Compulsory Attendance
Parents within the school district who have children over age six and under age sixteen by September 15, in proper physical and mental condition to attend school, will have the children attend the school district at the attendance center designated by the board. Students will attend school the number of days or hours school is in session in accordance with the school calendar. Students of compulsory attendance age will attend school a minimum of 146 days. Students not attending the minimum days or hours must be exempted by this policy as listed below or, referred to the county attorney. Exceptions to this policy include children who:
have completed the requirements for graduation in an accredited school or have obtained a high school equivalency diploma;
are excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or judge;
are attending religious services or receiving qualifying religious instruction in accordance with relevant laws;
are unable to attend school due to legitimate medical reasons;
has an individualized education program that affects the child’s attendance;
has a plan under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, that affects the child’s attendance;
are attending an approved or probationally approved private college preparatory school;
are attending an accredited nonpublic school;
are receiving independent private instruction;
are receiving competent private instruction;
are a military applicant undergoing military entrance processing;
are engaged in military service;
are traveling to attend a funeral; or
are traveling to attend a wedding.
It is the responsibility of the parent of a child to provide evidence of the child's mental and physical inability to attend school or of the child's qualifications for one of the exceptions listed above.Evidence may be shown in written or verbal communications with the building level administration. Reasonable travel time will be afforded for engaging in the exceptions listed above.
Chronic Absenteeism & Truancy
The district believes that traditional, in-person school attendance leads to the greatest learning opportunities for students. Students who are present in school and engaged active learners take greater ownership over their educational outcomes. For this reason, it is the priority of the district to foster regular student attendance throughout the school year and reduce barriers to regular attendance for students in the district.
Chronic absenteeism/absences means any absence from school for more than ten percent of the days in the academic school year established by the district.
Truant/truancy means a child of compulsory attendance age who is absent from school for any reason for at least twenty percent of the days in the academic school year established by the district.
Chronic absenteeism and truancy do not apply to the following students who:
have completed the requirements for graduation in an accredited school or has obtained a high school equivalency diploma
are excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or judge;
are attending religious services or receiving qualifying religious instruction in accordance with relevant laws;
are unable to attend school due to legitimate medical reasons;
have an individualized education program than affects the student's attendance;
have a plan under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, that affects the child's attendance;
are attending a private college preparatory school accredited or probationally accredited;
are excused under Iowa Code §299.22;
are exempt under Iowa Code §299.24;
are a military applicant undergoing military entrance processing;
are engaged in military service;
are traveling to attend a funeral; or
are traveling to attend a wedding.
Evidence may be shown in written or verbal communications with the building level administration. Reasonable travel time will be afforded for engaging in the exceptions listed above. Students are subject to disciplinary action for truancy including suspension and expulsion. It is within the discretion of the principal to determine, in light of the circumstances, whether a student may make up work missed because of truancy.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the designated school officials, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy. The administrative regulations will indicate the disciplinary action to be taken for truancy.
Approved: 7/14/25 Reviewed: Revised:
Daily, punctual attendance is an integral part of the learning experience. The education that goes on in the classroom builds from day to day and absences can cause disruption in the educational progress of the absent student. Irregular attendance or tardiness by students not only limits their own studies, but also interferes with the progress of those students who are regular and prompt in attendance. Attendance is a shared responsibility that requires cooperation and communication among students, parents and the school.
This regulation is divided into two sections: Section I addresses legal requirements related to chronic absenteeism and truancy and Section II addresses additional academic, disciplinary and extracurricular consequences students face due to chronic absenteeism and truancy. It is important for students to recognize that chronic absenteeism and truancy impacts all these facets of their educational experience.
SECTION I – Legal Requirements
Chronic Absenteeism
When a student meets the threshold to be considered chronically absent, the school official will send notice by mail or e-mail to the county attorney where the district’s central office is located. The school official will also notify the student, or if a minor, the student’s parent, guardian or legal or actual custodian via U.S. mail, electronic mail, electronic message or in person delivery that includes information related to the student’s absences from school and the policies and disciplinary processes associated with additional absences.
School Engagement Meeting
If a student is absent from school for at least fifteen percent of the days in the grading period, the school official will attempt to find the cause of the absences. If the school official determines that the child's absences are negatively affecting the child's academic progress, the school official will start and participate in a school engagement meeting. All of the following individuals must participate in the school engagement meeting:
The student;
The student’s parent, guardian or legal or actual custodian if the student is an unemancipated minor; and
A school official.
The purpose of the meeting is to understand the reasons for the student’s absences and attempt to remove barriers to the student’s ongoing absences; and to create and sign an absenteeism prevention plan.
Absenteeism Prevention Plan
The absenteeism prevention plan will identify the causes of the student’s absences and the future responsibilities of each participant. The school official will contact the student and student’s parent/guardian at least once per week for the remainder of the school year to monitor the performance of the student and the student’s parent/guardian under the plan. 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.
SECTION II – Academic and Disciplinary Requirements
Students are required to be in attendance, pursuant to board policy, for 146 days per school year unless their absences have been excused by the principal for illness (absences of five or more consecutive days due to illness requires a doctor's note), family emergencies, doctor or dental appointment, recognized religious observances and school sponsored or approved activities. Reasonable excuses may also include family trips or vacations approved by the building principal. Parents are expected to telephone the school office to report a student's absence prior to 9 AM on the day of the absence.
High School: If a student accumulates 12 absences in a class per semester, he or she may lose credit for the class. Notification sequence and communication related to absences, as well as consequences and student placement following loss of credit, is outlined in the high school handbook.
Elementary/Middle School: If a student accumulates 25 absences in an academic school year, he or she may be assigned summer school to close the learning gap. Failure to attend assigned summer school may result in student retention in the current grade. Notification sequence and full details of the attendance policy are outlined in the respective elementary and/or middle school handbook.
Approved: 7/14/25 Reviewed: Revised: