IA SF277

Requires the Iowa Department of Education to develop and distribute a model policy, in consultation with the Iowa County Attorneys Association, that county attorneys may use when deciding whether to enforce compulsory education laws under Chapter 299

Adds new exemptions from compulsory attendance requirements for children who are military applicants undergoing entrance processing, engaged in military service, traveling to attend a funeral, or traveling to attend a wedding

Mandates that school district attendance policies describe how exemptions can be met and give reasonable consideration to travel time

Modifies notification requirements when a child becomes chronically absent, allowing schools to send notices to parents via ordinary mail, electronic mail, electronic message, or in-person delivery instead of requiring certified mail

Requires school officials to initiate engagement meetings only when a child's absences (15% or more of grading period) are determined to be negatively affecting academic progress, rather than automatically triggering meetings for all chronically absent students