Student attendance is one of the most powerful indicators of academic success. When students are in class regularly, they have stronger connections with teachers and peers, better engagement with learning, and improved long-term outcomes. Yet across the state and nation, chronic absenteeism is rising. In Utah, our shared leadership as school board members and superintendents plays a pivotal role in addressing this trend.
Research shows that students who miss just two days of school each month—about 10% of the year—are at serious risk of falling behind. Chronic absenteeism can begin in kindergarten and compound over time, impacting literacy, graduation rates, and even college and career readiness. Simply put: if students aren’t in school, they can’t benefit from the investments we make in curriculum, instruction, and support.
What Leaders Can Do: A Call to Action
As local education leaders, we can shape the systems, culture, and community partnerships that promote regular attendance. Here are practical actions school boards and superintendents can take to help students show up and succeed:
1. Make Attendance a Leadership Priority
Embed attendance improvement goals in your district’s strategic plans and board discussions. Ensure policies support early identification and intervention, not just compliance. Join USBE and leaders from across the state and become an Attendance Ambassador. An Attendance Ambassador is someone who:
· is working hard to promote students attending school
· knows about the campaign and helps spread the word within their school or community
· cares about students and their success in school and out of school
· supports others by sharing tools and pointing them to helpful attendance resources
2. Use Data to Drive Decisions
Regularly review attendance data by grade level, school, and student groups. Look for patterns—particularly among chronically absent students—and respond with targeted supports.
3. Set the Tone with Positive Messaging
Promote the Every Day Counts message in your district communications. Celebrate improvements and share stories that illustrate the benefits of showing up—academically, socially, and emotionally. Murray City School District promotes attendance each March during their March Madness Attendance Competition.
4. Invest in Tiered Supports
Collaborate with school leaders to ensure schools have a three-tiered system of attendance supports, including:
Universal messaging and incentives
Personalized outreach for students showing early signs of absenteeism
Intensive case management for chronically absent students
5. Empower and Equip Schools
Provide principals and staff with tools and training to track attendance, communicate effectively with families, and build school cultures where students feel safe, supported, and motivated to attend. Bonneville Elementary in the Ogden School District offers attendance incentives to combat high absenteeism.
6. Engage Families and Communities
Strong attendance starts at home. Build trust with families through ongoing communication, family liaisons, and community partnerships. Help remove barriers such as transportation, housing instability, or health concerns that can keep students out of school.
7. Celebrate Progress and Share What Works
Recognize schools that are improving attendance and spotlight innovative strategies. Peer learning across districts can inspire and accelerate progress.
Looking Ahead
Improving attendance is not a one-time initiative—it’s a long-term commitment to student success. By keeping this issue front and center in our governance, planning, and resource allocation, Utah’s education leaders can ensure that more students are present, engaged, and prepared to thrive. Let’s work together to ensure every student is in school every day—because every day truly counts.