• 10% = Chronically Absent If a student is absent for 10% of a grading period, the student is considered chronically absent. The school is required to notify the county attorney and notify the family.
• 15% = Family Meeting and Weekly Check-Ins If a student is absent for 15% of a grading period, the school will schedule a meeting with the family to develop a plan for improving attendance. The school will conduct weekly check-ins with the student and family.
• 20% = Truancy and Civil Enforcement If a student is absent for 20% of a grading period, the student is considered truant. The school is required to notify the county attorney who will proceed with decisions about civil enforcement of compulsory education laws. Continued Open Enrollment may be denied. 

• Have completed the requirements for graduation from 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;
• Are receiving independent private instruction; or
• Are receiving competent private instruction
• Are excused for sufficient reasons by any court of record or judge;
• Are unable to attend school due to legitimate medical reasons;
• Has an individualized education program/plan that affects the child’s attendance;
• Has a plan under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794, that affects the child’s attendance; 
• Are excused under Iowa Code §299.22; and
• Are exempt under Iowa Code §299.24.

These types of absences are exempt (i.e. not counted toward) the calculations of chronic absenteeism and truancy.

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 13 days of school per semester
• 15% = A student missing 14 to 17 days of school per semester
• 20% = A student missing 18 or more days of school per semester

Excused absences include:

• Personal illness;
• Illness or death in the immediate family;
• Occasional family trips/vacations;
• Medical and dental appointments which cannot be made at other times (please have your student bring a doctor’s note when returning to school so the absence can be marked as excused and be exempt from calculations of chronic absenteeism and truancy); and
• Absences approved in advance by administration (school sponsored activities, religious holidays, etc.).

Note: Families are encouraged to schedule vacations and trips when school is not in session. While UCSD considers occasional family trips/vacations as excused absences when notification is provided, Iowa law requires missed days due to trips and vacations to count toward calculations of chronic absenteeism and truancy.

1. Why do we have these new attendance laws?
SF 2435 was passed as law on May 9, 2024 with an effective date of July 1, 2024. In follow up to the passing of code, the Iowa Department of Education provided guidance to school districts in Iowa this fall. We wrote our policies to be in compliance with these expectations.

2. 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. 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.

3. What is the definition of 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. As an example, the school will generally excuse a family vacation, but the absence will still count toward the calculation of chronic absenteeism and truancy in accordance with Iowa Code.

4. What is defined as a trimester for elementary and semester for secondary (also known as a term)?
The 2024-25 UCSD elementary trimesters are as follows (for all elementary schools except Karen Acres):
August 23 – November 15, 2024
November 18 – February 21, 2025
February 24 – May 29, 2025
School cancellations may cause these dates to be adjusted.

The 2024-25 UCSD Karen Acres Elementary trimesters are as follows:
July 25 – November 7, 2024
November 8 – February 25, 2025
February 26 – June 17, 2025
School cancellations may cause these dates to be adjusted.

The 2024-25 UCSD secondary (i.e. middle school/high school) semesters are as follows:
August 23, 2024 – January 10, 2025
January 14 – May 29, 2025
School cancellations may cause these dates to be adjusted.

5. I’m planning to do college visits with my student. Are those excused absences?
Per Iowa Code and Iowa Department of Education guidance, college visits are not exempt. Our District will track these absences as required by the state and they will count toward chronic absenteeism. However, the absence will be excused by the school, and we will not impose any additional school-based consequences.

6. My student wants to attend state basketball to cheer on their friends. Is that an excused absence?
Per Iowa Code and Iowa Department of Education guidance, attending activities events as a spectator is not exempt. Our District will track these absences as required by the state and they will count toward chronic absenteeism. However, the absence will be excused by the school, and we will not impose any additional school-based consequences.

7. Are family funerals an excused absence?
If a student is absent from school for a religious service, holiday, or instruction, the absence will be excused and it will be exempt from chronic absenteeism laws. Per the Iowa Department of Education Guidance, religious services may include holiday services, weddings, funerals and other celebrations of life, and other rite of passage religious services.

8. We have a family vacation planned. How does that impact my student’s attendance record?
Per Iowa Code and Iowa Department of Education guidance, family vacations are not exempt. Our District will track these absences as required by the state and they will count toward chronic absenteeism. However, the absence will be excused by the school, and we will not impose any additional school-based consequences. Please notify your student’s teachers in advance of your vacation, so they can make a plan for your student to complete their school work.

9. 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. Please speak with your building administrator if this situation applies to your family.

10. Will keeping my child home due to a religious holiday be considered as exempt?
If a student is absent from school for a religious service, holiday, or instruction, the absence will be excused and it will be exempt from chronic absenteeism laws. Per the Iowa Department of Education Guidance, religious services may include holiday services, weddings, funerals and other celebrations of life, and other rite of passage religious services.

11. My student isn’t feeling well, but it doesn’t warrant a doctor’s visit. Do I need to make an appointment to get a note?
A student may have two health-related absences in any trimester/semester without providing documentation from a doctor’s office. A doctor’s note may be required beyond those two health related absences. Please speak with a building administrator regarding your specific situation.

12. What does it mean for my student’s attendance record if the nurse sends them home sick?
When a nurse sends a student home for health-related reasons, the absence will be considered medically exempt. A medically exempt absence will still be recorded as an absence but will be considered excused and exempt from chronic absenteeism laws. 

13. My student has a planned surgery (e.g. tonsillectomy). 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. 

14. If I have to pick up my student early for an appointment, are they considered absent for the full day?
Elementary students are marked absent for either a half day or a full day. Half day absences are marked if a student leaves before 9:55 a.m. and returns by 12:00 p.m. or if a student leaves an hour or more before the end of the day.

Middle and High School students are also marked absent for a half day or a full day. A half day is considered half of a block day or 4 or fewer periods. 

15. My student 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.

16. Who do I give a doctor’s note or other documentation to, and when?
Doctor’s notes can be given to the building secretary, nurse, or an administrator either prior to the absence or upon return.

17. My student competes in competitive activities (e.g. gymnastics, volleyball) which at times require traveling to competitions. Will these absences count toward the calculations of chronic absenteeism and truancy?
Per Iowa Code and Iowa Department of Education guidance, students participating in competitive activities requiring them to be absent from school are not exempt. Our District will track these absences as required by the state and they will count toward chronic absenteeism. However, the absence will be excused by the school, and we will not impose any additional school-based consequences. Please notify your student’s teachers in advance of competitions so they can make a plan for your student to complete their school work. Please also speak with a building administrator regarding your specific situation.

18. What happens if my student’s bus is late?
Students will not be counted absent or tardy due to bus-related delays.

19. What is the District doing to help families comply with these policies?
If families need support from school personnel to help them with strategies to comply with these policies, please contact your school’s administrator or counselor.

20. Where can I see my student’s attendance record?
You can see your student’s attendance record by logging into the PowerSchool portal. Your student’s absences are displayed on the landing page on the  grades and attendance tab. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see a list of absence types.