Los Lunas Schools Push for District Wide Attendance, Equity Focus

Los Lunas Schools has launched an attendance drive aimed at maximizing student presence for three weeks of instruction leading into midyear assessments. The district framed the effort as a one day focus inside a broader push, writing "Be Here Los Lunas Schools Day" is coming Monday, December 15th. The announcement emphasized the short instructional month, noting "December is a short month of learning, and we would like to end our semester positively with three weeks of learning and being present to take our middle of the year assessments."

The district directed families to its website for the full attendance plan. The Links and Resources section includes step by step information on How to Report an Absence, attendance brochures in both English and Spanish, and information about Community United for Student Attendance, also known as CUSA, along with the CUSA brochure. The message underlined the districtwide benefits of consistent attendance, stating "When every student is present, they don't miss out on crucial learning, and our entire district thrives."

For Valencia County residents the push highlights several local public health and equity issues. Strong attendance correlates with academic progress, but barriers such as illness, limited access to health care, unstable housing, unreliable transportation, and caregiver work constraints can raise chronic absenteeism. Public health considerations are particularly salient during winter months when influenza, respiratory viruses, and other seasonal illnesses are more common. Encouraging all students to attend requires balancing incentives for presence with clear guidance that symptomatic children stay home to reduce spread.

Community United for Student Attendance offers a potential avenue for cross sector support by connecting schools, families, and local organizations around access and outreach. For working families, policies such as flexible employer leave, school based health services, and accessible vaccination and wellness clinics can reduce the tension between keeping children home when sick and maintaining consistent learning.

As December 15 approaches, district officials are asking families from Pre K to 12th grade to participate and to consult the online attendance plan and materials. The day will be a test of local coordination between schools, public health officials, and community partners to support both learning and equitable access to health and social services.