BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- As students get ready to kick off their first day of school in the Binghamton City School District, their teachers are spreading awareness about the dangers of poor attendance.  

September is actually National Attendance Awareness Month, and that's because officials say being absent in the first month of school can set the stage for chronic poor attendance throughout the whole year.

Studies show that half the students who miss just as two to four days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school.

The attendance committee in the Binghamton City School District has put together a chart to show when your child's attendance, or lack thereof, is cause for concern.

They say chronic absenteeism is when a child has been absent between 19 to 29 days, which they say is actually very common. And then there is serious concern after missing 38 days or more, which is the equivalent of one entire marking period.

Teachers say making sure your child gets too school every day, early on in the year can help ensure that they don't go on to miss a more extensive portion.

"Things happen in the classroom that can't be replicated. When students miss the class there's discussion, there's communication, there's projects that are on-going so their classmates need them, the teachers need to have them engaged in what's happening in the classroom, so it's critical that students are in school every day,” said Binghamton High School P-TECH Coordinator Dawne Adams.

Teachers say parents and families can help make sure their student is in school by scheduling appointments outside of school hours, taking family vacations during off time, and just being a positive support to help get them out the door in the morning.