Lake County Gazette

Madison Community Unit School District 12 has reminded parents and guardians of the importance of consistent school attendance as the new academic year begins. In a letter sent to families, district officials highlighted that regular attendance is essential for both academic achievement and social development.

"Regular attendance is essential for academic achievement and social development. Missing even a few school days can make it harder for students to keep up with lessons and build the skills they need for the future," the statement read.

The district also outlined its expectations regarding student attendance and provided information about Illinois truancy laws.

Madison Community Unit School District 12 serves Madison County, including Bernard Long Elementary School, Madison Junior High School, and Madison Senior High School. More details about these schools can be found at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.

According to data from the Illinois State Board of Education, the district's student population is 2.7 percent White, 93.2 percent Black, and 3 percent Hispanic (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district employs 50 teachers who earn an average salary of $47,771 before pension contributions; 84.2 percent are women and 15.8 percent are men. No teachers in the district had more than ten absences in a school year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

In terms of spending, Madison Community Unit School District 12 allocated $30,534 per student in 2020, totaling $19,266,847 (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

Parents seeking more information about truancy policies were encouraged to review additional resources provided by the district.