SSB 1077 (LSB 1556XC (5) 91)

SENATE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON EVANS)

A BILL FOR

An Act modifying provisions related to compulsory education, truancy, and chronic absenteeism.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.9, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  69.  In consultation with the Iowa county attorneys association, develop and distribute to county attorneys, school districts, and accredited nonpublic schools a model policy that county attorneys may reference when determining whether and to what extent to enforce the provisions of chapter 299.
    Sec. 2.  Section 299.1, subsection 4, paragraph b, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subparagraphs:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (7)  Who is a military applicant undergoing military entrance processing.
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (8)  Who is engaged in military service.
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (9)  Who is traveling to attend a funeral.
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (10)  Who is traveling to attend a wedding.
    Sec. 3.  Section 299.1, subsection 4, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  c.  The policy or rules adopted by the board of directors of a public school district pursuant to paragraph “a” must describe how the exceptions described in paragraph “b” may be met by a child and must give reasonable consideration to travel time.
    Sec. 4.  Section 299.12, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  When a child becomes chronically absent, a school official shall send a notice by ordinary mail or electronic mail to the county attorney of the county in which the public school’s central administrative office is located, and a notice by certified mail to the child’s parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian of the child, if the child is not an emancipated minor, or to the child, if the child is an emancipated minor, that includes information related to the child’s absences from school and the policies and disciplinary processes associated with additional absences. The notice the school official sends to the child’s parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian of the child, if the child is not an emancipated minor, or to the child, if the child is an emancipated minor, may be sent by ordinary mail, electronic mail, or electronic message, or may be delivered in person. The school shall maintain a copy of the notice until the child graduates, turns twenty-one years of age, or is no longer enrolled in the school, whichever occurs first.
    Sec. 5.  Section 299.12, subsection 3, paragraph a, subparagraph (1), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   (1)  If a child is absent from school for greater than or equal to fifteen percent of the days or hours in the grading period, a school official shall attempt to find the cause for the child’s absences and. If the school official determines that the child’s absences are negatively affecting the child’s academic progress, the school official shall initiate and participate in a school engagement meeting. The purpose of the school engagement meeting is to identify the child’s barriers to attendance and the interventions that may be used to improve the child’s attendance.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill modifies provisions related to compulsory education, truancy, and chronic absenteeism.
   The bill requires the director of the department of education to develop, in consultation with the Iowa county attorneys association, a model policy that county attorneys may reference when determining whether and to what extent to enforce the provisions of Code chapter 299 (compulsory education). The bill also requires the director to distribute the model policy to county attorneys, school districts, and accredited nonpublic schools.
   Current law requires the board of directors of a public school district to adopt a policy or rules relating to children who are chronically absent. Current law establishes exceptions to the policy or rules for children taking part in certain specified activities. The bill adds undergoing military entrance processing, engaging in military service, traveling to attend a funeral, and traveling to attend a wedding to the list of specified activities. Absences related to such activities are not included when determining whether a child of compulsory attendance age is deemed to be a truant. The bill provides the policy or rules must describe how the exceptions may be met by a child and must give reasonable consideration to travel time.
   Current law requires that when a child becomes chronically absent, a school official is required to send a notice by certified mail to the child’s parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian of the child, if the child is not an emancipated minor, or to the child, if the child is an emancipated minor, that includes information related to the child’s absences from school and the policies and disciplinary processes associated with additional absences. The bill provides that a school official may send such notice by ordinary mail, electronic mail, or electronic message, or may deliver the notice in person. The bill requires the public school to maintain a copy of the notice.
   Current law provides that if a child is absent from school for greater than or equal to 15 percent of the days or hours in the grading period, a school official is required to attempt to find the cause for the child’s absences and initiate and participate in a school engagement meeting. The bill provides that a school official is only required to initiate and participate in a school engagement meeting if the school official determines that the child’s absences are negatively affecting the child’s academic progress.