SF 277 — A bill for an act modifying provisions related to compulsory education, truancy, and chronic absenteeism.

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Y lI I l!1 !1 '1 l lllllnlllllllill;nlllmnuumuuullulemunuunnulnSumlluuuunuunnrmn'u Senate File 277 AN ACT MODIFYING PROVISIONS RELATED TO COMPULSORY EDUCATION, TRUANCY, AND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.

Section 11. .

NEW SUBSECTION.SUBSECTION .

22. .

Section 299.1, subsection 44, , paragraph bb, , Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subparagraphs:

NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.SUBPARAGRAPH .

NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.SUBPARAGRAPH .

2 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.SUBPARAGRAPH .

Section 299.1, subsection 44, , Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:

The policy or rules adopted by the board of directors of a public school district pursuant to paragraph à“a” - must describe how the exceptions described in paragraph "“b” b may be met by a child and must give reasonable consideration to travel time.

Section 299.12, subsection 22, , paragraph a, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:

When a child becomes chronically absent, a school official shall send a notice by ordinary mail or electronic mail to the county attorney of the county in which the public school'sschool’s central administrative office is located, and a notice by ccrtificdcertified mail to the child'schild’s parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian of the child, if the child is not an emancipated minor, or to the child, if the child is an emancipated minor, that includes information related to the child'schild’s absences from school and the policies and disciplinary processes associated with additional absences.

The notice the school official sends to the child'schild’s parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian of the child, if the child is not an emancipated minor, or to the child, if the child is an emancipated minor, may be sent by ordinary mail, electronic mail, or electronic message, or may be delivered in person.

Section 299.12, subsection 33, , paragraph a, subparagraph ((1), 1), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:

(1) If a child is absent from school for greater than or equal to fifteen percent of the days or hours in the grading period, a school official shall attempt to find the cause for the child'schild’s absences aand td..

If the school official determines that the child'schild’s absences are negatively affecting the child'schild’s academic progress, the school official shall initiate and participate in a school engagement meeting.

The purpose of the school engagement meeting is to identify the child'schild’s barriers Senate File 277, p.

3 to attendance and the interventions that may be used to improve the child'schild’s attendance.

AMY______________________________ SINC______________________________ 'IRAMY SINCLAIR PAT GRASSLEY President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and is known as Senate File 277, Ninety-first General Assembly.

iP••______________________________ 11 W.

CHARLES SMITHSON SecreSecretary :of the Senate Approved _______________, 2025 ______________________________ KIM REYNOLDS Governor

ry of t e Senate t Approved , 2025 KIM R:

OLDS Governor