Utah Lawmakers Pledge Bipartisan Effort to Address Chronic Student Absenteeism

Proposed legislation aims to improve data collection and identify solutions to high rates of students missing school

Jan. 27, 2026 at 10:15pm

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Utah legislators from both parties are working together to address the growing problem of chronic student absenteeism in the state's K-12 schools. A proposed bill would require the Utah State Board of Education to gather and analyze data on absenteeism rates, identify root causes, and develop strategies to get more students back in the classroom. The bill was temporarily put on hold as lawmakers collaborate to craft the best approach, recognizing the need for a coordinated, bipartisan effort to tackle this challenge.

Why it matters

Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, has become a major issue in Utah, with nearly a quarter of students affected. This has far-reaching consequences, including declines in academic performance, graduation rates, and opportunities for social development. Addressing this problem is crucial for improving educational outcomes and ensuring students have the best chance to succeed.

The details

The proposed legislation, House Bill 106, would task the Utah State Board of Education with gathering and analyzing absenteeism data from each public K-12 school, including the percentage of chronically absent students and the factors contributing to the problem. The board would then be required to publish the data and identify interventions and strategies to help get kids back in school. Lawmakers from both parties have agreed to work together on the issue, recognizing the need for a coordinated, bipartisan approach to address the root causes of chronic absenteeism, such as socioeconomics, mental health, family issues, and student disengagement.

  • In the 2023-2024 school year, nearly a quarter of Utah students were chronically absent, almost double the rate from a decade earlier.
  • On Tuesday, January 28, 2026, Rep. Andrew Stoddard, D-Sandy, presented the bill to the Legislature's House Education Committee.

The players

Rep. Andrew Stoddard

A Democratic state representative from Sandy, Utah, who is sponsoring the bill to address chronic student absenteeism.

Utah State Board of Education (USBE)

The state agency that would be tasked with gathering and analyzing absenteeism data, as well as identifying interventions and strategies to improve student attendance under the proposed legislation.

Rep. Tiara Auxier

A Republican state representative from Morgan, Utah, who expressed concerns about the need for another study on chronic absenteeism when previous efforts have already been conducted.

Rep. Jason Thompson

A Republican state representative from River Heights, Utah, who is co-sponsoring a similar school attendance measure, Senate Bill 58, and has invited Rep. Stoddard to work together on the issue.

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What they’re saying

“What they all said is, 'We really need to figure out what is the cause of this chronic absenteeism — and until we understand what the cause is, we can't really do much about it, because we're just going to be putting Band-Aids on and keep doing that forever.'”

— Rep. Andrew Stoddard, State Representative (Deseret News)

“There are a lot of things happening around all of us that are working in this space — and we just need to bring it together into one conversation. I'm committed to working with you to make sure that all aspects of this bill are included there. We're all rowing in the same direction — and I think we're going to make tremendous progress.”

— Rep. Jason Thompson, State Representative (Deseret News)

What’s next

The proposed bill, House Bill 106, is currently on hold as lawmakers from both parties work together to craft the best approach to addressing chronic student absenteeism in Utah. They plan to incorporate aspects of a similar measure, Senate Bill 58, and collaborate to ensure the final legislation effectively identifies the root causes and implements effective solutions.

The takeaway

The bipartisan effort to tackle chronic student absenteeism in Utah's K-12 schools underscores the importance of this issue and the need for a coordinated, data-driven approach to improve attendance and educational outcomes. By working together across party lines, lawmakers aim to develop a comprehensive strategy that addresses the complex factors contributing to high rates of student absences and provides the necessary interventions and support to get more kids back in the classroom.