Nearly one-fifth of Utah public school students are chronically absent, a rate that has almost doubled in the past decade. The recent uptick in Utah is worrisome because students who miss a lot of school are at greater risk of dropping out and engaging in risky behaviors.
Colorado just approved universal preschool for all 4-year-olds as part of an overall strategy for early education. Does Utah have a like plan for developing early education?
Kindergarten isn’t required in Utah but new poll shows widespread support for an optional full-day kindergarten program. The Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics survey found a majority of Utahns favor the option.
There is growing demand for full-day kindergarten programs, which benefit children educationally, socially and nutritionally, but also provide more consistency for working parents.