–Efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism in the Algona Community School District are starting to see some positive results. Superintendent Joe Carter tells KLGA News that staff members have been working diligently over the last few years to make sure students are in class.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10% or more of the school year, which can be as little as two days a month.
The State Legislature has recently passed laws aiming to curb chronic absenteeism, requiring districts to notify local law enforcement officials when a student has missed too much class time.
Carter says improving communication with students and families has helped the district slash their chronic absenteeism rate by over half.
The district reported that 19% of students were chronically absent in 2022. That number dropped to 13% in 2023, and dropped even further, to 8% in 2024.
