Utah students could earn money for good attendance

SALT LAKE CITY — A proposed bill from Utah lawmakers offers students money to show up for class.  HB206 Chronic Absenteeism Pilot Program would allow five Utah schools to participate in a pilot program.

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But each school would have no more than 100 participating students.

“People miss school for a wide variety of reasons,” said House Democratic Assistant Whip and chief sponsor Sahara Hayes.  “So what we’re trying to do is find a creative solution to a really complex problem.”

The pilot program would give students up to $400 dollars for a 90% or better attendance record. The money will go into a My-529 educational savings account and used for future education.

“People respond a lot better to carrots than sticks,” said Hayes.

Chronic absenteeism in Utah impacts twenty-six percent of students 

Hayes says chronic absenteeism is a major problem in Utah’s public school system.  According to the Utah State Board of Education, More than one in four Utah students are chronically absent, or missing at least 18 days during the school year.  This affects how teachers teach and how other students learn.

“You can’t get the education that you need when you’re constantly having to go back and relearn,” said Hayes.

If HB 206 passes, there will be a study accompanying the bill to analyze its effectiveness.  Hayes hopes that the study will prove effective and that additional schools will be able to participate in the program.

Other related reading: Utah schools working to address chronic absenteeism