Attendance Updates 2025-2026

posted September 4, 2025

The Iowa Legislature updated their directives for school attendance. Please see the following for the most current attendance policy updates.

State Reporting and Family Communication Guidelines

Present: a student is marked present if they are in school, participating in a school activity off-campus, or attending an Indian Hills class.

Absent: a student is marked absent if they are not in school and do not meet “present” criteria.

Once a student reaches 10% absent for a semester, the building office will communicate with the parent or guardian notifying them that their student has missed enough days to be chronically absent. When a student reaches 15% absent for a semester, the building principal may reach out to the parent or guardian to set up a parent engagement meeting if the student is not meeting academic requirements. When a student reaches 20% absent for a semester, the student may be considered truant and truancy procedures may be initiated if the student is not meeting academic requirements.

District Guidelines

While all absences count toward chronic absenteeism and truancy state reporting, Cardinal CSD will exempt absences from local attendance policy consequences if the absence is for one of the following reasons approved by the Iowa Legislature:

• Student has completed graduation requirements
• Student is excused for sufficient reason by any court of record
• Attending religious services or receiving religious instructions
• Planned medical treatment, with a doctor’s note provided directly from the doctor’s office to the school
• Medical appointment, with a doctor’s note provided directly from the doctor’s office to the school
• Parent or sibling medical emergency
• Applicant undergoing military entrance processing or engaged in military service
• Traveling to attend a funeral or wedding

Please read the student handbook for local attendance policy information. Questions regarding attendance should be directed to the secretary of your child’s attendance center.

Strive for 5

Make it a goal to not miss more than five days of school this year!

We're Here to Help

Call (641) 652-7531 with any questions.

Sincerely, 
James Craig
Superintendent
Cardinal CSD