CLICK HERE to Download Letter To The Community September 21, 2026

CLICK HERE to Download Attendance & ADM Flyer (PDF)

 

Dear TCUSD Family,

I want to take a few minutes to talk about something that matters to all of us at Tuba City Unified School District: making sure our students have every opportunity possible to learn, grow, connect, and be successful.

 

A big part of that is attendance. We often hear the phrase “Everyday matters.” I believe our families, staff, and community also deserve to understand why it matters and how attendance and enrollment work in Arizona. 

 

First and most importantly, this is about our students. Every day a student walks through our doors is another opportunity to learn, work with a teacher, participate in small-group instruction, receive additional support, spend time with classmates, participate in activities, and build relationships with caring adults. 

 

Those opportunities add up. One number worth remembering is 10 percent. Under A.R.S. § 15-803, Arizona identifies absences exceeding 10 percent of the required attendance days as excessive absences. In a typical 180-day school year, 10 percent is approximately 18 days. That works out to about two days per month. 

 

That is why consistent attendance can make such an important difference over the course of a school year. I also want our community to understand another part of this conversation: how Arizona counts students and provides funding to public schools. 

 

You may hear us use the term ADM. ADM stands for Average Daily Membership. Under A.R.S. § 15-901, Arizona calculates ADM using student enrollment, minus withdrawals, through the first 100 days of the school year, or 200 days when applicable. The Arizona Department of Education uses the 100th day, or 200th day when applicable, of a school’s calendar in calculating ADM.

 

Arizona law also provides specific rules regarding absences and student membership. Under A.R.S. § 15-901, a student who is absent for 10 consecutive school days is generally considered withdrawn for ADM purposes, with exceptions for excused absences identified by the Arizona Department of Education. A student absent for nine or fewer consecutive school days is not considered withdrawn under that ADM provision. 

 

Why am I sharing this? Because I believe in being transparent with our TCUSD Family. Attendance matters. Enrollment matters. Accurate information matters. And it is important that we explain the connection correctly. 

 

Our district regularly reports student membership and attendance information through the Arizona Education Data Standards, or AzEDS, system. The Arizona Department of Education uses this information in calculating ADM, which serves as the basis for state-aid funding. 

 

That is why you may hear us talking about attendance, enrollment, ADM, data reconciliation, and ensuring our student information is accurate. These numbers ultimately connect to the resources, programs, staff, and opportunities we can provide for our students. 

 

But I want to make one thing very clear: Behind every number is a student. That will always be the most important part of this conversation for me. We understand that students get sick. Families have appointments and commitments. Unexpected situations happen. Our goal is to work together and keep communication open. 

 

If something is making it difficult for your child to attend school consistently, please reach out to us. Whether it involves transportation, academics, connections at school, family circumstances, or another challenge, we want to have those conversations and look for ways we can support our students and families. 

 

For our staff, this is also a reminder of just how important our work is. Every interaction matters. Every relationship matters. Every classroom matters. When students feel welcomed, supported, challenged, and connected to their school, we create another reason for them to want to be there. 

 

Attendance is truly a One Team effort. Families, teachers, support staff, administrators, transportation, food service, security, coaches, counselors, and our entire community all have a role in creating schools where our students know they belong. 

 

So, when we say, “Everyday matters,” we are talking about much more than a number on an attendance report. We are talking about opportunities. Another day to learn. Another day to connect. Another day to grow. Another day to prepare for what comes next. 

 

Those days matter because our students matter. Thank you for continuing to partner with us and for everything you do to support the students at Tuba City Unified School District. 

 

One Team. Stronger Together.

 

 

Scott Nedrow

 

 

Superintendent

Tuba City Unified School District No. 15

#KidsComeFirst