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Starting with the 2026–2027 school year, this bill would require every local school district and charter school in Utah to annually collect and report data on chronic absenteeism — defined as a student missing 10% or more of school days in a year, whether the absences are excused or not — to the State Board of Education. School districts would need to report total enrollment, the number and percentage of chronically absent students broken down by grade level, and for each chronically absent student, the total days missed and how many were excused. The State Board would be required to create a standard reporting form, publish anonymized statewide data on its website each year, and conduct a study examining patterns and root causes of chronic absenteeism — such as poverty, transportation problems, mental health, healthcare access, and family issues — while consulting with educators, administrators, parents, students, and community organizations. By September 15, 2027, the Board would need to submit a report to the Legislature's Education Interim Committee with its findings, evidence-based recommendations for schools, any proposed legislation, and suggestions for educator training.