‘They’re behind in all aspects;’ Utah educators brainstorming ways to boost school attendance
Sep 13, 2024, 7:00 AM
SALT LAKE CITY — According to data from the Utah State Board of Education measuring chronic absenteeism, more Utah students are absent from school than the national average.
According to Utah State Board of Education officials, a student is labeled as chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of the school year. Absences excused by a parent count toward that figure.
“Last year, we were at 26%, which is a slight decrease but still slightly above the national average,” said state board attendance specialist Garrett Russell.
The statistic is based on the 2022-2023 school year. The previous year was 27%.
In the Salt Lake City School District, a student is chronically absent if they miss 18 or more days of school during the year, which averages out to be two days per month.
An infographic showing the stats on chronic absenteeism. (KSL TV)
Salt Lake City and the district are recognizing September as Attendance Awareness Month in order to inform the community of issues with attendance.
Read the full story and more from Shelby Lofton on ksltv.com.
