School Assistance Program

The attendance program seeks to promote and increase class attendance among children starting in early childhood education by providing training and sharing methodologies and strategies with school operators, educational teams, and administrators at schools and preschools.

Attendance: The Prerequisite for Learning

School attendance is key for children in early childhood education because it expands their learning opportunities and enables them to reach their full developmental potential.

Girls and boys need to be present in order to learn. Class attendance should not be merely an administrative metric: it is the gateway to opportunities for learning, participation, and development.

Why is it important to attend every day?

Because the evidence shows that frequent absences have an impact on:

  • Language Development
  • Mathematical Skills
  • Social Competition
  • Future Educational Pathways

In addition, early absenteeism tends to persist over time, increasing the risk of falling behind and dropping out of school.

A 90% attendance rate does matter

There is a clear standard: girls and boys should attend at least 90% of school days.

Missing 10% or more of the school year is considered chronic absenteeism and can have significant effects on learning and development.

Today, the challenge remains

According to data from the Ministry of Education, the average attendance rate in early childhood education reached 76.4%.

This means that children miss approximately 1 out of every 5 school days.

You have to be there to learn

Consistent attendance enables children to have access to meaningful educational experiences from an early age.

Because being present is the foundation for learning, participating, and reaching their full potential.

How do we work?

The School Attendance Program works with school communities for two years to strengthen practices that improve attendance in a sustainable way.

We work with:

  • Bras
  • Management Teams
  • Educational Equipment
  • Families

Because improving care requires a shared and ongoing effort.

Our Areas of Focus

1. Support for Educational Communities
We work directly with preschools and schools to implement specific strategies that improve attendance.

2. Data Management and Use
We promote the systematic use of information to:

  • Identifying Risks of Absenteeism
  • Making timely decisions
  • Track Progress

3. Working with Families and a Culture of Attendance
We promote initiatives to foster a culture where attending school every day matters.

This includes:

✅ Free training for educational communities
✅ Educational resources
✅ Digital content
✅ "Help Them Take Off" Campaign

4. Collaboration and Advocacy
We promote partnerships to make school attendance a top priority for the country.

We currently lead the INSA Chile Network, a network that coordinates:

  • Public Agencies
  • Academy
  • Civil Society
  • Foundations and Educational Communities

With the goal of:

  • Promote school attendance
  • Safeguarding Educational Pathways
  • Promote improvements in public policy