Iowa
Eastern Iowa parents react to new legislation changing school attendance
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – This latest school semester comes with new rules for attendance, and parents across eastern Iowa have concerns.
On May 9, 2024, Governor Reynolds signed a law that lays out what districts must do when students miss a certain number of school days. That law went into effect July 1, 2024.
According to the new law:
- If a student misses 10% of a semester (around 8 school days), they become chronically absent. Once they are chronically absent, a school official must notify the county attorney and the child’s parent or guardian by certified mail.
- If a student misses 15% of a semester, a school official must investigate the cause and initiate a school engagement meeting.
- If a student misses 20% of a semester, they are considered truant. Truancy can eventually result in a student’s guardian being prosecuted.
KCRG put out a call on social media, asking for parents to share their perspectives. Close to 20 parents came forward, including Justina Yoder of West Liberty, Jennifer Facion of Cedar Rapids, and Arianna Neveu of Hiawatha.
“I kind of go back and forth between being a little annoyed by the law to be honest… and a little bit nervous,” said Facion.
The other two women echoed Facion. “I’m a little nervous,” said Yoder.
These moms are feeling this way because they all said, at least for their kids, it’s pretty likely they’ll miss a good amount of school.
KCRG asked Yoder if she thought her 3rd grader with medical issues would miss at least 10 days of school during the fall semester.
“Easily,” she said. “Easily. I don’t think we’ve had a year where we haven’t missed that much.”
The state’s policy does provide for six exemptions:
- Completed requirements for graduation or obtained a high school equivalency diploma.
- Excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or judge.
- Attending religious services or receiving religious instructions.
- Unable to attend school due to legitimate medical reason(s).
- Individualized Education Program (IEP) that affects attendance.
- Section 504 plan under the Federal Rehabilitation Act that affects attendance.
The parents who spoke to KCRG on Tuesday said, when it comes to illness, “legitimate,” doesn’t mean they’re always going to have a doctor’s note.
“Let’s just say she has a fever….I’m not going to spend the money to go to the doctor because she had a fever for 24 hours,” said Neveu.
These parents said that kids get sick, sometimes for days at a time. Also, life happens.
“We tend to take vacation during the school year because that’s when my husband can take time off,” said Yoder.
“My girls have had some behavior issues in the past and depending on how they do it, if my one daughter decides to skip class or gets upset and walks out of class, you know, I don’t know how that will go,” said Facion.
Neveu believes the new legislation could impact not only her family, but the state’s education system as a whole.
“I think to be honest, it is, like I said—it’s targeting public schools. But I think it’s also pushing more towards private schools.”
These moms said there’s nothing to be done except hope for no major illnesses or big surprises—and push for change in the future.
“Laws can be changed if enough people talk to the people who make the decisions,” said Facion.
KCRG reached out to the Governor’s office to see if there was a response to these parents’ critiques. We did not receive a statement.
Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Police are seeking a 17-year-old on attempted murder charges following a shooting early Sunday in a nightlife district near the University of Iowa campus, authorities said Wednesday.
Five people were treated for gunshot wounds, including three University of Iowa students. One woman remained in critical condition Wednesday after sustaining a life-threatening injury to her head, Iowa City Police Chief Dustin Liston said.
Officials said an arrest warrant was issued for the 17-year-old who was allegedly engaged in the fight, adding that reports indicate as many as 40 people may have been involved. Officers had been dispatched to the fight and arrived within 45 seconds, Liston said.
After walking away from the other participants, the suspect allegedly fired six times into the crowded pedestrian area, Liston said. Iowa City’s downtown pedestrian mall is lined with shops, bars and restaurants.
The minor from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will initially be charged as an adult, as is required by Iowa law for forcible felony charges against an individual aged 16 or older, said Rachel Zimmermann Smith, Johnson County attorney.
The charges, which include five counts of attempted murder, will be brought when the suspect is apprehended, she said.
Liston said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected. About three dozen search warrants have already been executed.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable,” he said, adding that anyone with information on the incident or the suspect are encouraged to come forward.
The five victims were not “targets of the shooting,” Liston said. “We have no reason to believe they were otherwise affiliated with the fight that preceded the shooting.”
Liston also provided details about the other four victims’ injuries, including one struck in the arm and chest, two struck in one or both legs and one in the side of their stomach. One is still hospitalized in stable condition and three have been released, he said.
CHATHAM, Ill. (KCRG) – The families of four children and a teenager killed after a vehicle crashed into an Illinois after-school camp have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, just short of a year after the tragic accident.
The teenager killed, 18-year-old camp counselor Rylee Britton, of Springfield, planned to attend the University of Iowa and would have been finishing her freshman year.
The April 28 accident at YNOT Camp also claimed the lives of 7-year-olds Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, and 8-year-olds Bradley James Lund and Ainsley Johnson. Lund spent five weeks in the hospital before succumbing to his injuries.
At least six other children were severely injured, and numerous children witnessed the accident.
The crash happened after Marianne Akers, 44, veered off of a county highway, traveled through a cornfield and drove straight through the building. Akers was not charged after an investigation found that she was having a medical episode during the crash, and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The lawsuit, filed Sunday, names YNOT Camp, as well as Akers, responsible for their deaths. They claim the building violated multiple safety codes when it was built and was not suitable to protect its occupants.
Legal representatives are holding a press conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the lawsuit.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers on offense, defense development
Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers on how the Cyclones offense and defense is developing.
After securing multiple commitments on the offensive side of the ball, Iowa State football has landed its first defensive commitment in the 2027 recruiting class.
Keaton Wollan, a three-star linebacker out of Amery, Wisconsin, committed to the Cyclones on April 21. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound linebacker announced his decision on social media.
He chose Iowa State over other offers from Texas Tech and North Dakota State. He previously visited Ames in March, but he also took recent visits to Minnesota and Wisconsin.
As a junior at Amery High School, Wollan was a two-way standout and earned all-state honors for the 2025 season. Defensively, he racked up a team-high 125 total tackles, including nine for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also had four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three interceptions and one defensive touchdown.
Offensively, he had a team-high 932 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 160 carries. He also caught 15 passes for 179 yards, and he was an impact player in the return game, logging more than 500 kick and punt return yards.
According to 247 Sports Composite rankings, Wollan is the No. 93 linebacker prospect in the country and the No. 11 overall recruit in his class from the state of Wisconsin.
Wollan is the sixth player to commit in the Cyclones’ 2027 recruiting class.
Iowa State football 2027 recruiting commitments
As of April 21
- Gavin Ericson-Staton, OL | Lombard, Illinois/Montini Catholic
- Isaiah Hansen, RB | Newton, Iowa/Newton HS
- Koen Hinzman, OL | Hudson, Michigan/Hudson Area HS
- Will Slagle, OL | Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell HS
- Bryson Thompson, WR | San Antonio, Texas/Claudia Taylor Johnson HS
- Keaton Wollan, LB | Amery, Wisconsin/Amery HS
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
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