Academic achievement and absenteeism are two areas that schools are held accountable. Helping families and communities understand the correlation between achievement and attendance is an essential part of improving attendance. The purpose of this research study was to compare student attendance and academic achievement on the CASE Benchmark exams for grades one through four. The literature review is organized around the following areas: a historical view of absenteeism, legislation and student learning, the laws and how it has impacted Tennessee schools, Rural Title 1 schools, the influence of the family on student absenteeism, the impact of attendance on student academic growth, and educating across cultures. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]