Children who are residents of the school district community will attend the school district without paying tuition.

The residence of a student means the place, abode, or dwelling of the student.  Generally, the legal dwelling of minors is the same as their parents.  However, a student may establish a dwelling with someone other than the parents and attend public school in the school district without paying tuition if the primary purpose for residing in the school district is not for the purpose of obtaining a free public education.  Further, students who have reached the age of majority and who are still eligible to attend an Iowa secondary school may declare their residence independent of the residence of the parents.

Each case involving the bona fide residence of a student will be decided upon its individual merits by the superintendent.

Cross Reference:         
102      School District Instructional Organization
501      Student Attendance

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

Students who are eligible to attend an Iowa public school but who are not legal residents of the school district may be admitted into the school district at the discretion of the superintendent upon application and payment of tuition.  The tuition rate shall be the current per-pupil cost of the school district as computed by the board secretary and as authorized by the Iowa Department of Education.

Resident students whose families move from the school district after the start of a semester and who wish to complete the semester in the school district may be permitted to attend without the payment of tuition at the discretion of the superintendent and approval of the board.  Students who plan to open enroll to the nonresident district may complete the school year without approval of the superintendent or board.  These students, other than students in grades eleven and twelve, must have the recommendation of the principal.

Students in grades eleven or twelve who are no longer residents of the school district, but were residents in the preceding school year, may continue to attend school until they graduate without the payment of tuition.  These students may be required to identify an adult, who resides in the school district, for purposes of administration.

Nonresident students who are eligible to attend an Iowa public school and who have evidence they will become legal residents of the school district prior to the third Friday in September may be allowed to attend without the payment of tuition.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

Parents within the school district who have children over age six and under age sixteen by September 15, in proper physical and mental condition to attend school, will have the children attend the school district at the attendance center designated by the board.  Students will attend school the number of days school is in session in accordance with the school calendar.  Students of compulsory attendance age will attend school a minimum of [168 days or 1040 hours].  Students not attending the minimum days must be exempted by this policy as listed below or, referred to the county attorney.  Exceptions to this policy include children who:

• have completed the requirements for graduation in an accredited school or have obtained a high school equivalency diploma;
• are attending religious services or receiving religious instruction;
• are attending an approved or probationally approved private college preparatory school;
• are attending an accredited nonpublic school;
• are receiving independent private instruction; or,
• are receiving competent private instruction.

It is the responsibility of the parent of a child to provide evidence of the child's mental and physical inability to attend school or of the child's qualifications for one of the exceptions listed above.

The principal will investigate the cause for a student's truancy.  If the principal is unable to secure the truant student's attendance, the principal should discuss the next step with the school board.  If after school board action, the student is still truant, principal will refer the matter over to the county attorney.

The school will participate in mediation if requested by the county attorney.  The superintendent will represent the school district in mediation.  The school district will monitor the student's compliance with the mediation agreement and will report violations of the mediation agreement to the county attorney.

Cross Reference:           
501    Student Attendance
601.1 School Calendar
604.1 Competent Private Instruction

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

Children in the school district community will be allowed to enroll in the school district's regular education program beginning at age five.  The child must be age five on or prior to September 15 to participate in the school district's pre-pre-kindergarten program.  The child must be age six on or prior to September 15 to begin the first grade of the education program.

The board shall require evidence of age and residency in the form of a birth certificate or other evidence before the student may enroll in the school district's education program.  It shall be within the discretion of the superintendent to determine what is satisfactory evidence for proof of age.

Prior to enrollment, the child must provide the administration with their health and immunization certificate.  Failure to provide this information within the time period set by the superintendent shall be reason for suspension, expulsion or denying admission to the student.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance
507.1   Student Health and Immunization Certificates

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016
Revised:     January 2015

The Board shall determine the boundaries for each attendance center. District Administration shall determine assignment of students to an attendance center based on any boundaries determined by the Board.

Efforts shall be made to maintain elementary (K-4) class sizes of 23 or fewer students. Placement of elementary students may be made based on class size, program needs of students, and other factors on a case-by-case basis. However, every effort shall be made to keep siblings together that would attend in the same building.

In compliance with HF 598, parents or guardians may request that twin siblings (or other levels of multiples) be placed in the same classroom or different classrooms. This request shall be honored unless the principal determines that the placement would create a classroom disruption. After the first grading period of the school year, the principal and the students’ teachers may determine that the placement was disruptive and the students can be placed in different classes.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  December 2019
Revised:     January 2020

Students who transfer into the school district must meet the immunization and age requirements set out for students who initially enroll in the school district.

The school district shall request the student's cumulative records from the previous school district.  If the student cannot offer proof of grade level, the superintendent will make the grade level determination.  The superintendent may require testing or other information to determine the grade level.  Students expelled or suspended from their previous school district will only be enrolled after approval of the board.

The superintendent shall determine the amount of credits to be transferred.  If the student has not previously attended an accredited school, it is within the superintendent's discretion to accept or reject credits or grades.

The board may deny admission if the student is not willing to provide the board with the necessary information.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance
505.4   Student Honors and Awards
507      Student Health and Well-Being
604.1   Competent Private Instruction

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

If the student's parents wish to withdraw or transfer the student from school prior to completing and graduating from the education program, they should notify the superintendent in writing as soon as possible of the decision to withdraw or transfer the student from the education program.  The student or parent should present this written notice at the office and receive instructions regarding the return of textbooks, library books, locker equipment, hot lunch tickets, etc. 

The notice should state the student's final day of attendance.  If the student is not enrolling in another school district, the school district will maintain the student's records in the same manner as the records of students who have graduated from the school district.

If the parents wish to have the student's cumulative record sent to the new school district, the parents must notify the superintendent in writing.  This notice will include the name of the school district and the person at the new school district to whom the student's cumulative records should be sent.  If the new school district requests the student's cumulative records, the school district will forward the cumulative records and notify the parents the records have been sent.  The notice will inform the parents of their right to review the records sent.

If the student is of compulsory education age and not transferring to another public school district or an accredited nonpublic school, the parents will notify the superintendent that the student is receiving competent private instruction and file the necessary competent private instruction reports.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance
506      Student Records
604.1   Competent Private Instruction

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

Regular attendance by students is essential for students to obtain the maximum opportunities from the education program.  Parents and students alike are encouraged to ensure an absence from school is a necessary absence.  Students shall attend school unless excused by the principal of their attendance center.

Student absences approved by the principal shall be excused absences.  Excused absences shall count as days in attendance for purposes of the truancy law.  These absences include, but are not limited to, illness, family emergencies, recognized religious observances, appointments that cannot be scheduled outside the school day and school-sponsored or approved activities.

Students whose absences are approved shall make up the work missed and receive full credit for the missed school work.  It shall be the responsibility of the student to initiate a procedure with the student's teacher to complete the work missed.

Students who wish to participate in school-sponsored activities must attend school in the afternoon of the day of the activity unless permission has been given by the principal for the student to be absent.

It shall be the responsibility of the parent to notify the student's attendance center as soon as the parent knows the student will not be attending school on that day.  The principal may request evidence or written verification of the student's reason for absence.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance
503      Student Discipline
504      Student Activities
506      Student Records

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

Regular attendance by the students at school is essential for students to obtain the maximum opportunities from the education program.  Parents and students alike are encouraged to ensure an absence from school is a necessary absence.  Students shall attend school unless excused by the principal of their attendance center.

Truancy is the failure to attend school for the minimum number of days established in the school calendar by the board.  Truancy is the act of being absent without a reasonable excuse.  These absences shall include, but not be limited to, tardiness or shopping.  Truancy will not be tolerated by the board.

Students are subject to disciplinary action for truancy including suspension and expulsion.  It shall be within the discretion of the principal to determine, in light of the circumstances, whether a student may make up work missed because of truancy.  Students receiving special education services will not be assigned to in-school suspension unless the goals and objectives of the student's Individualized Education Program are capable of being met.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.  The administrative regulations shall indicate the disciplinary action to be taken for truancy.

Cross Reference:         
206.3   Secretary
501      Student Attendance
503      Student Discipline
504      Student Activities
506      Student Records

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

Students may be allowed to leave the school district facilities when they are not scheduled to be in class.  Students who violate school rules may have this privilege suspended.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance
503      Student Discipline
504      Student Activities
506      Student Records

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

The board encourages pregnant students to continue to attend the education program as long as they are physically able.  The pregnant student may notify the principal or the guidance counselor as soon as she is aware of the pregnancy.  The school may require that a pregnant student provide the principal with a written note from her doctor relative to special conditions that might exist and specific suggestions as to how long the student may continue to attend classes.  If the student is unable to attend school because of her pregnancy, the student may be excused and arrangements made to continue her studies during her absence.  The student shall resume classes upon the recommendation of her physician.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance
604.2   Individualized Instruction

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

The board encourages married students to continue attending the education program in order to graduate.

Married students may attend without paying tuition as long as they are eligible to attend an Iowa public school and are a resident of the school district.

If requested, a married student with family responsibilities may have classes scheduled in blocks so as much time as possible can be spent fulfilling family responsibilities.  Husbands and wives will not necessarily be scheduled in the same class sections.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

Students who have attained legal age may continue the education program without payment of tuition as long as they are eligible to attend an Iowa public school and are residents of the school district.

Parents will be allowed to access and view the student's records without written permission from the student if the student is still a dependent for tax purposes.  In most cases, with the discretion of the principal or the superintendent, the student will be able to make decisions and sign documents rather than requiring parental permission or signature.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance
506      Student Records

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

The school district will participate in open enrollment as a sending district.  As a sending district, the board will allow resident students who meet the requirements to open enroll to another public school district.

Parents requesting open enrollment out of the school district for their student will notify the sending and receiving school district no later than March 1 in the school year preceding the first year desired for open enrollment.  The notice is made on forms provided by the Department of Education.  The forms are available at the central administration office.

Parents of children who will begin pre-pre-kindergarten in the school district are exempt from the open enrollment March 1 deadline.  Parents of children who will begin pre-pre-kindergarten will file in the same manner set forth above by September 1.  Parents who have good cause as defined by law for failing to meet the March 1 deadline may make an open enrollment request by September 1 unless another deadline applies.

The receiving district will approve open enrollment requests according to the timelines established by law.  The parents may withdraw the open enrollment request prior to the start of the school year.  The receiving district’s superintendent will notify the parents and sending school district by mail within five days of the school district’s action to approve or deny the open enrollment request. 

The board may approve a student's request to allow the receiving district, up to two miles, to enter the school district for the purposes of transportation.  

An open enrollment request out of the school district from parents of a special education student is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  The determining factor for approval of such an open enrollment request will be whether the special education program available in the receiving school district is appropriate for the student's needs.  The area education agency director of special education serving the receiving district will determine whether the program is appropriate.  The special education student will remain in the school district until the final determination is made.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to maintain open enrollment request applications and notice forms.  It will also be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop appropriate office procedures and administrative regulations necessary for open enrollment requests.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance
506      Student Records

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

The school district will participate in open enrollment as a receiving district.  As a receiving district, the board will allow nonresident students, who meet the legal requirements, to open enroll into the school district.  The board will have complete discretion to determine the attendance center of the students attending the school district under open enrollment.

The superintendent will approve all timely filed applications by June 1; incoming pre-pre-kindergarten applications; good cause application; or continuation of an educational program application filed by the third Thursday of the following September.

The superintendent will notify the sending school district and parents within five days of the school district’s action to approve or deny the open enrollment request.  The superintendent will also forward a copy of the school district’s action with a copy of the open enrollment request to the Iowa Department of Education.

Open enrollment requests into the school district will not be approved if insufficient classroom space exists.  Open enrollment requests into the school district will also not be approved for students who have been suspended or expelled by the administration or the board of the school district the student is or was attending until the student has been reinstated into the school district from which the student was suspended or expelled.  Once the student is reinstated, the student's open enrollment request will be considered in the same manner as other open enrollment requests provided the required timelines are met.

Open enrollment requests into the school district that, if denied, would result in students from the same nuclear family being enrolled in different school districts, will be given highest priority.  The board, in its discretion, may waive the insufficient classroom space reason for denial for students of the same nuclear family to prevent the division of a nuclear family between two school districts.  Other open enrollment requests into the school district are considered in the order received by the school district with the first open enrollment request given a higher priority than the second open enrollment request and so forth.

Generally, students in grades nine through twelve open enrolling into the school district will not be eligible for participation in interscholastic athletics, at the varsity level, during the first ninety school days of open enrollment into the school district.

Parents are responsible for providing transportation to and from the receiving school district without reimbursement unless the parents qualify for transportation assistance.  Upon a parent's request, the board may approve transportation into the sending district.  (The transportation is limited to within two miles of the district boundary/current bus route.)  The board's approval is subject to the sending district's approval.

An open enrollment request into the school district from parents of a special education student is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  The determining factors for approval of such an open enrollment request will be whether the special education program available in the school district is appropriate for the student's needs and whether the enrollment of the special education student will cause the class size to exceed the maximum allowed.  The area education agency director of special education serving the school district will determine whether the program is appropriate.  The special education student will remain in the sending district until the final determination is made.

The policies of the school district will apply to students attending the school district under open enrollment.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop appropriate office procedures and administrative regulations necessary for open enrollment requests.

Cross Reference:         
501.6   Student Transfers In
501.7   Student Transfers Out or Withdrawals
501.14 Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Sending District
506      Student Records
507      Student Health and Well-Being
606.8   Insufficient Classroom Space

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

The board will make reasonable efforts to identify homeless children and youth of school age within the district, encourage their enrollment and eliminate existing barriers to their receiving an education which may exist in district policies or practices.  The designated coordinator for identification of homeless children and for tracking and monitoring programs and activities for these children is the homeless liaison.

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance
503.3   Fines - Fees - Charges
506      Student Records
507.1   Student Health and Immunization Certificates
603.3   Special Education
711.1   Student School Transportation Eligibility

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016