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.
An Iowa women’s basketball transfer portal visitor committed to one of the Hawkeyes’ conference foes instead. Former Iowa State guard Kenzie Hare took a visit to Iowa during her transfer portal recruitment, but the 5-foot-9 guard committed to Indiana on Sunday night.
Hare had several visits throughout her transfer portal recruiting process, including trips to Michigan and Illinois State, but the Des Moines Register’s Chad Leistikow reported that Hare also visited Iowa.
On3’s Talia Goodman reported Hare’s commitment to the Hoosiers.
Hare has one year of eligibility remaining. This past season with the Cyclones, in 32 games played and 31 starts, Hare averaged 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 40.5% field goal shooting and 40% from 3-point range. A hip injury limited Hare to just 10 games during her first year with the Cyclones in the 2024-25 season.
The soon-to-be redshirt senior transferred to Iowa State before the 2024-25 campaign after spending two seasons at Marquette from 2022-24. Hare averaged a career-best 14 points per game on 45.5% field goal shooting and 42.5% 3-point shooting during the 2023-24 season with the Golden Eagles.
Had Iowa been able to lure the Naperville, Ill., native to Iowa City, Hare would have been another valuable addition to the Hawkeyes’ backcourt depth. But, Iowa has landed other backcourt reinforcements throughout this transfer portal cycle.
The Hawkeyes inked both Dani Carnegie and Amari Whiting.
Carnegie was a first-team All-SEC selection this past season at Georgia, averaging 17.8 points per game on 42.7% field goal shooting, 35.4% from 3-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Whiting averaged 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game on 42.5% field goal shooting, 32.1% 3-point accuracy, and 71.6% free-throw shooting.
As Hare joins a promising core of players in Bloomington, the Hawkeyes will once again face the former Cyclone at least once this upcoming season as part of their Big Ten regular-season slate.
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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Senator Chuck Grassley said he’s recovering from a gallstone removal procedure.
His media team shared that he is working in Iowa “in good spirits and looks forward to returning to Washington soon.”
“I’m gr8ful [sic] for the excellent care from local health care providers,” he shared on X.
Over the weekend in Iowa I had a procedure to remove gallstones I’m gr8ful for the excellent care from local health care providers Be back to capitol ASAP
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) April 20, 2026
Grassley, 92, is the oldest senator currently in office and the sixth-longest-serving senator in U.S. history.
The Senate is in session this week.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Former Iowa State center Audi Crooks has committed to Oklahoma State via the NCAA Transfer Portal. She has one season of eligibility remaining.
Crooks made 99 appearances and 95 starts during her three seasons at Iowa State. She averaged 25.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this past season, while shooting 64.9% from the field. Additionally, the 6-foot-3 star shot 1-11 from 3-point range.
Crooks played a leading role for the Cyclones from the moment she stepped on campus. She is a three-time All-Big 12 First-Team selection and two-time All-American. On April 2, Crooks announced her intention to enter the transfer portal.
“Cyclone Nation, thank you all for embracing me and showing up to Hilton every single game day. I’ve met so many of you out in the community, and I will cherish all of the genuine connections that I’ve built during my time at Iowa State,” Crooks wrote. “Words cannot fully express how grateful I feel to have called this place home.
“I want to thank my teammates for their friendship and all the great memories. … I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I’ve done that here.”
Now, Audi Crooks will aim to thrive in her new environment. Oklahoma finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-10 overall record.
The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opened on April 6 and closes on April 20. The new 15-day window was enacted following a recommendation by the women’s basketball oversight committee. Athletes don’t have to commit to a new school by the April 21 deadline.
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.
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