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.
Legal Reference:
Lakota Cons. Ind. School v. Buffalo Center-Rake Comm. School, 334 N.W.2d 704 (Iowa 1983).
Mt. Hope School Dist. v. Hendrickson, 197 N.W. 47 (Iowa 1924).
Oshel v. Creston Comm. School Dist., DPI Admin. Doc. 570 (1981).
33 D.P.I. Dec. Rule 80 (1984).
Iowa Code §§ 257.6; 282.2, .6, .7; 285.4
Cross Reference:
100 Legal Status of the School Board
501 Student Attendance
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised
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 is the current per-pupil cost of the school district as computed by the board secretary/business manager 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 their former resident school district will be in the school district may be permitted to attend. Students who plan to open enroll to their former resident district for the next school year may do so without approval from the board
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, identified 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 October 1 may be allowed to attend without the payment of tuition.
Legal Reference:
Lakota Cons. Ind. School v. Buffalo Center-Rake Comm. School, 334 N.W.2d 704 (Iowa 1983).
Mt. Hope School Dist. v. Hendrickson, 197 N.W. 47 (Iowa 1924).
Oshel v. Creston Comm. School Dist., DPI Admin. Doc. 570 (1981).
Iowa Code §§ 257.6; 282.1, .2, .6, .7, .24
Cross Reference:
501 Student Attendance
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised
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 _____days or __ 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:
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.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§ 239.5B; 259A; 279.10-.11; ch. 299; 299A.
Cross Reference:
601.1 School Calendar
604.1 Private Instruction
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised
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 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 will 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 is 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 is reason for suspension, expulsion or denying admission to the student.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§ 139.9; 282.1, .3, .6
1980 Op. Att'y Gen. 258.
Cross Reference:
507.1 Student Health and Immunization Certificates
607.2 Student Health Services
607.2R1 Student Health Services - Regulation
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised
The board will have complete discretion to determine the boundaries for each attendance center, to assign students to the attendance centers.
Parents or guardians of siblings in the same grade level academically in grades kindergarten through grade five may request the siblings be placed in the same or different classrooms. In order to be valid, the request must be made in writing and submitted to the school principal at the time of registration for classes, or within fourteen days after the children’s first day of attendance during the school year. If a valid request is received by the school principal, the request must be honored. While a parent or guardian may make a placement request that siblings be placed together or apart, the district administration retains complete discretion to select the classroom teacher(s) to which siblings are assigned. If after the initial grading period following the placement of siblings in the same or different classrooms the school principal determines the placement is disruptive to the class; the principal may assign one or more of the siblings to different classrooms.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation to the board annually regarding the assigned attendance center for each student. In making the recommendation, the superintendent will consider the geographical layout of the school district, the condition and location of the school district facilities, the location of student population, possible transportation challenges, financial condition of the school district and other factors deemed relevant by the superintendent or the board.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§ 279.11; 282.7-.8
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised
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 will 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 will 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.
Legal Reference:
20 U.S.C. § 1232g
Iowa Code §§ 139.9; 282.1, .3, .4 299A
Cross Reference:
501 Student Attendance
505.3 Student Honors and Awards
507 Student Health and Well-Being
604.1 Competent Private Instruction
604.10 Online Courses
604.11 Appropriate Use of Online Learning Platforms
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised
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.
Legal Reference:
20 U.S.C. § 1232g
Iowa Code §§ 274.1; 299.1-.1A
Cross Reference:
501.15 Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Receiving District
604.1 Competent Private Instruction
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised
As part of the school district's records, the daily attendance of each student will be recorded and maintained on file with the permanent records of the board secretary/business manager.
It is the responsibility of the principals to ensure that such reports are filed with the board secretary/business manager, the custodian of school records.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§ 294.4; 299
281 I.A.C. 12.2(4).
Cross Reference:
501 Student Attendance
506 Student Records
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised
The district believes that traditional, in-person school attendance leads to the greatest learning opportunities for students. Students who are present in school and engaged active learners take greater ownership over their educational outcomes. For this reason, it is the priority of the district to foster regular student attendance throughout the school year and reduce barriers to regular attendance for students in the district.
Chronic absenteeism/absences means any absence from school for more than ten percent of the days in the academic calendar established by the district.
Truant/truancy means a child of compulsory attendance age who is absent from school for any reason for at least twenty percent of the days in the academic calendar . Truancy does not apply to the following students who:
Students are subject to disciplinary action for truancy including suspension and expulsion. It is 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 supervised study halls or in-school suspension unless the goals and objectives of the student's Individualized Education Program are capable of being met.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the designated school officials, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy. The administrative regulations will indicate the disciplinary action to be taken for truancy.
Legal Reference: 34 C.F.R. sec. 300
28 C.F.R. Pt. 35
Iowa Code §§ 294.4; 299.
281 I.A.C. 12.3(4).
Cross Reference: 501 Student Attendance
503 Student Discipline
504 Student Activities
506 Student Records
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised September 2024
Daily, punctual attendance is an integral part of the learning experience. The education that goes on in the classroom builds from day to day and absences can cause disruption in the educational progress of the absent student. Irregular attendance or tardiness by students not only limits their own studies, but also interferes with the progress of those students who are regular and prompt in attendance. Attendance is a shared responsibility that requires cooperation and communication among students, parents and the school.
This regulation is divided into two sections: Section I addresses legal requirements related to chronic absenteeism and truancy and Section II addresses additional academic, disciplinary and extracurricular consequences students face due to chronic absenteeism and truancy. It is important for students to recognize that chronic absenteeism and truancy impacts all these facets of their educational experience.
SECTION I – Legal Requirements
Chronic Absenteeism
When a student meets the threshold to be considered chronically absent, the school official will send notice by mail or e-mail to the county attorney where the district’s central office is located. The school official will also notify the student, or if a minor, the student’s parent, guardian or legal or actual custodian via certified mail that includes information related to the student’s absences from school and the policies and disciplinary processes associated with additional absences.
School Engagement Meeting
If a student is absent from school for at least fifteen percent of the days in the grading period, the school official will attempt to find the cause of the absences and start and participate in a school engagement meeting. All of the following individuals must participate in the school engagement meeting:
The student;
The student’s parent, guardian or legal or actual custodian if the student is an unemancipated minor; and
A school official.
The purpose of the meeting is to understand the reasons for the student’s absences and attempt to remove barriers to the student’s ongoing absences; and to create and sign an absenteeism prevention plan.
Absenteeism Prevention Plan
The absenteeism prevention plan will identify the causes of the student’s absences and the future responsibilities of each participant. The school official will contact the student and student’s parent/guardian at least once per week for the remainder of the school year to monitor the performance of the student and the student’s parent/guardian under the plan. If the student and student’s parent/guardian do not attend the meeting, do not enter into a plan or violate the terms of the plan, the school official will notify the county attorney.
SECTION II – Academic and Disciplinary Requirements
Students are required to be in attendance, pursuant to board policy, for 152 (146 for seniors) days per school year unless their absences have been excused by the principal for illness (absences of five or more consecutive days due to illness requires a doctor's note), family emergencies, doctor or dental appointment, recognized religious observances and school sponsored or approved activities. Reasonable excuses may also include family trips or vacations approved by the building principal if the student's work is finished prior to the trip or vacation. Absences that do not fall within the categories listed above will be considered unexcused unless approved by the principal. Parents are expected to telephone the school office to report a student's absence prior to 8 a.m. on the day of the absence.
If a student accumulates 5 unexcused absences in a class, he or she may lose credit for the class if the student was previously warned at 5 unexcused absences that two more may result in loss of credit. Prior to imposing the loss of credit in one or more classes, the principal will provide the student an opportunity for an informal hearing.
School work missed because of absences must be made up within two times the number of days absent, not to exceed 10 days. The time allowed for make-up work may be extended at the discretion of the classroom teacher.
Students will remain in class until the student assistance team makes a decision regarding loss or restoration of credit. Full credit is awarded to all assignments and tests submitted that meet the teacher's specifications until a decision regarding credit has been made.
A student who loses credit due to excessive absences is assigned to a supervised study hall for the period(s) in which the course(s) meets or the student may be reassigned to another class or location. A student who, after a hearing before the board, loses credit in all courses due to unexcused absences, will not be allowed to participate in any school activities until the following semester. However, the student is eligible to participate in practice if all other eligibility criteria have been met.
The administration and guidance staff will make reasonable efforts to advise and counsel and may impose discipline upon any student approaching 5 unexcused absences. Such advice, discipline and counseling is in addition to the requirements listed in Section I of this regulation and includes, but is not limited to, oral or written notices to the student and his or her parents, conferences with the student and parents, written contracts, or loss of non-academic privileges such as extracurricular activities, open campus, late arrival, early dismissal, or other privileges.
Students will be allowed to leave the school district facilities during school hours only with prior authorization from their parents, unless the parent appears personally at the student's attendance center to arrange for the release of the student during school hours, or with the permission of the principal.
Approved reasons for release of a student during the school day will include, but not be limited to, illness, family emergencies, medical appointments, religious instruction, classes outside the student's attendance center, employment for which the student has been issued a work permit and other reasons determined appropriate by the principal.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code § 294.4
281 I.A.C. 12.2(4).
Cross Reference:
501 Student Attendance
503 Student Discipline
504 Student Activities
506 Student Records
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised
The board encourages pregnant students to continue to attend the education program as long as they are physically able to do so. 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 will resume classes upon the recommendation of her physician.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§ 216; 279.8; 280.3
Cross Reference:
106 Title IX - Discrimination and Harassment Based on Sex Prohibited
604.2 Individualized Instruction
Approved August 2014
Reviewed September 2024
Revised
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.
Legal Reference:
20 U.S.C. § 1232g
Iowa Code §§ 22; 282.2, .6, .7; 285.4; 599.1; 622.10
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6).
Cross Reference:
501 Student Attendance
506 Student Records
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised
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 kindergarten in the school district are exempt from the open enrollment March 1 deadline. Parents of children who will begin kindergarten and prekindergarten children enrolled in special education programs and included in the district’s basic enrollment 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.
Subject tp applicable laws, the board may approve a student's request to allow the receiving district 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.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§ 139.9; 274.1; 279.11; 282.1, .3, .8, .18; 299.1
281 I.A.C. 17.
Cross Reference:
501 Student Attendance
506 Student Records
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised
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 timely filed applications by June 1; incoming kindergarten applications; good cause application; or continuation of an educational program application filed by September 1.
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.
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.
The district reserves the right to deny continued open enrollment to any students who meet the definition of truant. The district will notify the truant student’s parent or guardian and district of residence of the decision to deny enrollment in the future in accordance with applicable laws.
Students in grades nine through twelve open enrolling into the school district will be eligible for participation in interscholastic athletics, at the varsity level.
Parents of students whose open enrollment requests are approved by the superintendent are responsible for providing transportation to and from the receiving school district without reimbursement.
If an open enrolled student’s primary residence is closer to the receiving district’s attendance center than the distance from the student’s primary residence to the sending attendance center, the sending district will allow the student’s receiving district to send school vehicles no more than two miles into the sending district’s boundaries to pick up the student.
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.
For children requiring special education, the receiving district will complete and provide to the resident district the documentation needed to seek Medicaid reimbursement for eligible services.
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.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§ 139.9; 274.1; 279.11; 282.1, .3, .8, .18; 299.1
281 I.A.C. 17.
1990 Op. Att'y Gen. 75.
Cross Reference:
501.6 Student Transfers In
501.7 Student Transfers Out or Withdrawals
501.13 Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Sending District
506 Student Records
507 Student Health and Well-Being
606.6 Insufficient Classroom Space
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised September 2024
The Winfield Mt. Union Community School believes all students should have access to a free, appropriate public education. The district will ensure that homeless children and youth have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as other children and youth.
The term “homeless children and youth” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The term includes:
To help ensure that homeless children and youth have a full opportunity to enroll, attend, and succeed at school, the board shall:
The superintendent may develop an administrative process or procedures to implement this policy.
Legal Reference:
20 U.S.C. §§ 6301.
42 U.S.C. §§ 11302.
42 U.S.C. §§ 11431 et seq.
281 I.A.C. 33.
Cross Reference:
503.3 Fines - Fees - Charges
507.1 Student Health and Immunization Certificates
603.3 Special Education
711.1 Student School Transportation Eligibility
Approved July 1999
Reviewed September 2024
Revised