ADMINISTRATIVE MEMORANDUM
To: School Principals
From: Dr. Bri Conley, Director of Educational Equity & Access
Date: September 10, 2026
Subject: School Attendance Webpage Template and Attendance Communications Guidance
Purpose
The purpose of this guidance is to ensure families have clear, consistent, and accessible information about school attendance. By using a common attendance webpage template, schools can help families understand attendance expectations, Utah's compulsory education requirements, how to report absences, how attendance notifications are communicated through Edia AI, and where to access support when attendance concerns arise. Using a common template across schools will help create a consistent experience for families and make attendance information easier to find and understand.
District Guidance
All schools should use the attached School Attendance Webpage Template on their website. The template is designed to provide families with clear, consistent, and family-friendly information about attendance procedures and expectations.
To maintain consistency across the district, schools should keep the main content of the template. Schools should only update sections that require school-specific information, including:
- Attendance office email address
- Attendance office phone number
- Any other school-specific contact information
Administrative Responsibilities
Principals are responsible for:
- Ensuring the attendance template is posted and maintained on the school's website.
- Replacing all placeholder information with accurate school contact information.
- Verifying that attendance office procedures match the information shared on the website.
- Ensuring attendance office staff understand and follow the attendance reporting and excusal procedures outlined in the template.
- Reviewing the webpage regularly to keep information accurate and up to date.
- Supporting clear and proactive communication with families about attendance expectations, how to report absences, and available supports through multiple channels, including ParentSquare messages, flyers, SEP conferences, back-to-school events, and other family engagement opportunities.
This guidance is intended to help families access attendance information quickly, improve communication between schools and families, and support student attendance and engagement.
School Attendance Webpage Template
Utah law requires students ages 6 to 18 to attend school regularly, and we're here to help make that possible for every family. If attendance becomes a challenge, reach out to us early so we can help. We can connect families with support and resources to help address barriers to attendance and keep students engaged in learning. Together, we can help every student stay connected to school and on track for success.
Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic success. To maximize learning opportunities, students are expected to attend every class, on time, every day. Parents and their student(s) are jointly responsible for ensuring the student's regular attendance at school. See SLCSD Board Student Policy S-4 for more information.
Attendance Notifications with Edia AI
When a teacher marks a student absent, families will receive a text message from Edia AI within minutes. Parents and guardians can reply directly to the text message to verify or provide the reason for the absence. This helps us maintain accurate attendance records and allows us to provide timely support to students when needed.
No app download or account setup is required. Edia AI communicates directly with the parent or guardian phone number on file with the school.
Reporting an Absence
- Reply to an Edia AI text message. If you have previously received a message from Edia AI, simply reply to the text with the reason for your student's absence. This is the preferred and fastest way to communicate attendance information. The attendance office will receive your message and update your student's attendance record.
- If you have not previously received an Edia AI message or are unable to use Edia, email [attendance email] with your student's name, the date(s) of the absence, and the reason for the absence.
- If email is not accessible, call [attendance phone number] and leave a voicemail with your student's name, the date(s) of the absence, and the reason for the absence.
Please report absences as soon as possible to help ensure attendance records are updated accurately and efficiently.
Important: If you have not received messages from Edia AI and your student has had absences you have not excused, please contact the school office to verify that your phone number is listed correctly in PowerSchool. If your phone number changes, parents and guardians should update their contact information as soon as possible to ensure they continue to receive attendance notifications and other important school communications.
Attendance Records and Excusal Requirements
To help us maintain accurate attendance records, please include your student's name and the specific date(s) and/or class period(s) when contacting the Attendance Office regarding an absence.
If you submit an absence excuse by email, the message must come from the parent or guardian email address listed in PowerSchool. Requests sent from a different email address cannot be processed, and a notification will be sent to the email address on file.
When reporting an absence, please include the reason for the absence. A parent or guardian's acknowledgment that a student was absent, without a reason, is not sufficient to excuse the absence. Providing the reason helps the school accurately code attendance and ensures compliance with state attendance requirements.
Please keep the following in mind:
- Parents and guardians have one week from the date of an absence to notify the school and provide the reason for the absence. After one week, the absence can no longer be excused and will be recorded as a truancy.
- If you believe your student was marked absent in error, please contact the teacher directly.
- The Attendance Office cannot change an absence to present without written confirmation from the teacher.
- Requests received after 2:30 p.m. may be processed the following school day. We appreciate your patience.
- Email cannot be used to check a student out of school.
- Students are expected to attend all classes each day. If a student needs to leave during the school day, a parent or guardian must check them out through the Attendance Office.
- Students who leave without being properly checked out may be considered truant.
Thank you for partnering with us to support your student's attendance and success. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Attendance Office. We are here to help.
