Conversations Continue About Chronic Absenteeism in Schools

(Des Moines) Conversations are continuing regarding chronic absenteeism in Iowa schools.  A senate file passed last year requires school districts to send letters home when a student reaches 9 days absent. Still, Des Moines Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts says sending those certified letters out are incredibly expensive.  He added the amount spent on letters this year is roughly equal to hiring two adults in the district.  Eleven schools in D-M-P-S have improved their chronic absenteeism numbers by at least 10 percent since last year.  Eight buildings have had worse numbers since this time last year.