Opinion: New Attendance Law Doesn’t Help Kids or Parents
The pandemic messed things up. Our economy. The workplace. And most certainly our kids, particularly when it comes to going to school. Prior to COVID, around 13% of Iowa school kids missed 10% of the school year. During the 2022-2023 school year it was 23%. With keeping kids in school the mission, the state of Iowa has stepped in.
New truancy laws are in effect for all Iowa school districts this year. If you are a parent, you probably have had them explained to you already. We were informed during the open house this summer at Marion High School. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the new law states that if a student misses 10 percent or more days in a grading period the school will send a certified letter to the parent and also to the county attorney. No legal action is taken. If a student misses 15 percent or more days the student and family are required by law to attend a meeting with school officials to set up a plan to prevent more absences according to the Gazette.
If a student misses 20 percent or more days, the county attorney is again notified and they will decide whether to take action. The Gazette reports that it could result in a simple misdemeanor charge. The family would then take part in the Truancy Deferred Prosecution Program which was started in 2019. That program has been successful in getting nearly 80% of truancy cases in Linn County dropped.
As a parent of two high school students, I understand that as the year progresses it can be tough to get them to want to go to school every day. But that is my job as a parent to communicate that and hand out punishment when necessary. The thing about the new law that disappoints me the most is there is no difference in absences being excused or unexcused. Kids miss school for a variety of reasons. Illness, mental health issues, avoiding bullying, lack of transportation, just to name a few. Are these not excused enough anymore? Aren't parents allowed to work with the school and teachers to find a path forward that is best for the child?
I'm clearly not the only one who has issues with the new law. KCRG asked parents to speak out on Facebook and as you can see in the above post plenty have.
I don't believe that threatening legal action is the best way to get parents to make sure their kids are in school. The state of Iowa never asks me for help in running the state. I wish they would stop trying to help me with decisions involving my family.
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Gallery Credit: Madison Troyer