Absenteeism council issues recommendations
The Iowa Chronic Absenteeism Advisory Council on Monday approved recommendations to help school districts and their communities improve the attendance of students who miss 10 percent or more of the school year.
Chronically absent students are less likely to be proficient in reading by the end of third grade, according to the Child & Family Policy Center. That can lead to trouble in school and in getting a job.
On average, 8.3 percent of Iowa public school students were chronically absent in the 2015-16 school year, the state reported.
Recommendations include:
- Developing a uniform way to define and track chronic absenteeism, including adopting a statewide definition — missing 10 percent or more of school for any reason, excused or unexcused.
- Launching a statewide campaign about the importance of good attendance and the impact of chronic absenteeism on students’ success.
- Finding a way to spread the word on best practices.
- Establishing an advisory group to promote collaboration.
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