Bill > SB0058

This bill, titled "Public School Attendance Amendments," aims to enhance student attendance monitoring and support for local education agencies (LEAs), which are entities responsible for public education within a specific geographic area. It introduces new definitions for "attendance validated program" and "learner validated program" to distinguish between traditional classroom instruction and competency-based or self-paced learning, clarifying what constitutes an "instructional day" and "instructional hours" for each. The bill also defines "chronic absenteeism" as a student missing at least 10% of instructional days after being enrolled for at least 60 days, and establishes procedures for issuing notices of compulsory education violations and truancy, including requirements for parents to meet with school authorities and cooperate in ensuring regular attendance. Furthermore, LEAs are mandated to conduct regular reviews of student attendance data to identify at-risk students, implement tiered interventions, notify parents of unexcused absences promptly, and maintain accurate attendance records. The state board will set data quality standards for LEAs, conduct audits, and provide technical assistance, with LEAs failing to meet these standards facing potential consequences, including withholding of state funding, unless the issue solely relates to excused absences. Finally, the bill introduces a new requirement for students to demonstrate personal care independence, specifically being toilet-trained, for enrollment in public school starting in the 2026-2027 school year, with exemptions for students with disabilities or those with documented medical conditions.

Education

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/SB0058.html