501.09 Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy

501.09 Chronic Absenteeism and 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 or hours]in the [insert grading period the district uses] 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 or hours] in the [insert grading period the district uses]. Truancy does not apply to the following students who:

  • have completed the requirements for graduation in an accredited school or has obtained a high school equivalency diploma;

  • are excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or judge;

  • are attending religious services or receiving religious instruction;

  • are attending a private college preparatory school accredited or probationally accredited;

  • are excused under Iowa Code §299.22; and

  • are exempt under Iowa Code §299.24.

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.  Students receiving special education services will not be assigned to [supervised study hall, in-school suspension] unless the goals and objectives of the student's Individualized Education Program are capable of being met.

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.

 

Legal Reference: 34 C.F.R. sec. 300

28 C.F.R. Pt. 35

Iowa Code §§ 294.4; 299.

281 I.A.C. 12.3(4).

 

Cross Reference: 501 Student Attendance

503 Student Discipline

504 Student Activities

506 Student Records

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed   1/18/17             Revised  7-17-24         

ddvorak@northl… Wed, 01/04/2017 - 15:10

501.09R1 Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy Regulation

501.09R1 Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy Regulation

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 student;

  • The student’s parent, guardian or legal or actual custodian if the student is an unemancipated minor; and

  • A school official.

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 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

Students who have 13.5 unexcused absences in a semester, will be assigned to one of the following; supervised study hall, detention, early bird school, Saturday school, or other appropriate actions. Excused absences include religious holidays or services, illness with a doctor’s note, being sent home by the school nurse (doctor’s note needed after 3 days), planned surgery or medical appointments with a doctor’s note, recurring appointments like therapy, and court-directed activities or jury duty. Parents are expected to telephone the school office to report a student's absence prior to 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. 

Students will have one day for each day absent, plus one additional day to make up work assigned. If a student misses the day work is due to be turned in to a teacher, it is due the day the student returns to school at no penalty.

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.

Approved    7-17-24          Reviewed                                 Revised      ______    

 

ddvorak@northl… Tue, 09/10/2024 - 15:49