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12
53G-6-213
0
School Attendance Changes
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Andrew Stoddard
Senate Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill establishes chronic absenteeism data requirements and a study.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
establishes chronic absenteeism data requirements and a study.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
53G-6-213
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
53G-6-213
is enacted to read:
53G-6-213
. Chronic absenteeism study.
(1)
As used in this section, "chronic absenteeism" means a student missing 10% or more of
school days in an academic year, regardless of whether the absences are excused or
unexcused.
(2)
Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, an LEA shall annually collect and report to
the state board the following data regarding chronic absenteeism:
(a)
the total number of students enrolled in each school within the LEA;
(b)
disaggregated by grade level, the total number and percentage of students in each
school within the LEA who are chronically absent; and
(c)
for each chronically absent student:
(i)
the total number of days absent; and
(ii)
the number of days absent that were excused.
(3)
The state board shall:
(a)
develop a standardized reporting template for an LEA to use in submitting the data
required under Subsection
(2)
; and
(b)
annually publish aggregated, anonymized data on chronic absenteeism statewide on
the state board's website.
(4)
(a)
The state board shall conduct a study of chronic absenteeism in the state.
(b)
The state board shall ensure the study required in Subsection
(4)(a)
:
(i)
analyzes the data an LEA reports in accordance with Subsection
(2)
to identify
trends and patterns of chronic absenteeism across the state;
(ii)
researches and identifies evidence-based interventions and best practices for
addressing chronic absenteeism, including strategies for:
(A)
prevention;
(B)
early intervention; and
(C)
student re-engagement;
(iii)
examines the root causes of chronic absenteeism, including:
(A)
socioeconomic factors;
(B)
transportation related issues;
(C)
mental health factors;
(D)
accessibility to health care;
(E)
family issues; and
(F)
general student disengagement; and
(iv)
consults stakeholders in conducting the study, including:
(A)
educators;
(B)
school and LEA level administrators;
(C)
other state entities as the state board determines;
(D)
parents and students;
(E)
community organizations; and
(F)
and other relevant stakeholders as the state board determines.
(5)
(a)
No later than September 15, 2027, the state board shall submit a report to the
Education Interim Committee detailing the findings and recommendations from the
study described in Subsection
(4)
.
(b)
The state board shall include in the report:
(i)
a summary of the data collected and analyzed;
(ii)
an analysis of the root causes of chronic absenteeism;
(iii)
a description of evidence-based interventions and best practices for addressing
chronic absenteeism connected to the root causes, including specific
recommendations for an LEA;
(iv)
if any, proposed legislation or policy changes needed to address chronic
absenteeism and the root causes effectively; and
(v)
recommendations for professional development and training for educators and
school level administrators on addressing chronic absenteeism.
Section 2.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
12-29-25 12:33 PM