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:
- State wide messaging on the importance of positive attendance.
- Common language and definitions around attendance
- Consistent and accurate data collection
- Intentional statewide data analysis
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Positive Attendance
Regular attendance is important because it has positive lasting impacts on students. Early positive attendance can affect outcomes in a student's later academic years. Children who have positive regular attendance in Kindergarten are more likely to graduate on time.
Data
Attendance
Mobility/Absenteeism
Chronically Absent Rate, School Year 2023
Utah State Board of Education Superintendent's Annual Report (SAR)
Utah State Board of Education, Data and Statistics
Graduation Rates
Graduation Rates by Student Group
Utah State Board of Education, Data and Statistics
Historical Graduation Rates
High School Cohort Graduation, Dropout, and Other Completer/Continuing Rates
Single-Year Dropout Rate
Utah State Board of Education, Data and Statistics
Law and Policy
The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) has one Administrative Rule that oversees Absenteeism and Truancy, R277-607. Absenteeism and Truancy Prevention. This rule is governed by three primary statues.
Statutes
Section 53G-6 Part 2 - Compulsory Education
Utah State Legislature
Section 53G-8-211 - Responses to school-based behavior
Utah State Legislature
Internal Audit
Utah State Legislature Utah Code Title 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
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
Promising Approaches
A New School Year Brings Renewed Focus On Attendance
National Public Radio (NPR)
Reducing Chronic Absenteeism: Every Day Counts YouTube
Reducing Chronic Absence: What Will it Take? YouTube
The Hidden Factor of Low Performance YouTube
Success Stories
Attendance Works
Tools
Attendance Awareness Month 2021
Resources
Data Tools
Attendance Works
Research and Data
Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC)
United States Department of Education
Chronic Absenteeism in the Nation's Schools
United States Department of Education
Chronic Elementary Absenteeism: A Problem Hidden in Plain Sight
Attendance Works
New Research Shows Nearly Half of American Parents Underestimate the Harm of School
Absences
United States Department of Education, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and the Ad
Council Partner
Research
Attendance Works
Utah Specific Research
Attendance and the Early Grades: A Two-Generation Issue
Voices for Utah Children
Chronic Absenteeism in Utah
Utah Education Policy Center
Absenteeism
Ensuring success in school is helping students get into the habit of attending school every day. Improving school attendance improves success in school. If schools are to improve educational achievement, they will need to address chronic absenteeism.
Promising Approaches
A New School Year Brings Renewed Focus On Attendance
National Public Radio (NPR)
Reducing Chronic Absenteeism: Every Day Counts
Reducing Chronic Absence: What Will it Take?
The Hidden Factor of Low Performance
YouTube
Success Stories
Attendance Works
Tools
Attendance Awareness Month 2021
Resources
Data Tools
Attendance Works
Every Student, Every Day: A Community Toolkit to Address and Eliminate Chronic Absenteeism
(2015)
United States Department of Education
Research and Data
Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC)
Chronic Absenteeism in the Nation's Schools
United States Department of Education
Chronic Elementary Absenteeism: A Problem Hidden in Plain Sight
Attendance Works
New Research Shows Nearly Half of American Parents Underestimate the Harm of School
Absences
United States Department of Education, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and the Ad
Council Partner
Research
Attendance Works
Utah Specific Research
Attendance and the Early Grades: A Two-Generation Issue
Voices for Utah Children
Chronic Absenteeism in Utah
National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE)
Dropout Prevention
Dropout Prevention is a collective effort of the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to implement strategies and practices with key components of interventions to reduce dropout rates. The guide provides support to improve access to educational opportunities for each student and offer a wide range of resources to increase graduation rates.
Regulation
R277-606: Dropout Prevention and Recovery Program
USBE Administrative Rules
Title 53E-3-S401: Powers of State Board of Education, Adoption of Rules, Enforcement,
Attorney
Title 53G-9-S802: Dropout Prevention and Recovery, Flexible Enrollment Options, Contracting,
Reporting
Utah State Legislature
Resources
About Check and Connect
University of Minnesota
An evidence based comprehensive dropout prevention and intervention program designed to improve student engagement at school and with learning, through relationship building, problem solving, and capacity building.
Reducing Chronic Absenteeism: Every Day Counts
Reducing Chronic Absence: What Will it Take?
The Hidden Factor of Low Performance
YouTube
National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC)
Success Stories
Attendance Works