Iowa’s new law, effective July 1, 2024, aims to tackle chronic absenteeism by supporting students who miss 10% or more of school days. For a 180-day school year, this means missing 18 days or more. In the 2022-23 school year, 22.6% of Iowa students were chronically absent, raising concerns about their academic progress and well-being.

What is Senate File 2435?

Iowa’s Senate File 2435 (SF 2435) aims to reduce chronic absenteeism by requiring schools to address attendance issues early. Schools must create policies, work with families and partner with community organizations to support students. The law’s focus is not just on enforcing attendance, but understanding why students miss school, whether due to health, family or economic challenges, and providing the help they need to succeed.

Why the law?

Research shows that frequent absences, especially in the early years of school, can seriously harm a child’s learning. Students who miss a lot of school tend to fall behind in key subjects like reading and math. Over time, these gaps are harder to close, often resulting in higher dropout rates, fewer chances for higher education and reduced career opportunities. The law is designed to help identify these students early and provide the support they need to stay on track. By addressing the root causes of absenteeism, the goal is to boost student achievement and reduce long-term negative outcomes.

How parents/guardians can help

Addressing chronic absenteeism requires a team effort. Schools, families and communities must work together to create environments where students feel supported and motivated to attend regularly. Here are a few ways communities can get involved:

Raise awareness: Talk about why school attendance matters and how missing days affects learning. Schools can team up with local groups to share this message with families.

Support families: Many students miss school due to problems like transportation, health or family issues. Communities can help by offering resources such as rides to school or support for families facing tough times.

Engage students: Schools can create a welcoming environment with programs like mentorships, activities and positive teacher relationships to make students want to attend.

Iowa’s new law aims to improve education by reducing chronic absenteeism. With schools and communities working together, more students can stay in school and succeed! Visit the Department of Education’s website for more information and helpful resources to battle chronic absenteeism: https://educate.iowa.gov/pk-12/student-services/prevention/attendance-chronic-absenteeism.

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Karl Kurt is the assistant chief administrator and director of human resources of Central Rivers Area Education Agency, with offices in Cedar Falls, Clear Lake and Marshalltown. He can be reached at kkurt@centralriversaea.org. Central Rivers AEA serves over 5,000 K-12 educators in 18 counties of north central Iowa to improve outcomes for over 60,000 students. Learn more at www.centralriversaea.org.