Attendance – Legislative Requirements

Iowa’s new law on school attendance and student absenteeism introduces several key changes aimed at improving attendance and addressing chronic absenteeism. These changes will impact all children from preschool through age 16.

Changes to Absence Categorization

Parents and guardians will still contact their child’s building to notify them of any absence, but in alignment with the state’s new law, the state has changed how our buildings will record absences and how the district can categorize those absences. The new legislation, for the most part, does not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences in most situations. For example, Iowa law now states that college visits, vacations, funerals, family emergencies, car trouble, or other similar events that are excused by a parent will count as an absence and are not exempt from truancy laws. There are some exceptions that include:

• Attendance at a school-related event like a field trip or participating in an extracurricular activity.
• Completion of graduation requirements or high school equivalency diploma.
• Excusal for sufficient training reason by a court or judge.
• Attendance at religious services or religious instruction.
• Inability to attend due to legitimate medical reasons.
• An individualized education program (IEP) affecting attendance.
• A plan under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act affecting attendance.
• Attendance at other approved institutions (college prep, accredited nonpublic school, homeschooling, etc.)

Key Thresholds for Communication

The law also includes several thresholds requiring a district to inform parents and guardians of absences.

• 10% Days Missed (Chronically Absent) – When a student has missed 10% of school days in a quarter/semester/grading period, the district must send a letter to the child’s parent or guardian and notify the county attorney.
• 15% Days Missed – When a student is absent for 15% of school days in a quarter/semester/grading period, a school engagement meeting is required between the student, parent, and a school official to create an absenteeism prevention plan. The school will monitor compliance and contact the parent at least once a week.  If the student and student’s parent/guardian do not attend the meeting, do not enter into a plan, or violate the terms of the plan, the school official will notify the county attorney.
• 20% Days Missed (Truancy) – Additional absences will prompt the district to follow steps outlined in Iowa law related to truancy and notifying the county attorney that this threshold was met, which is defined as missing 20% of school days in a quarter/semester/grading period.

Common Goal: Students in Attendance as Much as Possible

Parents and guardians should still continue to notify their building’s secretary of any absence so we can be sure we’re supporting our students and families in the best way possible. The goal of the legislation is to ensure that absences are properly categorized and addressed, and the state has specific requirements for schools that we must use for the categorization of those absences.

Our district remains focused on ensuring all of our students have ample opportunity to engage in learning. To do this we will be closely monitoring attendance and communicating with families frequently to ensure our district is in compliance with the new law.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we have these new attendance laws?
SF 2435 was passed as law on May 9, 2024 with an effective date of July 1, 2024. In follow up to the passing of code, the Iowa Department of Education provided guidance to school districts in Iowa in August. Our district brought forth new policies in August to be in compliance with these expectations.

What ages fall under this policy?
Families that choose to enroll in kindergarten or preschool fall under the compulsory attendance law, as do students up to the age of 16. The provisions of the law apply to this group in terms of communication with the county attorney, design of plans, etc. However, the district is required to report the attendance to the state for all students enrolled regardless of age.

What is the definition of an exempt absence?
Think of the term as “exempt from the law regarding truancy.” This term will be used if an absence is exempted from the Iowa Code and will not be counted toward truancy in the chronic absenteeism law.

What are our district’s quarters/semesters?
See our district’s 2024-25 approved calendar.

What Linn-Mar policies are used to implement this law?

• Policy 501.1 – Compulsory Attendance
• Policy 501.11 – Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy

I’m planning to do college visits with my student. Are those excused absences?
Per Iowa Code and Iowa Department of Education guidance, college visits are not exempt. Our District will track these absences as required by the state and they will count toward truancy within the chronic absenteeism law.

My student wants to attend state basketball to cheer on their friends. Is that an excused absence?
Per Iowa Code and Iowa Department of Education guidance, this would not be exempt. Our District will track these absences as required by the state and they will count toward truancy within the chronic absenteeism law.

Are family funerals an excused absence?
Per Iowa Code and Iowa Department of Education guidance, this would not be exempt. Our District will track these absences as required by the state and they will count toward truancy within the chronic absenteeism law.

We have a family vacation planned. How does that impact my student’s attendance record?
Per Iowa Code and Iowa Department of Education guidance, this would not be exempt. Our District will track these absences as required by the state and they will count toward truancy within the chronic absenteeism law.

My family is leaving the country for a couple weeks. How do we proceed?
If a family is leaving the country, they would need to be unenrolled during the time period for which they are gone. Once the family returns, the enrollment can be resumed. Please speak with your building administrator if this situation applies to your family.

Will keeping my child home due to a religious holiday be considered as exempt?
Students who are absent from school for religious service, holiday, or instruction will be exempt from chronic absenteeism laws.

My student isn’t feeling well, but it doesn’t warrant a doctor’s visit. Do I need to make an appointment to get a note?
Any absence with a medical note will be exempt from truancy within the chronic absenteeism law, but any absence for an illness of this nature without a medical note would not be exempt.

What does it mean for my student’s attendance record if the nurse sends them home sick?
When a nurse sends a student home for health-related reasons, the absence will be considered medically exempt. A medically exempt absence will be exempt from chronic absenteeism laws.

My student has a planned surgery (i.e., tonsillectomy). Will that count against their attendance record?
With a doctor’s note, the absence will be considered medically exempt. A medically exempt absence will be exempt from truancy within the chronic absenteeism law.

If I have to pick my student up early for an appointment, are they considered absent for the full day?
Buildings will indicate a half-day absence for instance when students have appointments, and these appointments should include a physician note if applicable. A medically exempt absence will be exempt from truancy within the chronic absenteeism laws.

My student has recurring appointments (i.e., physical therapy, counseling, specialist). Does each appointment require a doctor’s note, or can I bring in one note for the year?
It may be possible for recurring doctor appointments to be outlined with one note. Please speak with a building administrator regarding your specific situation.

Who do I give a doctor’s note or other documentation to, and when?
Doctor’s notes can be given to the building secretary, nurse, or an administrator either prior to the absence or upon return.

What happens if my student’s bus is late?
Students will not be counted absent or tardy due to bus-related delays.

What is the District doing to help families comply with these policies?
We have staff in each building who reach out to families who are struggling with student attendance. They may provide families with resources like outlining attendance contracts with the family to help them get the student to school, suggesting transportation resources, getting students in touch with student support services within the district, communicating with the family about the importance of regular attendance, or making community referrals to outside agencies when appropriate. Our district also has student assistance team members at our buildings who can help students who may be struggling with substance abuse, mental health or academic concerns.

Where can I see my student’s attendance record?
You can see your student’s attendance record by logging into the parent PowerSchool portal. Your student’s absences are displayed on the landing page. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see a list of absence types.

What are all the different types of absences, and can I see that in PowerSchool?
The following are specific examples provided by the Iowa Department of Education. The attendance codes that will be visible in PowerSchool, as recommended by the Iowa Department of Education, are visible at the bottom of this document.

Scenarios Provided by the Iowa Department of Education:

• A student is present per SF2435:
  • Participating in state athletic competition, show choir, art show, attending community college course, CTE placement, school-directed/supervised activity (e.g., FFA Conference, Art Show, Class Trip), medically homebound but completing work.
• A student is absent and not exempt per SF2435:
  • Family vacation, funeral, “out of town,” helping family (e.g., planting, harvest, working shift at family business), arrived to school then skipped classes, college visit, student is not at school and there is no parent contact or the parent does not give a reason, watching classmates in competition, car trouble, vehicle accident.
• A student is absent, but potentially exempt per SF2435 based on information/documentation provided:
  • Planned medical treatment, Medical appointment; Home ill, Parent or sibling medical emergency.
• A student is absent but exempt per SF2435:
  • Religious service, holiday, or education, Court-directed activity, Jury Duty, IEP that restricts attendance, Section 504 plan that restricts attendance.

Should I be worried about my child’s attendance?
We know that students have better success with regular, predictable attendance. These changes will help ensure the district is communicating with families of students who are chronically absent to alert them to trends and provide resources that may be helpful. Please note that families will receive a letter and have a meeting with the district before any referral to a county attorney would take place.