Truancy and Absenteeism

To achieve at our highest levels, we need our students to be in attendance. The state of Iowa and the Dallas Center-Grimes School Board have revamped policies regarding attendance and truancy and our district will comply. Per Iowa Senate File 2435, chronic absenteeism is defined as any absence from school for more than 10% of the days or hours in the grading period established by a public school. 

DCG CSD has the local authority to view family trips and vacations as excused absences, Iowa law requires missed days due to trips and vacations to count toward calculations of chronic absenteeism and truancy.  These absences will result in legally required interventions as explained below.

Policy Resources

As you can see in these policies, there are steps that DCG must take when absenteeism reaches certain thresholds throughout the year. Chronic absenteeism is not a one-size-fits-all scenario and there are real-life situations that pop up throughout the year. The district firmly believes that it can follow the law, while also taking care of our most important stakeholders. 

What You Can Expect at DCG – Following DCG School Board Policy 501.09 

When Your Student Misses 10% of Hours in a Term/Quarter Due to Any Absence - Excused or Unexcused

  • DCG CSD will send notice by email to the Dallas County Attorney’s Office.
  • DCG CSD will notify the student, or if a minor, the student’s parent or guardian via certified mail that includes information related to the student’s absences from school and the policies and disciplinary processes associated with additional absences. 
  • DCG CSD has the local authority to view family trips and vacations as excused absences, Iowa law requires missed days due to trips and vacations to count toward calculations of chronic absenteeism and truancy.  

When Your Student Misses 15% of Hours in a Term/Quarter Due to Any Absence - Excused or Unexcused

  • School officials will attempt to find the cause of the absences and request a school engagement meeting with all associated stakeholders. 
    • If the student and the student’s parent/guardian do not attend the meeting, do not enter into a plan or violate the terms of the plan, the school official will notify the county attorney. 
  • The district will send an “Absenteeism Prevention Plan” via certified mail and ParentSquare. This form will be a working document to address expectations moving forward. 
  • This includes all absences – excused and unexcused.

When Your Student Misses 20% of Hours in a Term/Quarter Due to Any Absence - Excused or Unexcused

  • Truancy means a child of compulsory attendance age who is absent from school for any reason for at least 20% of the hours in the quarter/term.
  • If the student and the student’s parent/guardian violate the terms of the “Absenteeism Prevention Plan”, the school official will notify the county attorney. 
  • This includes all absences – excused and unexcused.

When Your Student Has 5 Consecutive Absences Due to Illness

  • Absences of five or more consecutive days due to illness require a doctor’s note.

Attendance Graphic

Unexcused Absences

  • The district may impose discipline upon any student approaching 5 unexcused absences in a scheduled block/period.
  • These disciplinary measures also have 7-day and 10-day thresholds for blocks/periods. 

Students attending 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. 

It’s also important for us to share with all DCG stakeholders that we realize absences can sometimes be out of our control. Extended sickness, hospital stays and loss of loved ones – can all impact our school attendance. That being said, there are legal requirements that we have to follow, in all scenarios. If these scenarios arise, the district will work with all stakeholders to ensure a safe, healthy, and successful return to school. 

Attendance Matters