Iowa Declared War on Chronic Absenteeism. Now It’s Gaining Some Ground

Iowa passed a law requiring schools to notify parents and create attendance plans for chronically absent students, leading to a significant decline in absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism in Iowa fell from 21.6% in 2023-24 to 16% in 2024-25, outpacing the national decrease. The state also implemented data tracking tools and accountability measures under the Every Student Succeeds Act.