Overview
Research suggests that students who attend at a rate of 95% or better are significantly less likely to have failing grades or problematic behavior.
Utah is currently focusing on positive attendance promotion initiatives that positive impact all students and families, including:
- Statewide messaging on the importance of attendance
- Common language and definitions around attendance
- Consistent and accurate data collection
- Intentional statewide data analysis
Contact Us
If you have a concern about an attendance related issue at your school and would like to submit a complaint please follow the steps on the Public Education Hotline webpage.
Regular Attendance
Regular attendance is important because it has positive lasting impacts on students. Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. This relationship between attendance and achievement may appear early in a child's school career. Students receive more than just academic benefits from attending school regularly. Connections to peers and adults at school can have lasting impacts on students. USBE supports LEAs with a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) when approaching attendance. USBE promotes regular attendance and supports schools and stakeholders in a variety of capacities.
First
Statewide universal supports that promote positive school attendance for all students.
Second
Target supports for those students and families who need additional support and resources than are provided universally.
Third
Intensive resources and supports that are individualized.
Reports and Statistics
Provided by the Utah State Board of Education, Data and Statistics
Attendance Data
Statewide Daily Attendance Data
2024 Daily Attendance Rate
2023 Daily Attendance Rate
Historical Daily Attendance Rates
Statewide Absenteeism Data
2024 Chronically Absent Rate
2023 Chronically Absent Rate
Historical Chronically Absent Rates
Graduation Rates
2024 Graduation Rates
2023 Graduation Rates
Historical Graduation Rates
Dropout Rates
2024 Dropout Rates
2023 Dropout Rates
Historical Dropout Rates
Data Gateway
Utah’s Educational Data Gateway is a resource provided by the Utah State Board of Education that allows the public and school personnel to access education-related data.
Laws and Policies
Board Rule R277-607 oversees Absenteeism and Truancy. This rule is governed by these primary statutes and laws.
Statutes
Utah Code Section 53G-6 Part 2: Compulsory Education
Utah State Legislature
Utah Code Section 53G-8-211: Responses to School-based Behavior
Utah State Legislature
Laws
House Bills (H.B.)
H.B. 362 Juvenile Justice Revisions (2024)
H.B. 400 School Absenteeism Amendments (2023)
H.B. 16 Block Grant Funding for Prevention Programs in Public Education (2023)
H.B. 84 School Safety Amendments (2024)
H.B. 304 Juvenile Justice Revisions (2023)
Utah State Legislature
Senate Bills (S.B.)
S.B. 177 Absenteeism Prevention Amendments (2024)
Utah State Legislature
S.B. 279 High School Rodeo Amendments (2025)
Utah State Legislature
Internal Audit
Utah Code Section 63I-5-201(4): Internal Auditing Programs, State Agencies directs the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) to establish an
internal audit program.
If you would like to report a concern (e.g., misuse of assets, funds, or resources;
non-compliance with regulations, policies or rules; fraud, waste, abuse or unethical
behavior), please complete the USBE Internal Audit Report a Concern Form Qualtrics Doc.
Resources
Attendance Articles, Videos, & Webinars
A New School Year Brings Renewed Focus On Attendance
National Public Radio (NPR) Audio & Article
Reducing Chronic Absenteeism: Every Day Counts YouTube
Institute of Education Sciences
Reducing Chronic Absence: What Will it Take? YouTube
Institute of Education Sciences Recorded Presentation by Hedy Cheng
The Hidden Factor of Low Performance YouTube
Institute of Education Sciences Recorded Webinar
Success Stories
Attendance Works
The State of Chronic Absenteeism: What Millions of Students Tell Us About School Climate PDF
Panorama Education
Attendance Helpful Tools
2024 Attendance Awareness Campaign
Attendance Works General Resources
Attendance Works Data Tools
Attendance Works
The Student Engagement and Attendance Center
United States Department of Education
School Climate Improvement
National Center of Safe Supportive Learning Environments
DCFS Referral Google Doc
Utah State Board of Education
Utah Court Referral Process (coming soon)
Utah State Board of Education
Attendance Research and Data
Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC)
United States Department of Education
Chronic Elementary Absenteeism: A Problem Hidden in Plain Sight
Attendance Works
Attendance Works Research
Attendance Works
Utah Specific Attendance Research & Webinars
Utah State Board of Education Attendance Toolkit
USBE Attendance Webinar Series #1 YouTube
Utah State Board of Education
USBE Attendance Webinar Series #3 YouTube
Utah State Board of Education
ULEAD Webinar Page
Utah State Board of Education
ULEAD Video/Webinar YouTube
Utah State Board of Education
Increasing Student Attendance Webinar Video
Utah State Board of Education
Increasing Student Attendance Webinar Slides
Utah State Board of Education
Utah State Board of Education Attendance YouTube Channel
Utah State Board of Education
Statewide Attendance Campaign
Statewide Attendance Challenge
-Learn about the Challenge with this Flier
-Take this simple survey to join the challenge
-Be listed here as an LEA or School who has joined the challenge:
Statewide Attendance Campaign LEA/School Resources
-Statewide Attendance Campaign Community Partner Flier
-Statewide Attendance Campaign Parent Attendance Handout
-Statewide Attendance Campaign Poster
-Statewide Attendance Challenge Elementary School Poster
-Statewide Attendance Challenge Secondary School Poster
Statewide Attendance Ambassadors
An Attendance Ambassador is someone who:
-is working hard to promote students attending school
-knows about the campaign and helps spread the word within their school or community
-cares about students and their success in school and out of school
-supports others by sharing tools and pointing them to helpful attendance resources
Who are our Utah Attendance Ambassadors?
USBE Partners
Megan Menlove, Attendance Specialist
Garrett Russell, Attendance Specialist
Benji Carrier, YIC and Attendance Support Coordinator
Betty Jimenez, Utah State Charter School Board Program Specialist and School Safety Charter School Liaison
Cassie Hays, Parent Liaison and Engagement Specialist
Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent
Jennifer Wadsworth, Policy Advisor
Kendra Muir, School Nursing Wellness Specialist
Lavinia Gripentrog, Postsecondary Transition and TBI Specialist
Susie Estrada, School Improvement Program and Special Education Parent Specialist, USBE
Cole Kelley, Utah State Board of Education Member
LEA Partners
Alden Jack, Executive Director of Student Services, Cache County School District
Coleen Dolan, Assistant Director, Mountain West Montessori Academy
Evan Feinberg, Teacher, West Hills Middle School, Jordan School District
Jenna Landward, Social Worker, Canyons School District
Kim Schaefer, Principal, Whitehorse High School, San Juan School District
Michelle Reyes, Student Services, Jordan School District
Nikki Stringham, Character Education Director and Wayne High School Assistant Principal, Wayne School District
Tamra Larsen, School Counselor, Adele C Young Intermediate School, Box Elder School District
Jamie Kent, District Public Relations Director, Box Elder School District
Parent Partners
Amber Bonner, Utah PTA Education Commissioner
Community Partners
Ben Trentelman, Executive Director, Utah After School Network
Brett Peterson, Business Owner
Erica Wood, Juvenile Justice Community Engagement Coordinator, Utah Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice
Representative Douglas Welton, Utah House of Representatives