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:
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have completed the requirements for graduation in an accredited school or have obtained a high school equivalency diploma;
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are excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or judge;
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are attending religious services or receiving qualifying religious instruction in accordance with relevant laws;
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are unable to attend school due to legitimate medical reasons;
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has an individualized education program that affects the child’s attendance;
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has a plan under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, that affects the child’s attendance;
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are attending an approved or probationally approved private college preparatory school;
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are attending an accredited nonpublic school;
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are receiving independent private instruction;
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are receiving competent private instruction;
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are a military applicant undergoing military entrance processing;
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are engaged in military service;
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are traveling to attend a funeral; or
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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:
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have completed the requirements for graduation in an accredited school or has obtained a high school equivalency diploma
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are excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or judge;
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are attending religious services or receiving qualifying religious instruction in accordance with relevant laws;
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are unable to attend school due to legitimate medical reasons;
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have an individualized education program than affects the student's attendance;
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have a plan under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, that affects the child's attendance;
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are attending a private college preparatory school accredited or probationally accredited;
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are excused under Iowa Code §299.22;
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are exempt under Iowa Code §299.24;
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are a military applicant undergoing military entrance processing;
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are engaged in military service;
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are traveling to attend a funeral; or
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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: