Welcome to the Every Day Counts Statewide Attendance Campaign
School Is Where Your Child Belongs
Every school day is filled with moments that help shape who your child becomes.
It's where they learn something new, build friendships, discover their interests, gain confidence, and connect with teachers and classmates who help them feel seen and supported.
When your child is at school, they have more opportunities to learn, belong, and grow.
Every Day Counts.
What Happens in One School Day?
Big Moments Happen at School
Every school day is a new opportunity.
A Breakthrough
Finally understanding the math problem that seemed impossible.
A New Friendship
Finding someone to sit with, laugh with, learn with, or call a best friend.
A Spark
Trying something new in science, art, music, athletics, or career education that could
become a lifelong interest.
Encouragement
Hearing the right words from a teacher at exactly the right moment.
Growing Confidence
Raising a hand, sharing an idea, solving a problem, performing, creating, or discovering,
"I can do this."
These everyday experiences build learning, connection, and confidence—and they happen when children are there to experience them.
Why Regular Attendance Matters
Every School Day Builds Their Future
Regular attendance is about more than completing assignments. Each day at school gives
your child another opportunity to participate, strengthen relationships, develop new
skills, and stay connected to their learning.
Research suggests that students who attend school at least 95% of the time are significantly
less likely to have failing grades or problematic behavior.
Regular attendance also gives children more opportunities to:
Learn
Build on yesterday's lessons and discover new interests.
Connect
Strengthen friendships and relationships with teachers and classmates.
Grow
Develop confidence, independence, and skills through everyday experiences.
Prepare
Build the knowledge, habits, and experiences that support future success.
One school day can hold a lot. Help your child be there for the moments that matter.
Support for Families
Helping Your Child Attend Starts With Support
Every family faces challenges from time to time. Transportation, health concerns,
appointments, changing schedules, family responsibilities, or other circumstances
can make regular attendance harder.
You don't have to solve every challenge on your own.
Start with a few simple steps:
- Create consistent bedtime and morning routines.
- Prepare clothes, backpacks, and lunches the night before.
- When possible, schedule appointments outside of school hours.
- Talk with your child about what they're learning and experiencing at school.
- Reach out to your child's school when your family could use additional support.
Your child's school may be able to connect your family with resources, guidance, and
practical solutions that make regular attendance easier.
Together, we can help your child stay connected to the learning, friendships, encouragement, and opportunities that make every school day count.
Need Help?
Contact your child's school to ask about attendance support and available resources.
2026-2027 Statewide Attendance Challenge
-Learn about the Attendance Challenge- Stronger Schools Start with Commitment
-Take this simple survey to join the 2026-2027 Statewide Attendance Challenge and be listed here:
1st Year Participants
*Alpine School District- Sage Canyon Middle School
*Canyons School District- Midvalley Elementary
*Iron County School District- Canyon View Middle School
*Jordan School District
*Noah Webster Academy
*South Sevier High School
*Uintah School District- Uintah Middle School
2nd Year Participants
*Alpine School District- Lone Peak High School
*Alpine School District- Orem High School
*American Academy of Innovation
*Box Elder School District- Discovery Elementary
*Box Elder School District- Golden Spike Elementary
*Cache County School District
*Canyons School District- Sandy Elementary
*Davis School District
*Granite School District
*GreenWood Charter School
*Juab School District- Juab Junior High
*Legacy Preparatory Academy
*Morgan County School District
*North Star Academy
*Piute School District0 Piute High School
*Promontory School of Expeditionary Learning
*Salt Lake School District
*Sevier School District
*South Summit School District
*Utah International School
*Venture Academy
*Weber School District
Thank you to our 2025-2026 Attendance Challenge Participants
*Alta View Elementary
*American Academy of Innovation
*Beaver School District
*Box Elder School District
*Bridge Elementary Charter School
*Bryce Valley High School
*Cache County School District
*Canyons School District
*Carbon School District
*Copper Mountain Middle School
*Davis School District
*Early Light Academy
*Granite School District
*GreenWood Charter School
*Hawthorn Academy
*Iron School District
*Juab Junior High School
*Legacy Preparatory Academy
*Logan City School District
*Lone Peak High School
*Midvale Elementary
*Morgan County School District
*Mountain Ridge Junior High
*Murray School District
*Navigator Pointe Academy
*North Star Academy
*Orem High School
*Oscarson Elementary
*Pinnacle Canyon Academy
*Piute High School
*Promontory School of Expeditionary
*Salt Lake City School District
*Sevier School District
*South Summit School District
*Summit Academy
*The Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Discovery
*Uintah High School
*Utah Career Path High School
*Utah International Charter School
*Venture Academy
*Wayne School District
*Weber School District
*Weilenmann School of Discovery
*West Hills Middle School
Statewide Attendance Campaign LEA/School Resources
-Every Day Counts: Why Student Engagement & Attendance Matter For Utah's City, County,
and Community Leaders
-Every Day Counts: Why Student Engagement & Attendance Matter For Utah's City, County,
and Community Leaders (Spanish)
-Every Day Counts: What Families Can Do to Support Good Attendance
-Every Day Counts: What Families Can Do to Support Good Attendance (Spanish)
-Every Day Counts Poster
-Every Day Counts: Social Media Posts (English)
-Every Day Counts: Social Media Posts (Spanish)
-Every Day Counts: Monthly Nudges
-Every Day Counts: Postcards (English and Spanish)
-Every Day Counts: Attendance Calendar (English)
-Every Day Counts: Attendance Calendar (Spanish)
-Every Day Counts: Too Sick for School? A quick guide to help you decide when you keep
your child home (English)
-Every Day Counts: Too Sick for School? A quick guide to help you decide when to keep
your child home (Spanish)
-Statewide Attendance Challenge Elementary School Poster
-Statewide Attendance Challenge Secondary School Poster
-Statewide Attendance Shared Google Folder (email megan.menlove@schools.utah.gov for access)
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
Amanda Charlesworth, Check & Connect Program 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
Cathy Gray, Graduation and Concurrent Enrollment Specialist
Danielle Pedersen, Adult Education Specialist
David Sollami, Youth in Care Specialist
Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent
Garrett Russell, Attendance Specialist
Jennifer Wadsworth, Policy Advisor
Julia Armstrong,Youth in Care Specialist
Julie Stefan Lindsay, School Improvement Specialist
Kendra Muir, School Nursing Wellness Specialist
Lavinia Gripentrog, Postsecondary Transition and TBI Specialist
Megan Menlove, Attendance Specialist
Molly Hart, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Morgan Taylor, Executive Secretary
Susie Estrada, School Improvement Program and Special Education Parent Specialist
Teri Davis, Physical Education Specialist
Cole Kelley, Utah State Board of Education Member
LEA Partners
Alana Johnson, Interim Executive Director, Summit Academy
Alden Jack, Executive Director of Student Services, Cache County School District
Amber Baines, Assistant Principal, Lone Peak High School, Alpine School District
Amy Robinson, Assistant Principal, South Sevier High School, Sevier School District
Andrew Simpson, Clinical Support Specialist/School Therapist, Jordan School District
Angela Steuart, Vice Principal, American Academy of Innovation
April Triggs, School Counselor, Cedar Valley High School, Alpine School District
Ashley Tignor, Vice Principal, Scholar Academy
Becky Te'o, Elementary Director of Teaching & Learning, Murray School District
Ben Gowans, School Counselor, Spring Lake Elementary, Nebo School District
Brandie Evans, Director, Legacy Preparatory Academy
Bri Conley, Director of Educational Equity and Access, Salt Lake City School District
Brittany Roller, District Attendance Specialist, Murray School District
Caitlin Miller, School Counselor, Wilson Elementary School, Nebo School District
Carli Wright, School Counselor, Wilson Elementary School, Nebo School District
Cassy Saxton, Director of Prevention & Family/Community Engagement, Alpine School District
Chanci Loran, Program Administrator, Canyons School District
Chelsea Bailey, School Counselor, Moroni Elementary School, North Sanpete School District
Christie Tolbert, Student Council Advisor/Math Teacher, Salem Hills High School, Nebo School District
Christine Giles, Deputy Director, Vista School
Coleen Dolan, Assistant Director, Mountain West Montessori Academy
Darcy Allan, School Counselor, Lone Peak High School, Alpine School District
Darren Dean, Director of Student Services, Murray School District
Deborah Candler, Principal/CAO, Salt Lake Arts Academy
Dinitri Jackson, Community Schools Facilitator, Union Middle School, Canyons School District
Drew Barclay, Assistant Principal, Venture High School
Dustyn Allen, Teacher, South Sevier High School, Sevier School District
Emily Puerto, Assistant Principal, Hawthorn Academy
Eric Markworth, Principal, Wilson Elementary, Logan City School District
Erin Adams, District Attendance Specialist, Murray School District
Evan Feinberg, Teacher, West Hills Middle School, Jordan School District
Gail Robley, Office Tech/Student Advocate, Lone Peak HIgh School, Alpine School District
Hanna West, Social Worker, Walden School of Liberal Arts
Heather Briley, School Counselor, Park City High School, Park City School District
Heidi Sanger, Community School Facilitator, Midvale Elementary School, Canyons School District
Holly Dahle, School Counselor, Timpanogos High School, Alpine School District
Ines Lazalde, School Counselor, Backman Elementary, Salt Lake City School District
Jamie Kent, District Public Relations Director, Box Elder School District
Jason Finch, Principal, Mountain View Elementary, Salt Lake City School District
Jenna Landward, Social Worker, Canyons School District
Jennifer McAllister, Director of Healthcare Programs, Moutain Land Technical College
Jennifer Roskelley, School Counselor, Wasatch Alternative High School, Wasatch School District
Jennifer Warren, Student Services Director, Weber School District
JJ Downs, Director of Healthcare Programs, Mountain Land Technical College
Justin Matagi, Assistant Principal, Summit Academy
Josie Hilton, School Psychologist, West Jordan Middle School, Jordan School District
Karalee Clarke, School Counselor, Mountain View High School, Alpine School District
Kappy Williams, Kindergarten Teacher, Promontory School
Kelcey Tupuola, Tiered Supports Specialist, Davis School District
Kim Alexander, Attendance Mentor, Murray School District
Kim Schaefer, Principal, Whitehorse High School, San Juan School District
Kristen Thomas, School Counselor, Ecker Middle School, Park City School District
Krystal Bassett, Vice Principal, Juab School District
Lana Beal, Attendance Mentor, Murray High School, Murray School District
Larissa Fomuke, MTSS Coordinator, Park City School District
Levi Anderson, Academic Director, The Ranches Academy
Lexi Cunningham, Executive Director, Utah School Superintendent Association
Liz Grant, Superintendent, Salt Lake City School District
Lorell Loosle, Director of Specialized Instruction, St George Academy
Lyndsay Downard, School Counselor, Juab Junior High School, Juab School District
Maria Stump, School Counselor, Southland Elementary, Jordan School District
Michelle Reyes, Student Services, Jordan School District
Mickelle Gregory, Teacher, Freedom Elementary, Alpine School District
Nicole Lovell, Student Advocacy Services, Ogden School District
Nicole Petersen, Instructional Coach, Lincoln Academy
Nikki Stringham, Character Education Director and Wayne High School Assistant Principal, Wayne School District
Nita Wood, School Counselor, Sage Canyon Middle School, Alpine School District
Nolan Behr, School Psychologist, West Jordan High School, Jordan School District
Patricia Shay, School Counselor, North Davis Junior High, Davis School District
Paul Kenley, School Counselor, Orem High School, Alpine School District
Piper Riddle, Executive Director, Northeastern Utah Educational Services
Rachel Lott, Health Services Supervisor, Box Elder School District
Rebecca Gagnier, School Counselor, Timpanogos High School, Alpine School District
Rebecca Howland, Assistant Principal, Summit Academy Bluffdale
Richard Squire, Lead Director, Leadership Learning Academy
Sammi Lunceford, School Counselor, Juab Junior High School, Juab School District
Sara Wilkcen Zito, Student Advocate, Murray School District
Shauna Warnick, School Board Member, Nebo School District
Sierra Marsh, Prevention and YIC Coordinator, Murray School District
Stacey Peterson, Principal, Moroni Elementary School, North Sanpete School District
Stacie Palmer, Assistant Principal, Fremont High School, Weber School District
Tamara Stuart, Principal, Orem High School, Alpine School District
Tammy Halcrow, Assistant Principal, Payson Junior High, Nebo School District
Tamra Larsen, School Counselor, Adele C Young Intermediate School, Box Elder School District
Terra Olsen, Head Secretary, Mountain West Montessori Academy
Thomas Wiltbank, School Counselor, Lake Mountain Middle School, Alpine School District
Todd Jepperson, Assistant Principal, Mountain Ridge Junior High, Alpine School District
Trista Kort, Student Advocate, Fremont High School, Weber School District
Valerie Payne, School Social Worker, Canyons School District
Wendy Potter, Principal, Loa and Hanksville Elementary Schools, Wayne School District
Wesley Morgan, Assistant Principal, Alta View Elementary, Canyons School District
Yaerli Anderson, Teacher, Canyon View Middle School, Iron School District
Parent Partners
Amber Bonner, Utah PTA Education Commissioner
Cissy Rasmussen
Jeanne-Marie Burrows
Janene Day
Student Partners
Brody Meier, Corner Canyon High School
Libby Topham, Lone Peak High School
Zach Davis, Salem Hills High School
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
Laney Benedict, Business Owner, Laney's Connection
Representative Douglas Welton, Utah House of Representatives
Sharon Turner, Senior Director of Communications, Utah Valley University
Anyone and everyone is invited to become a Statewide Attendance Ambassadors.
Simply fill out this Statewide Attendance Ambassador Commitment Survey (Google Docs)