A bill for an act relating to compulsory education, including by modifying provisions related to absenteeism and truancy policies adopted by school districts and school attendance requirements related to children who are undergoing military entrance processing or who are engaged in military service.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sarah Garriott

Bill SF 345 exempts children in military processing or service from compulsory education, easing attendance burdens and altering truancy enforcement for schools.

Subcommittee: Evans, Kraayenbrink, and Trone Garriott.

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Summary of Bill SF 345

Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to compulsory education, including by modifying provisions related to absenteeism and truancy policies adopted by school districts and school attendance requirements related to children who are undergoing military entrance processing or who are engaged in military service.

Bill Number: SF 345
Introduced On: February 18, 2025
Current Status: Subcommittee: Evans, Kraayenbrink, and Trone Garriott
Classification: Bill
Subject Areas: Children, Compulsory Education, Military Service, School Attendance, Truancy

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of Bill SF 345 is to amend existing laws regarding compulsory education in order to provide additional exemptions for school attendance requirements. Specifically, the bill aims to accommodate children who are undergoing military entrance processing or who are actively engaged in military service. This reflects a recognition of the unique circumstances faced by military families and their children.

Key Provisions

Exemptions from Attendance Requirements:

The bill introduces new exemptions for children who are:
- Undergoing military entrance processing.
- Engaged in military service.
These exemptions will be added to the existing list of reasons for which a child may be excused from compulsory education requirements.

Modification of Current Laws:

The bill proposes the repeal of certain sections of the Iowa Code related to absenteeism and truancy:
- Code section 299.12: This section currently mandates that notices be sent to county attorneys and guardians when a child becomes chronically absent.
- Code section 299.13: This section establishes civil enforcement provisions related to truancy.
The repeal of these sections will necessitate conforming changes throughout the relevant education laws.

Engagement Meetings:

Current law requires schools to initiate engagement meetings when a child is absent for at least 15% of the days or hours in a grading period. The bill may impact how these meetings are conducted, particularly for exempted children.

Impact

Affected Parties:

Students: Children undergoing military processing or service will benefit from the new exemptions, reducing the burden of compulsory attendance during critical periods.
School Districts: Schools will need to adjust their attendance policies and procedures in light of the new exemptions and the repeal of existing truancy enforcement provisions.
County Attorneys: The enforcement responsibilities related to compulsory education may change, as the bill repeals certain notification and enforcement requirements.

Procedural Aspects

The bill was introduced and referred to the Education Committee on February 18, 2025.

As of February 19, 2025, it is under consideration by a subcommittee consisting of Senators Evans, Kraayenbrink, and Trone Garriott.

This summary provides an overview of Bill SF 345, highlighting its intent to modify compulsory education laws to better accommodate military families while also addressing current truancy policies.