Utah schools working to address chronic absenteeism
Jan 14, 2025, 6:15 PM

A Canyons School District bus is pictured outside of the Capitol in Salt Lake City, on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah schools hope to reduce absenteeism and increase access to healthcare with a new telehealth program.
Canyons School District has had its sights set on fighting chronic absenteeism since the beginning of the school year.
Effects of chronic absenteeism
District spokesperson Kirsten Stewart told Dave & Dujanovic that it doesn’t take much to be chronically absent — meaning a student misses 10% of the school year.
“If you missed two to three days per month, that’s chronic absenteeism. So a doctor’s appointment here, a sick day there, an extended vacation. I mean it adds up pretty fast,” Stewart said.
According to the Canyons School District, 32% of its students were chronically absent during the 2023-2024 school year.
“We know students who miss a lot of school are more likely to receive D and F grades and have difficulty reading by the third grade,” Stewart said.
Reducing student absences
A telehealth program, in partnership with Intermountain Health, will target some of that absenteeism by allowing students to stay in school for a doctor’s appointment. It’ll also shorten the time it takes for a student to receive care.
Jen Gerrard, nurse specialist with Canyons Schools District, explained how.
“The equipment that came from Intermountain Health gives us that ability to connect with the provider with the student right there in person at the school with the school nurse and then get them the health care that they need,” Gerrard said. “For the most part, after receiving a telehealth visit, students are remaining in the classroom afterward.”
Gerrard said parents join the calls remotely or in person.
Along with the telehealth program, the school district is also taking other approaches to addressing absenteeism.
“When we see children who are at risk for whatever reasons, maybe they’re struggling a little bit in the classroom, they’re not coming regularly, then we’ll reach out to them,” Stewart said.
Stewart said administrators and other staff conduct home visits to better understand the needs of students and their families.
Parents can also coordinate with schools to make appropriate adjustments if their kids are having difficulties.
“We want to work with families to help their children feel comfortable coming to school and feeling like they’re succeeding,” Stewart said.