CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Schools across Iowa are adjusting their attendance policies to comply with a new state law.
Senate Document 2435 defines “chronic absenteeism” as a student being absent for 10% of the school year.
“We’ve just been working diligently to understand the law and think about our policies and procedures that are consistent with that law,” said Chris Gibson, director of student services for the Cedar Rapids Community School District.
If a student misses eight days of school, his or her family receives a letter informing them of their child’s chronic absence.
If a student misses 12 days, a meeting is required between the school, the student and the parents.
After 15 days of absence, a student is considered truant.
If this happens, another meeting will be held in the presence of the District Attorney.
Several schools reported that they had a problem with absences.
“Frankly, it was a problem and I’m glad the state legislature took up this allegation,” said Kyle Koeppen, superintendent of the Vinton-Shellsburg School District.
The Vinton-Shellsburg School District wants to help parents keep track of their children’s absences.
We’re going to put in some generic postcards as an additional measure that say, ‘Hey, you’ve been absent so much this quarter,’ just as a reminder, Koeppen said. “Part of it is just an acknowledgment that we know life goes on and just letting people know where they stand,” he said.
The Cedar Rapids Community School District admitted that it has become more relaxed about attendance monitoring since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“But that has led to more absences, more excused absences, and that’s where we just have to intervene,” Gibson said.
Gibson said the purpose of the law is to ensure Iowa’s children learn everything they can in school.
“We want our children to go to school. We want them to learn, and if they are not in their seats, they will not learn,” Gibson said.
You can read a summary of the School Attendance Act here.
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