Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Attendance Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cedar Rapids district revises student attendance policy; 20% absenteeism triggers county attorney review
Summary
The Cedar Rapids Community School District updated its 2025–26 attendance policy to allow five illness-related absences without a doctor’s note, require notes within 48 hours starting with the sixth absence, digitize notifications through Infinite Campus, and refer cases at 20% absenteeism to the county attorney.
Cedar Rapids Community School District announced changes to its student attendance policy for the 2025–26 school year that change documentation rules for illness absences, shift notifications to the Infinite Campus portal and set a 20% absenteeism threshold for county attorney review.
The policy changes are intended to improve communication and reduce chronic absenteeism. "The district updated the student attendance policy for the 20 25, 20 26 school year. It's really about improving communication, reducing chronic absenteeism, and helping students stay on track," Justin, a podcast host for the district, said on the district's Future Ready Today podcast.
Key provisions stated on the podcast include: students may have up to five illness-related absences per school year without a doctor's note; beginning with a student's sixth illness absence, a doctor's note must be submitted within 48 hours for that absence to be exempt; notifications and letters will be delivered digitally through Infinite Campus rather than by certified mail; and when a student reaches 20% absenteeism the district will contact families by phone, text, or email and refer the case to the county attorney for review.
"Exactly. Here are the highlights. Students can now have up to 5 illness related absences per year without a doctor's note. Starting with the sixth app absence, you'll need to turn in a note within 48 hours for it to be exempt," Isabelle, a podcast host for the district, said. Isabelle also noted that the district will move to digital notifications through Infinite Campus. Justin added, "And these changes line up with Iowa law," in the same discussion.
Podcast hosts said the district removed the previous practice of sending certified letters after 12 absences. "Those certified letters you used to get about after 12 absences, they're gone," Justin said on the podcast. The hosts emphasized that at the 20% absentee threshold the district's process includes both a digital letter and referral to the county attorney, and that families should be aware of the district's communication channels.
The podcast did not provide details about how the district calculates the 20% threshold (e.g., whether it is based on excused or unexcused absences), who within the district makes the referral to the county attorney, or whether the county regularly pursues cases referred under this policy. Funding, appeal processes and potential legal outcomes were not specified in the podcast.
Parents and guardians who want full details should consult the district's formal attendance policy and the Infinite Campus portal; the hosts said links would be included in the district newsletter.
