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.  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 (2013).
1956 Op. Att'y Gen. 185.
1946 Op. Att'y Gen. 197.
1938 Op. Att'y Gen. 69.
1930 Op. Att'y Gen. 147.

Approved:

Reviewed:
January 10, 2022

 

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 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 permitted to attend.  Students who plan to open enroll to  their former resident district for the next school year may  do so without approval of 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.
 

NOTE:  This policy reflects current Iowa law.  Iowa's open enrollment law has not eliminated the need for this policy.  This policy affects nonresident students who do not qualify for open enrollment.

 

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, 11, .24.

Approved:                                          

Reviewed:                                          
January 10, 2022

July 10, 2023

 

Revised:

July 10, 2023

 

Policy 501.03: Compulsory Attendance	Status: APPROVED
Original Adopted Date: 01/10/2022| Last Revised Date: 08/12/2024 | Last Reviewed Date: 08/12/2024

 

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 or hours school is in session in accordance with the school calendar.  Students of compulsory attendance age will attend school a minimum of 1080 hours.  Students not attending the minimum days or hours 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 excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or judge;
• are attending religious services or receiving religious instruction;
• are unable to attend school due to legitimate medical reasons;
• has an individualized education program that affects the child’s attendance;
• has a plan under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, that affects the child’s attendance;
• 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.

 

Note:  This is a mandatory policy.  The compulsory attendance law does not require school districts to have a truancy officer. 

 

Legal Reference:

Iowa Code §§ 259A; 279.10-.11; 299; 299A.

 

 

I.C. Iowa Code	Description
Iowa Code  § 259A	High School Equivalency Diploma
Iowa Code  § 279	Directors - Powers and Duties
Iowa Code  § 299	Compulsory Education
Iowa Code  § 299A	Private Instruction

Cross References

Code	Description
601.01	School Calendar
604.01	Private Instruction

 

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 §§ 139A.8; 282.1, .3, .6 (2013).
1980 Op. Att'y Gen. 258.

Approved:                                          

Reviewed:
January 08, 2024

 

l

Policy 501.06: Student Transfers In	Status: ADOPTED
Original Adopted Date: 01/10/2022 | Last Reviewed Date: 01/08/2024

 

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.
 

NOTE:  School districts do not need parental permission to request student records from previous school districts.  The school district sending the records must notify the parents that the student's records have been sent.

 

Legal Reference:

20 U.S.C. § 1232g. Iowa Code §§ 139A.8; 282.1, .3, .4; 299A

 

 

I.C. Iowa Code	Description
Iowa Code  § 139A.8	Immunization of Children
Iowa Code  § 282.1	Attendance and Tuition - School Age-Nonresidents
Iowa Code  § 282.3	Attendance and Tuition - Admission and Exclusion
Iowa Code  § 282.4	Attendance and Tuition - Suspension-Expulsion
Iowa Code  § 299A	Private Instruction
U.S.C. - United States Code	Description
20 U.S.C. § 1232g	Education - FERPA

Cross References

Code	Description
501.15	Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Receiving District
505.03	Student Honors and Awards
604.01	Private Instruction
604.10	Online Courses
604.11	Appropriate Use of Online Learning Platforms

 

Policy 501.07: Student Transfers Out or Withdrawals	Status: ADOPTED
Original Adopted Date:   01/10/2022 | Last Reviewed Date: 01/08/2024

 

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.
    

NOTE:  The third paragraph is a reflection of federal law regarding the forwarding of student records.

 

Legal Reference:

20 U.S.C. § 1232g. Iowa Code §§ 274.1; 299.1-.1A; 299A.11

 

 

I.C. Iowa Code	Description
Iowa Code  § 274.1	Legal Status
Iowa Code  § 299.1	Compulsory Education - Attendance Requirements
Iowa Code  § 299.1A	Compulsory Attendance Age
Iowa Code  § 299A.11	Private Instruction - Student Records
U.S.C. - United States Code	Description
20 U.S.C. § 1232g	Education - FERPA

Cross References

Code	Description
501.15	Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Receiving District
604.01	Private Instruction

 

Policy 501.08: Student Attendance Records	Status: ADOPTED
Original Adopted Date: 01/10/2022 | Last Reviewed Date: 01/08/2024

 

As part of the school district's records, the daily attendance of each student is recorded and maintained on file with the permanent records of the board secretary.

It is the responsibility of the principals to ensure that such reports are filed with the board secretary, the custodian of school records.

 

Legal Reference:

Iowa Code §§ 294.4; 299. 281 I.A.C. 12.3(4).

 

 

I.C. Iowa Code	Description
Iowa Code  § 294.4	Teachers - Daily Register
Iowa Code  § 299	Compulsory Education
I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code	Description
281 I.A.C. 12.3	Administration

Policy 501.09: Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy	Status: ADOPTED
Original Adopted Date: 08/12/2024 | Last Revised Date:   | Last Reviewed Date:

 

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 semester or grading period 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 semester Truancy does not apply to the following students who:

• have completed the requirements for graduation in an accredited school or has obtained a high school equivalency diploma
• are excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or judge;
• are attending religious services or receiving religious instruction;
• are unable to attend school due to legitimate medical reasons;
• have an individualized education program than affects the student's attendance;
• have a plan under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, that affects the child's attendance;
• are attending a private college preparatory school accredited or probationally accredited;
• are excused under Iowa Code §299.22; and
• are exempt under Iowa Code §299.24.

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 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.

This is a mandatory policy. 
 

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).

 

I.C. Iowa Code	Description
Iowa Code  § 294.4	Teachers - Daily Register
Iowa Code  § 299	Compulsory Education
I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code	Description
281 I.A.C. 12.3	Administration
C.F.R. - Code of Federal Regulations	Description
28 C.F.R. 35	Judicial - Disability - Nondiscrimination
34 C.F.R. Pt. 300	Education - Disabilities/Children/Assistance to States

 

IASB Policy Reference Manual

Policy 501.13: Students of Legal Age	Status: APPROVED
Original Adopted Date: 01/10/2022 | Last Reviewed Date: 03/11/2024	LAST REVISED DATE:

 

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).3.

 

 

I.C. Iowa Code	Description
Iowa Code  § 22	Open Records
Iowa Code  § 282.2	Attendance and Tuition - Offsetting Taxes
Iowa Code  § 282.6	Attendance and Tuition - Tuition
Iowa Code  § 282.7	Attendance and Tuition - Other School Corp./Payment
Iowa Code  § 285.4	Transportation Aid - District Sending
Iowa Code  § 599.1	Minors - Period of Minority
Iowa Code  § 622.10	Evidence - Communications in Professional Confidence
I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code	Description
281 I.A.C. 12.3	Administration
U.S.C. - United States Code	Description
20 U.S.C. § 1232g	Education - FERPA

 

Policy 501.14: Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Sending District Status: APPROVED Original Adopted Date: 01/10/1989 | Last Revised Date: 08/12/2024 | Last Reviewed Date: 08/12/2024     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 i 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 Iowa 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 September1 unless another deadline applies.  The receiving district will approve or deny 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 to 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.   NOTE:  This policy reflects Iowa's open enrollment law.  The option addresses the issue of transportation of open enrolled students. The board needs to establish by policy whether it will or will not allow a receiving district to enter the district to pick up open enrolled students.  This option is on the bottom of the first page of this policy.  For more detailed discussion of this issue, see IASB's Policy Primer, June 24, 2005.     Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 139A.8; 274.1; 279.11; 282.1, .3, .8, .18; 299.1. 281 I.A.C. 17.     I.C. Iowa Code Description Iowa Code  § 139A.8 Immunization of Children Iowa Code  § 274.1 Legal Status Iowa Code  § 279.11 Directors - Powers and Duties - Classroom Assignment Iowa Code  § 282.1 Attendance and Tuition - School Age-Nonresidents Iowa Code  § 282.18 Attendance and Tuition - Open Enrollment Iowa Code  § 282.3 Attendance and Tuition - Admission and Exclusion Iowa Code  § 299.1 Compulsory Education - Attendance Requirements Iowa Code § 282.8 Attending School Outside State I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code Description 281 I.A.C. 17 Open Enrollment Cross References Code Description 501.15 Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Receiving District

 

 

Policy 501.15: Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Receiving District	Status: APPROVED
Original Adopted Date: 01/10/1989 | Last Revised Date: 8/12/2024 | Last Reviewed Date: 8/12/2024

 

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 board will take action on the open enrollment request at the next regular board meeting.

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.  

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.

Students in grades nine through twelve open enrolling into the school district will be eligible for participation in interscholastic athletics, at the varsity level, in accordance with applicable law. 

Parents of students whose open enrollment requests are approved by the (board or superintendent) are responsible for providing transportation to and from the receiving school district without reimbursement.  

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.
 

NOTE:  This policy reflects Iowa's open enrollment law.  The board needs to determine whether it will delegate authority to the superintendent to approve timely filed open enrollment requests.  This option is the first set of options on page one of the policy.  There are three options available to the board:

    •    board retains all approval authority over timely filed requests.
    •    board delegates all approval authority over timely filed requests.
    •    board delegates only some approval authority over timely filed requests.

After the board makes its decision, the policy needs to be edited to reflect the board's decision.

The second option on page two addresses the issue of transportation of the receiving district to pick up open enrolled students.  The board needs to establish by policy whether it will go into the sending district to pick up open enrolled students.  

 

Legal Reference:

Iowa Code §§ 139A.8; 274.1; 279.11; 282.1, .3, .8, .18; 299.1. 281 I.A.C. 17.

 

 

I.C. Iowa Code	Description
Iowa Code  § 139A.8	Immunization of Children
Iowa Code  § 274.1	Legal Status
Iowa Code  § 279.11	Directors - Powers and Duties - Classroom Assignment
Iowa Code  § 282.1	Attendance and Tuition - School Age-Nonresidents
Iowa Code  § 282.18	Attendance and Tuition - Open Enrollment
Iowa Code  § 282.3	Attendance and Tuition - Admission and Exclusion
Iowa Code  § 299.1	Compulsory Education - Attendance Requirements
Iowa Code § 282.8	Attending School Outside State
I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code	Description
281 I.A.C. 17	Open Enrollment

Cross References

Code	Description
501.06	Student Transfers In
501.07	Student Transfers Out or Withdrawals
501.14	Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Sending District
606.06	Insufficient Classroom Space

 

 

Policy 501.16: Homeless Children and Youth	Status: APPROVED
Original Adopted Date 6/9/2003 | Last Revised Date: 03/11/2022 | Last Reviewed Date: 03/11/2024

 

The Algona Community School District 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: 

• Children and youth who are: 
  • Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as “doubled up”); 
  • Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; 
  • Living in emergency or transitional shelters; or
  • Abandoned in hospitals. 
• Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; 
• Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and 
• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above. 

To help ensure that homeless children and youth have a full opportunity to enroll, attend, and succeed at school, the board shall:

• Designate the Homeless Coordinator as the local homeless children and youth liaison; 
• Provide training opportunities for staff so staff may help identify and meet the needs of homeless children and youth; 
• Remove barriers, including those associated with fees, fines, and absences, to the identification, enrollment, retention, attendance and/or success in school for homeless children and youth; 
• Ensure collaboration and coordination with other service providers; 
• Ensure transportation is provided in accordance with legal requirements; 
• Provide school stability in school assignment according to the child’s best interests; 
• Ensure the privacy of student records, as provided by applicable law, including information about a homeless child or youth’s living situation; 
• Engage in the dispute resolution process for decisions relating to the educational placement of homeless children and youth as provided by applicable law; and 
• Prohibit the segregation of a homeless child or youth from other students enrolled in the district. 

The superintendent may develop an administrative process or procedures to implement this policy. 
 

NOTE:  This is a mandatory policy. 

 

NOTE: The United States Department of Education and the Iowa Department of Education have additional information about implementation of the policy. For additional information, please visit: 
•    The “Education Department Releases Guidance on Homeless Children and Youth” section of the United States Department of Education’s website, located at: http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/education-department-releases-guidance-homeless-children-and-youth. 
The “Homeless Education” section of the Iowa Department of Education’s website, located at: https://www.educateiowa.gov/pk-12/title-programs/title-x-part-c-homeless-education

 

Legal Reference:

20 U.S.C. § 6301. 42 U.S.C. § 11302.  42 U.S.C. §§ 11431 et seq.      281 I.A.C. 33.

 

 

I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code	Description
281 I.A.C. 33	Homeless Children and Youth
U.S.C. - United States Code	Description
20 U.S.C. § 6301	Education - Elementary and Secondary Improvement
42 U.S.C. § 11302	Public Health - Homeless Assistance
42 U.S.C. § 11431	Public Health - Education for Homeless Children

Cross References

Code	Description
503.03	Fines - Fees - Charges
503.03-R(1)	Fines - Fees - Charges - Student Fee Waiver and Reduction Procedures
503.03-E(1)	Fines - Fees - Charges - Standard Fee Waiver Application
507.01	Student Health and Immunization Certificates
603.03	Special Education
711.01	Student School Transportation Eligibility