A bill for an act modifying provisions related to compulsory education, truancy, and chronic absenteeism.

This Iowa bill modifies laws around school attendance by expanding acceptable reasons for absences to include military entrance processing, active military service, funerals, and weddings. It requires the state education department to create a model policy for county attorneys to use when enforcing attendance laws, and mandates school districts to explain how students can meet these exceptions while considering travel time. Schools must now notify parents/guardians of chronic absenteeism (15%+ absences) via email or electronic message (not just certified mail) and only initiate attendance meetings if absences are harming academic progress. The changes directly affect public school districts, nonpublic schools, county attorneys, and families of students in grades K-12.