Having this additional attendance type allows more flexibility and better definition for a students attendance record.  It also allows for better reporting options.

For example:  When a student transfers to another school, the other school would request an attendance report consisting of days absent, days tardy and days dismissed.  

They rarely would care to receive this information on a section by section basis the way a vice principal or counselor at our school might like to see.

This would benefit most anyone involved in attendance in any way be a parent, teacher, counselor, administrator or admissions person at another school or college.