Iowa law has outlined specific actions the district must take when a student’s absences reach certain levels. Understanding these guidelines will help us all ensure the best possible outcomes for our students.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Chronically Absent (10% of the semester or trimester): If your child is absent 10% of the time, we are required to notify both you and the Polk County Attorney. You’ll receive a certified letter at the address we have on file to keep you informed.
• School Engagement Meeting (15% of the semester or trimester): If absences reach 15%, we will need to come together for a school engagement meeting. This meeting is an opportunity for you, your child, and school staff to collaboratively develop an “Absenteeism Prevention Plan” to address any challenges and create a path forward.
• Truancy (20% of the semester or trimester): If absences reach 20%, it is classified as truancy, and the truant officer will initiate proceedings with the Polk County Attorney. We will notify you promptly if this step becomes necessary.

TK/Kindergarten-Grade 5 absences by number of days:

For the 2024-2025 school year, elementary students would need to miss the following number of days to reach these percentages:
Trimester 1: 51 days (August 23-November 7)
10% – 5.1 days
15% – 7.65 days
20% 10.2 days

Trimester 2: 60 days (November 11-February 21)
10% – 6 days
15% – 9 days
20% – 12 days

Trimester 3: 58 days (February 24-May 23)
10% – 5.8 days
15% – 8.7 days
20% – 11.6 days

Grade 6-12 absences by number of days:

For the 2024-2025 school year, secondary students would need to miss the following number of days to reach these percentages:
Semester 1: 84 days (August 23-January 10)
10% – 8.4
15% – 12.6
20% – 16.8

Semester 2: 85 days ( January 14 – May 23)
10% – 8.5
15% -12.8
20% – 17

The law does provide exceptions for unavoidable absences due to court orders, religious observations and instruction, IEPs / 504s that impact attendance, and/or legitimate medical reasons.  These absences are not counted, and we are here to work with you to ensure that any necessary absences are properly documented and understood.

Your child’s regular attendance is a key factor in their academic and personal growth, and we are dedicated to supporting you in overcoming any barriers to their school attendance.

Report a Student’s Absence

The Absence Request tool in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal allows you to report your student’s absence online with just a few clicks. This can be done using your desktop computer or the Parent Portal app on your mobile device. Entering an absence request is quick and easy. Follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.
2. Select your child’s profile.
3. Navigate to the Absence Request section.
4. Fill in the required information, including the date and reason for the absence.
5. Submit your request.

Visit this Absence Request Guidefor detailed information on how to report absences.