September is Attendance Awareness Month, part of a nationwide campaign to reduce chronic absenteeism and improve academic success for students. Nearly 1-in-10 students nationwide is chronically absent--defined as missing 10 percent or more of school days per month.

Good attendance is critical to school success beginning in kindergarten. Establishing school attendance as a priority in early grades sets students up for success in later grades, in higher education, and in their future careers.

Throughout this month, many Connecticut United Ways and their partners in the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading will be leading efforts to raise awareness about the importance of attending school every day.  Resources and tools are available for parents, educators, students and others on the Attendance Works website.  To get involved with Attendance Awareness Month or Campaign for Grade-Level Reading activities, contact your local United Way.

CT Alert is Connecticut's emergency notification system that sends location-based alerts to the public in emergency situations.

Alerts are automatically sent to traditional land lines using the state's Enhanced 9-1-1 database, but in order to receive alerts on your cell phone or by email you need to register on the CT Alert website.

CT Alert is a free service, but the regular rates charged by your mobile phone or internet plan will apply to any text messages, phone calls, or other messages sent to you by the system. 

Click here to register for alerts (or update your contact information) at the CT Alert website.