As a first-year teacher, I established a set of classroom expectations that I’ve used throughout my career. The very first expectation for my students is “be here.” If students are healthy, I need them to come to school. If they are at school, I need them to come to class. If they come to class, I need them to be mentally present and engaged.
Each year, and especially after COVID, this expectation has become more of a struggle. This is not just my experience — I’ve observed and talked to teachers and administrators across Utah. This problem spans school districts and classrooms, especially at the secondary level. Students who are present are often distracted by looking at their phones or listening to music on hidden earbuds. Many students simply aren’t present. In 2022, more than a quarter of students were chronically absent. At this rate, these students will miss two school years’ worth of instruction, putting them at a disadvantage when (or if) they graduate.
Families, teachers need your help to set up your child for success. Schools use programs like Power School or Skyward to track grades and attendance and use an online platform such as Canvas to post disclosures, assignments and learning resources. You can use these systems to see the curriculum your school is using, the topics students are studying, the work your student is completing, and which classes they are attending. As we return to school, please make sure you can access your parent portal for these online systems. Double check your contact information so that teachers can communicate with you. Make it a habit to check the portal frequently so that you notice patterns of non-attendance or missing work.
Together, we can put students on the path to success by helping them “be here” every day.
Sarah Nichols, West Valley City