Abstract
Chronic absenteeism due to educational neglect is a prevalent social need in the state of Utah. Thousands of children in Utah are falling through the cracks of the system that is designed for their success and it is imperative that Utah’s State Legislature examines this dilemma more closely. It is recommended that the legislature examine real cases of educational neglect and realize how current decision making and policy framework is impacting the future success of Utah’s children. Modifications include extending the scope of intervention to secondary school-aged children, creating standardized attendance infraction letters for every school district in Utah, reevaluating the strict requirements for social service workers to prove allegations of educational neglect, and implementing proactive measures that promote collaboration between schools, social services, parents and guardians. These modifications will help ensure that Utah’s children have access to a fundamental human right, education.
Recommended Citation
Barker, Celeste D.
(2024)
"Educational Neglect in Utah: How the state allows children to fall through the cracks,"
Transforming Communities: Vol. 1:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/tcjournal/vol1/iss1/3
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