An attendance survey from the Murray City School District has identified several key challenges and motivators regarding student presence in the classroom, according to a October 7 report.
The data highlights both the factors that motivate students to participate in classroom activities and the specific challenges they face when trying to attend school.
Several common challenges impact student attendance, including sleep deficits caused by late nights from jobs, sports, or homework combined with early morning alarms and traffic.
Additionally, a post-pandemic mindset has led some students to believe that missing class is not an issue if work can be completed online, though teachers noted that digital tasks cannot replace live instruction and mentorship. The survey also identified friction from incentive campaigns that may encourage sick students to attend for prizes, along with outside pressures such as childcare and work hours.
The survey results also highlighted what successfully encourages student attendance. Students frequently cited relationships with friends, trusted teachers, sports, and mentors as primary reasons for showing up to school.
Secondary students showed motivation related to graduation, college, and career goals. The report noted that high schoolers respond well to practical programs like U-Removal, while younger students benefit from Spirit Weeks and school-wide activities.
The District Attendance Committee intends to work with the District Administration and the Board of Education to turn this feedback into change. Proposed opportunities for action include exploring secondary schedule adjustments, streamlining drop-off zones, and offering non-punitive check-ins for late arrivals.
The district also aims to focus on dynamic, hands-on learning and refine reward systems to move toward positive point systems and social incentives that encourage consistency without compromising student health.
The district noted that these attendance challenges are not new and that the District Attendance Committee has been working on proposals to mitigate these friction points for several years.
The District Attendance Committee will collaborate with administration and the Board of Education to implement changes based on the survey feedback.
