Code Number: 501.10
Regular attendance is an integral part of the learning experience and is required of all students to receive the maximum benefit of the educational program. Daily punctual school attendance must be a high priority for the student and the parent. It is the priority of the District to foster regular student attendance throughout the school year and reduce barriers to regular school attendance.
A. Chronic Absenteeism: Chronic absences/absenteeism means any absence from school for more than ten percent of the days in the grading period established by the District. The Board appoints the Directors of Elementary and Secondary Education as individuals tasked with collecting information on the numbers of children in the District who are chronically absent.
B. Truancy/Truant: Truant/Truancy means a child of compulsory attendance age who has been absent from school, for any reason, for at least twenty percent of the days in the grading period. Truant or truancy does not apply to any student:
Who has completed the requirements for graduation in an accredited school or has obtained a high school equivalency diploma;
Who is excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or judge;
Who is attending religious services or receiving religious instruction;
Who is unable to attend school due to legitimate medical reasons;
Who has an individual education program that affects the child’s attendance;
Who has a plan under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act that affects the child’s attendance;
Who is excused under Iowa Code § 299.22;
Who is exempt under Iowa Code § 299.24 (religious group exemption); or
Who is attending a private college preparatory school accredited or probationally accredited.
C. School Official: A “school official” means any employee of the District whose job duties involve identifying children who are at risk for becoming chronically absent, creating interventions to limit the rate of student absenteeism, and participating in the legal process related to student absenteeism.
D. Grading Period: Is defined as one semester (approximately 90 days).
Truancy will not be tolerated by the Board. The Board appoints the Directors of Elementary and Secondary Education as the individuals tasked with collecting information on the numbers of children in the District who are truant.
Students are subject to disciplinary action for truancy. It is within the discretion of the Building Administrator to determine whether a student may make up work missed because of truancy. Students receiving special education services will not be assigned to supervised study hall or in-school suspension unless the goals and objectives of the student’s Individual education Program are capable of being met.
A student who fails to comply with the compulsory attendance requirements shall not receive an intermediate or full driver’s license until age 18. It is a student’s responsibility to meet any eligibility requirements for a driver’s license.
It is the responsibility of the Superintendent, in conjunction with designated school officials, to develop an administrative regulation regarding this policy (AR501.10). The administrative regulation will indicate the disciplinary action to be taken for truancy.