At the Roland-Story Community School District, we believe that every student’s journey to success begins with consistent attendance. It is important to make you aware of recent legislation impacting student attendance policies for Iowa schools. Senate File 2435 and Senate File 277 further define chronic absenteeism and truancy. These laws outline required intervention measures schools must take when student absences reach specific levels. The Roland-Story Community School District (RSCSD) Board of Education has board policies beginning with 501.8 to align with SF 2435 and 277. Please review the following information closely so your family has an understanding of RSCSD’s attendance policies including chronic absenteeism and truancy.  

The district believes that school attendance leads to the greatest learning opportunities for students. Students who are present in school and engaged are active learners who 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.

Students who are absent without a reasonable excuse, as determined by the principal, will be assigned consequences that may include parent notification, loss of privilege, detention, absenteeism prevention plans, and suspension. 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.

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.

The administration and counselor staff will make reasonable efforts to advise and counsel and may impose discipline upon any student having unexcused absences.  Such advice, discipline and counseling is in addition to the requirements listed in Section I of these rules and includes, but is not limited to, problem solving and conflict resolution if appropriate, oral or written notices to the student and his or her parents, conferences with the student and parents, written contracts, or loss of non-academic privileges such as extracurricular activities, open campus, late arrival, early dismissal, or other privileges as deemed appropriate by the principal.

A student who misses class due to participation in a sanctioned school activity will not be considered absent. However, it is the responsibility of the student to inform his/her teachers of the absence and arrange for any make-up work.

IMPORTANT: Please note that something can be excused by the school — meaning no discipline would occur — but would still be added to the absence total according to Iowa Code.

Policy 501.3 Compulsory Attendance

Policy 501.9 Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy

Below are some FAQs that we are hearing from parents/guardians, students, as well as from other Iowa school districts. An FAQ page is also available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website. Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism FAQs. 

Why is the district implementing this?

Senate File 2435 is a law and as such, the District is required to comply. In follow up to the passing of code, the Iowa Department of Education provided guidance to school districts in Iowa in August. We wrote our policies to be in compliance with these expectations.

We realize absences can sometimes be out of our control. That being said, there are legal requirements that we must follow. Extended sickness, hospital stays and loss of loved ones – can all impact our school attendance. If any of these scenarios arise, please work with the administration at the building your student attends.

What if my child is sick for consecutive days?

We will allow two incidents of health-related excused absences in a term (i.e., flu, fever). More than two incidents in any term may require documentation throughout the remainder of the term in order to be excused.

How do I report an absence?

Parents/guardians are expected to notify the school office to report a student’s absence prior to the start of the school day. Parents/guardians can notify the school office in one of the following two ways:

1. Call the building office

2. Email using 'esattendance', 'msattendance', or 'hsattendance'

What about field trips and other school-sponsored activities or work-based learning experiences?

Students participating in school-sponsored activities and athletics, field trips and work-based learning experiences through an assigned course will be considered present. These will not count against any of the thresholds mentioned above.

What about family trips or vacations?

Families are encouraged to schedule vacations and trips when school is not in session. Family trips and vacations are not considered excused absences per Iowa Code. We recognize that these do occur, however, so please communicate proactively to allow us to work with your student to complete school work. According to Iowa Code, these absences will count towards a student being considered chronically absent or truant. 

What ages fall under this policy?

Children who are at least six years old and under age sixteen by September 15 are of compulsory attendance age. Compulsory attendance age also includes:

• Students who are 4 years old and are enrolled in preschool.  

• Students who are 5 years old and are enrolled in kindergarten.

The provisions of the law apply to this group in terms of communication with the County Attorney, design of plans, etc. However, the District is required to report the attendance to the state for all students enrolled regardless of age.

What is the difference between an excused absence and an exempt absence?

An excused absence means the school has determined the absence reason is legitimate and will not impose any school-based disciplinary action. An exempt absence means the absence is exempted from the Iowa Code and will not be counted toward the chronic absenteeism law.

Please note – an absence can be excused by the school but not exempt by the state and will still count toward the student’s 10% in a term in accordance with Iowa Code.

My child is doing college visits. Are those excused?

Per Iowa Code and Iowa Department of Education guidance, students on college visits will be counted as “present.”

Are family funerals an excused absence?

Funerals are exempt per SF 2435 and may include holiday services, weddings, funerals and other celebrations of life, and other rite of passage religious services.

My family is leaving the country for a couple weeks. How do we proceed?

If a family is leaving the country, they would need to be unenrolled during the time period for which they are gone. Once the family returns, the enrollment can be resumed but do know it may not be at the same school nor with the same teacher. Please speak with your building principal if this situation applies to your family.

We are not going overseas, but will be on a trip for more than 2 weeks. How is that handled?

Any absence from school for longer than 2 weeks that is not a long-term medical absence would be unenrolled during the time period for which the student is gone. Again, once the family returns, the enrollment can be resumed. Please speak with your building principal if this situation applies to your family.

Will keeping my child home due to a religious holiday be considered as exempt?

Students who are absent from school for religious service, holiday, or instruction will be considered absent, but will be considered excused and exempt from chronic absenteeism laws.

My child has a planned surgery. Will that count against their attendance record?

With a doctor’s note, this would be considered a medically exempt absence. A medically exempt absence will still be recorded as an absence but will be excused and exempt from chronic absenteeism laws.

My child has recurring appointments (i.e., physical therapy, counseling, specialist). Does each appointment require a doctor’s note, or can I bring in one note for the year?

It may be possible for recurring doctor appointments to be outlined with one note. Please speak with a building administrator regarding your specific situation.

Where can I see my child’s attendance record?

You can see your child’s attendance record by logging into your JMC Portal. Your student’s absences are located under Attendance. At the bottom of this page is a list of absence codes and what they mean.

What happens if my child’s bus is late?

Students will not be counted absent or tardy due to bus-related delays.

What if my child is absent for 10 consecutive days?

If a student is absent for 10 consecutive days, the school will contact the District Registrar. The student will be unenrolled from the District unless the absence is exempt under Senate File 2435 (see ‘exemptions’ noted above on this page). Family vacations are not included in the list of exemptions. Please note: If a student is open enrolled, the family must reapply for open enrollment with good cause.

How is the percentage total calculated? Is it based on the total number of days in a term or the days in the term thus far?

Under the new law, most absences (both excused and unexcused) will count toward chronic absenteeism with the exceptions noted above. Absences are calculated per grading period and reset at the start of a new grading period. For elementary, each trimester is a new grading period. For secondary, each semester is a new grading period.

Elementary Absences

• 10% = A student missing 6 to 8 days of school per trimester

• 15% = A student missing 9 to 11 days of school per trimester

• 20% = A student missing 12 or more days of school per trimester

Secondary Absences (Middle/High School)

• 10% = A student missing 9 to 12 days of school per semester

• 15% = A student missing 13 to 16 days of school per semester

• 20% = A student missing 17 or more days of school per semester

*MEDX – Any time a student is sent home from a school by a nurse or admin for health reasons.  Any medical or mental health appointment, visit, treatment, hospitalization, or parent/guardian report of illness regardless of doctors up to 2 instances per grading period. After 2 instances, a doctor’s note or school nurse or admin verification will be required or the code MED will be used.