Dear (Parent/Guardian),
The Iowa State Legislature and Governor have implemented new laws regarding the definition of what Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy means for Iowa’s public school systems. Central Community School District will follow the laws which were approved during the 2024 Legislative Session. The changes are as follows:
Accumulated absences will be a combination of excused and unexcused absences.
Chronic absenteeism/absences means any absence from school for more than 10% of the days in the grading period.
Students in K-12th grade will be held to a semester standard of missing 8 days or less per semester.
School Engagement Meeting means when a student is absent for more than 15% of the days in a grading period a school engagement meeting is required.
Students in K-12th grade will be held to a semester standard of missing 12 days or less per semester.
Truant/truancy means a child of compulsory attendance age who is absent from school for any reason for at least 20% of the days in the grading period. The District is required to notify the County Attorney.
Students in K-12th grade will be held to a semester standard of missing 16 days or less per semester.
Central believes that traditional, in-person school attendance leads to the greatest learning opportunities and success for our students. For this reason, it is the priority of the district to foster regular student attendance throughout the school year and reduce barriers to regular attendance for students in the district. We also believe that working together is the best course of action. If you have questions about the new attendance law or would like to discuss your child’s attendance, please call the appropriate building listed below.
We also appreciate families’ efforts in calling the school to inform us of any absences. Please call by 8:30 a.m. on the day of the absence. For PreK - 6th Grades (Central Elementary), call (563)245-1472, and for 7th-12th Grades (Central Middle School/High School), call (563)245-1751. Your child’s safety is our priority. Your calls help us know where each child is during the school day.
Thank you for your partnership,
Nick Trenkamp, Superintendent