New London CSD Reacts to Attendance Law

Dear Tiger Nation:

Attendance at school is vital to student success in academics, athletics, and activities. This past May, the Iowa Legislature passed, and Gov. Reynolds signed into law, Senate File 2435 which defines chronic absenteeism. Language in the bill and subsequent guidance from the Iowa Department of Education has created changes to attendance policies that will impact school districts and more specifically for our conversation, New London Community Schools. Please read the student handbook for complete guidance on attendance, chronic absenteeism, and truancy.

There are three main areas of change that will affect school board policy regarding student attendance and communication with families regarding chronic absenteeism. First, the new law defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10 percent of the days or hours in a grading period. Secondly, guidance from the Department of Education defines when students will be marked present or absent based on different absence reasons. And third, Senate File 2435 mandates that all absences count toward chronic absenteeism. New London defines a grading period as a semester, and New London will measure absences in days. Absences for chronic absenteeism are based on total attendance, not just attendance for one class or another. Most school districts have a unique school calendar and many times semesters are not equal for the number of days, which makes 10 percent a different number of days for each semester.

New London’s district calendar has 81 days in the first semester this year and will have 92 days in the second semester. For the first semester, 10 percent of the days will equal eight days. Ten percent of the days for the second semester will equal nine days.

State law now defines truancy as being absent for twenty percent of the days in a grading period. The law requires the school district to contact the county attorney and develop an attendance plan with the family before a student misses twenty percent of the days in a semester at New London. Students in grades Kindergarten through eighth (8th) reaching truancy will be considered for retention, while high school students reaching truancy can lose credit for a class if they miss twenty percent of the class periods in a semester. Students open-enrolled in New London reaching truancy who did not participate in the Engagement meeting can have their open enrollment terminated and be required to return to their resident district.

Iowa Department of Education guidance directs school districts to mark students as present for the following times when students are not in the school building: attending a community college course or CTE placement; attending a school-directed or supervised activity; in-school suspension; student assignment to a youth shelter or detention center; the student is medically homebound or has a medical excuse but is completing work; or participation in a state athletic, arts, or academic competition, contest or festival.

DE guidance directs school districts to mark students absent exempt for planned medical treatment, for a medical appointment, for a parent or sibling medical emergency, for a religious service or education, for a court-directed activity or jury duty, or for items in a student’s IEP or 504 plan that restrict attendance. New London will require that any absence caused by the need for medical services be verified with a note directly from the doctor’s office that performs the services.

DE guidance directs school districts to mark students absent non-exempt for out-of-school suspension, for parent excuse with or without a reason given, for a family vacation, funeral, or being out-of-town, for car trouble or a vehicle accident, for helping family, for a non-school directed or supervised college visit, for arriving to school then skipping classes, for an absence that the parent or guardian does not contact the school to verify on the day of absence, for an absence that the parent or guardian cites family reasons, or for being home ill. Parents and guardians are required to contact their child’s school office by 10 a.m. on the day of a student's absence.

The New London Community School District Board of Education approved the first reading of the new attendance policies and modifications to the attendance policy in student handbooks at their meeting on Aug. 19, 2024. At the September meeting the Board of Education will hold a second reading and adopt the policy. With these updates to our state's absentee policy, we understand that questions may arise. Parent and guardian questions regarding the new attendance policy should be directed to the principal of their child. Your child's attendance is crucial, and together, we will work to ensure every child's success. We appreciate your cooperation and partnership.

We are looking forward to a great year!

Yours in Education,

Chad Wahls Superintendent

New London Community School District