Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy
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 certified mail that includes information related to the student’s absences from school and the policies and disciplinary processes associated with additional absences.
School officials will send notice when the student’s absences meet the threshold, but before the student is deemed chronically absent.
School Engagement Meeting
If a student is absent from school for at least fifteen percent of the hours in the grading period, the school official will attempt to find the cause of the absences and start and participate in a school engagement meeting. All of the following individuals must participate in the school engagement meeting:
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
[The language in Section II should reflect your individual district's academic and disciplinary consequences for chronic absenteeism and truancy that exist separate from the legal consequences listed in Section I above. The two samples below can be adapted or replaced in their entirety with your district's preferred process.}
Option I
Students who are absent without a reasonable excuse, as determined by the principal, will be assigned to [supervised study hall, detention, early bird school, Saturday school, in-school suspension, or other appropriate disciplinary sanction]. Reasonable excuses include illness, family emergencies, recognized religious observances and school-sponsored or approved activities. Reasonable excuses may also include family trips or vacations approved by the building principal if the student's work is finished prior to the trip or vacation. [Supervised study hall, detention, early bird school, Saturday school, in-school suspension, or other appropriate disciplinary sanction] will be assigned on a two-for-one basis.
A student who is unexcused for one or more classes for less than a whole school day, will be assigned to [supervised study hall, detention, early bird school, Saturday school, in-school suspension or other appropriate disciplinary sanction] for the next days during the class period(s) missed. If a student is unexcused for a whole day of classes, he or she will spend the next two days in [supervised study hall, detention, early bird school, Saturday school, in-school suspension or other appropriate disciplinary sanction]. Parents are expected to telephone the school office to report a student's absence prior to a.m. on the day of the absence. Students with unexcused absences may also be referred to the at-risk coordinator.
School work missed because of absences must be made up within two times the number of days absent, not to exceed 10 days. The time allowed for make-up work may be extended at the discretion of the classroom teacher.
Students will be allowed to make up all work missed due to any absence and will receive full credit for make-up work handed in on time. Teachers will not have attendance or grading practices that are in conflict with this provision.
I.C. Iowa Code Description
Iowa Code § 294.4 Teachers - Daily Register
Iowa Code § 299 Compulsory Education
I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code Description
281 I.A.C. 12.3 Administration
C.F.R. - Code of Federal Regulations Description
28 C.F.R. 35 Judicial - Disability - Nondiscrimination
34 C.F.R. Pt. 300 Education - Disabilities/Children/Assistance to States
Approved: 02/19/2025 Reviewed: 02/19/2025 Revised: 02/19/2025