(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowa school districts are stepping up efforts to improve attendance, as chronic absenteeism surged during the pandemic and it’s been difficult to bring down. Des Moines Public Schools has increased outreach to families through letters, phone calls and in-person visits to homes. Superintendent Ian Roberts says the district learned some students are missing school to care for family members, or to work so they can add to their family’s income.

Some Iowa school leaders want changes to a law passed last year aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism. Once a student misses 10-percent of the days in a semester, the law requires districts to notify their family and the county attorney. Initially, both excused and unexcused absences counted toward the tally. Districts now have more discretion on when notifications are sent. Roberts agrees chronic absenteeism needs attention, but the law has a significant cost.

Des Moines is seeing success in reducing chronic absenteeism. Fifty-one schools saw a decrease from last school year to the beginning of this one, but in some Des Moines high schools chronic absenteeism is still over 50 percent. Roberts was a recent guest on the Iowa Public Radio program Talk of Iowa.