Every Absence Has a Story

A student who repeatedly misses school can easily be labeled as unmotivated, irresponsible, or simply “truant.”

But what if they’re missing school because there’s no reliable transportation?

What if their family is experiencing housing instability? What if they don’t have clean clothes, school supplies, food, or access to basic necessities? What if they’re struggling academically, facing challenges at home, or dealing with circumstances that make simply getting through the school doors difficult?

At The Sixth Grade Promise, we believe we have to ask why.

Our mission is to get to the root causes of truancy and chronic absenteeism and connect students and families with the resources they need to overcome those barriers.

We Don’t Just Address the Absence. We Address the Barrier.

The Sixth Grade Promise partners with schools and community organizations to help identify students struggling with consistent school attendance. From there, our goal is to understand what is happening beyond the attendance record.

Because sometimes the solution isn’t another warning about missed school.

Sometimes it’s transportation.

Sometimes it’s clothing or school supplies.

Sometimes it’s food assistance, family support, academic resources, mentorship, mental-health or community resources, or simply connecting a family with an organization they didn’t know existed.

When we identify the root cause, we can begin connecting the family to the right solution.

Why “The Sixth Grade Promise”?

Sixth grade represents an important transition in a young person’s education but our promise does not end there.

We serve students and families experiencing attendance barriers, not just sixth graders.

The name represents our commitment to intervene before missed days become missed opportunities, before a student becomes disconnected from school, and before circumstances outside of the classroom determine what that young person believes is possible for their future.

Your Donation Helps Remove Barriers

Your support helps The Sixth Grade Promise build a network of resources for students and families facing attendance challenges. Donations can help us provide or connect families with needs such as:

Transportation assistance, school supplies, clothing and essential items
Food, housing and family-support resources
Academic support, mentoring and student encouragement
Referrals to trusted community organizations and specialized services
Outreach and direct assistance to families experiencing barriers to consistent attendance
Programs and partnerships designed to help students reconnect with school

We know that no single organization can solve every challenge a family faces. That’s why our model is built around partnership—schools identify the attendance concern, we help uncover the barrier, and community resources help us build the solution.

Help Us Keep the Promise

Behind an attendance record is a child.

Behind that child is a story.

And behind many absences is a problem that can be addressed when the right people, resources, and support come together.

We’re not asking, “Why won’t this student come to school?”

We’re asking, “What is standing between this student and the classroom and how can we help remove it?”

Your donation helps us answer that question.

Together, we can remove barriers, restore connection, and help students get back on the path toward success.

Donate today and help us keep The Sixth Grade Promise.

The Every Absence Has a Story Campaign

Every absence has a story. Your donation helps us uncover the root cause and connect students and families with the resources they need to get back on track.

Team Members