Absenteeism and Truancy Prevention

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

Benji Carrier
Coordinator
Phone: (801) 538-7884 | Email

Garrett Russell
Prevention Specialist
Phone: (385) 295-7923 | Email

Megan Menlove
Attendance Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7969 | Email

Morgan Taylor
Executive Secretary
Phone: (801) 538-7605 | Email

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

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.

Data Gateway

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.