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Attendance

School

 

Dear Waterloo Community School Families,

We are excited about the upcoming 2025-2026 school year! As we prepare for another great year at Waterloo Schools, we are sharing important updates to our attendance procedures. These changes, stemming from Iowa Senate File 2435 (2024), Senate File 277 (2025), and House File 870 (2025), are designed to support your child’s success by ensuring they are in school, engaged, and ready to learn every day.

Attendance Procedures

When your child is absent, please continue to call and/or email the school or enter the absence through the parent portal. It is vital to clearly communicate the reason for the absence. If no reason is provided, the absence will be recorded as unexcused.

Below is the updated summary of how attendance and absences are coded under the newest state guidelines:

Present

  • Student is at school or participating in a school-directed activity (fine arts, athletics, robotics, class trip, etc.).
  • Attending college courses or CTE placement.
  • In-School Suspension (ISS) or Detention.

Absent - Exempt (Does NOT count toward Chronic Absenteeism)

  • Medical excusal (doctor note, school nurse, health plan, or school official sending a student home for medical reasons).
  • Excusal by a court of record.
  • Courses in Religious Instruction: Students may be excused for up to five hours per week for religious instruction provided by a private organization (requires advance parental notification and maintained records by the provider).
  • Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 plan requirements that affect attendance.
  • Military-Related: Military applicants undergoing processing or students engaged in military service.
  • Family Travel: Travel specifically to attend a funeral or a wedding (reasonable consideration will be given for travel time).

Absent - Unexcused

  • Any reason not listed above, including vacations, car trouble, or family emergencies.
  • Sick (parent-confirmed) without a formal medical note or health plan.

Important Legislative Updates for 2025-2026

  • Communication Methods: In accordance with SF 277, the school is no longer required to send chronic absenteeism notices solely via certified mail. You may now receive these notifications through ordinary mail, email, text message, or in-person delivery.
  • Engagement Meeting Threshold: If a child is absent for 15% or more of the days or hours in a grading period, and school officials determine the absences are negatively affecting academic progress, a School Engagement Meeting will be initiated. This meeting is designed to identify barriers to attendance and create a support plan.
  • Grading Period Resets: Please note that chronic absenteeism determinations, the need for engagement meetings, and truancy determinations now reset at the beginning of each grading period.
  • Records Retention: The school is now required to maintain a copy of all official attendance notices until the child graduates, turns 21, or is no longer enrolled.

What should I do if my child reaches the 10% threshold?

If your child reaches the 10% threshold for chronic absenteeism (calculated per grading period), the school will notify you immediately via mail or electronic message. We encourage you to reach out to the school counselor or administration early if your child is experiencing barriers to attendance, such as illness or anxiety, so we can explore supportive resources together.

Thank you for your continued partnership in ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Sincerely,

Waterloo Community School District Administration

 

319-433-1880

huddlesonh@waterlooschools.org

Individuals may also feel free to contact the building Secretary or Family Support Worker (elementary and middle schools) for attendance assistance.