Linn-Mar’s Implementation of the State’s New Attendance Law
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.
For more information and frequently asked questions, visit https://www.linnmar.k12.ia.us/parents/attendance-legistive-requirements/