COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE
Parents within the school district who have children age six and under age sixteen by September 15, and in proper physical and mental condition to attend school, shall have the children attend the school district at the attendance center designated by the Board. Students shall attend school the number of days school is in session in accordance with the school calendar Students of compulsory attendance age will attend school a minimum of 1080 hours. Students not attending the minimum hours must be exempt by this policy, as listed below, or referred to the county attorney. Exceptions to this policy include children who:
· have completed the requirements for graduation in an accredited school or have obtained a high school equivalency diploma;
· are attending religious services or receiving religious instruction;
· are attending an approved or probationally approved private college preparatory school;
· are attending an accredited nonpublic school; or,
· are receiving competent private instruction; or
are receiving independent private instruction.
It is the responsibility of the parent of a child to provide evidence of the child's mental and physical inability to attend school or of the child's qualifications for one of the exceptions listed above.
It shall be the responsibility of the parents to notify the student’s attendance center as soon as the parent knows the student will not be attending school on that day. The principal may request evidence or written verification of the student’s reason for absence.
Students who are absent without permission are considered truant. To be truant means the student fails to attend school regularly as per school district requirements or fails
The principal and/or designee will investigate the cause for a student’s truancy. If the principal and/or designee is unable to secure the truant student’s attendance, the principal and/or designee shall discuss next steps with the superintendent and other legal authorities (county attorney, school resource officer, police/sheriff’s department, etc.).
The school shall participate in mediation, if requested by the county attorney. The Superintendent and/or designee will represent the school district in mediation. The school district will monitor the student’s compliance with the mediation agreement and will report violations of the mediation agreement to the county attorney.
Administrative regulations shall be developed by the administration regarding this policy and shall also indicate the disciplinary action to be taken for absences.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 259A; 279.10-.11; 299.1-.1A; 299A (1995).
1978 Op. Att'y. Gen. 379.
Cross Reference: 501 Student Attendance
601.1 School Calendar
604.1 Competent Private Instruction
Approved: 4/14/97 Revised: 6/22