. As Holly Lawson shared, “We’ve seen a huge shift in staff involvement. Teachers are actively managing tardies because they know there’s a system in place.”

When students are held accountable, whether through consistent tardy policies or positive reinforcement like PBIS points and rewards, they’re more likely to engage in the classroom and show up on time. Chris Bryant explained, “Students initially hated Minga because they were getting tardies, but now they love it because they also get PBIS points for good behavior. Positive reinforcement is huge—it’s a motivator.”

Creating a unified school culture is essential to improving attendance. As Kimberly Felix said, “We’re holding students accountable, especially those involved in extracurricular activities. If they’re late to class, they can’t participate in events. It’s about teaching them that being a student comes first.” This approach strengthens the connection between academic responsibilities and extracurricular engagement, fostering greater student involvement and a positive school culture.

It’s not just about preventing tardiness or reducing absences. It’s about creating a shared responsibility that values everyone’s time and presence. When students understand that their presence is valued, they’re more likely to feel a sense of belonging, as Holly noted: “When we made our tardy policy clear and consistent, we were sending a message to the students that their time was valuable and so was everyone else’s.”

By creating clear expectations, maintaining consistent communication, and supporting both accountability and positive reinforcement, schools can foster a culture of responsibility. The result isn’t just improved attendance—it’s a stronger, more engaged school community where every student feels valued and motivated to succeed.