IowaSchools excuse absences for sponsored activities and allow makeup work
Students who miss school for school sponsored activities must be excused and allowed to make up missed classwork under policies required of schools.
What it does
School districts and accredited nonpublic schools must excuse students who miss school for school sponsored activities and let them make up missed classwork. Charter schools must follow the same rules.
Argument forStudents could join school sponsored activities and still have a chance to complete classwork they miss.
Argument againstSchools may need to help students arrange makeup work after activity related absences, adding work for students and staff.
More detail
Public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools must adopt policies to excuse covered absences and allow students to make up missed classwork. The rules cover students absent because they take part in a school sponsored activity, program, competition, or project. Charter schools must follow the same requirements as school districts.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 19Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds.Became Law
- May 5Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor.To Governor
- Apr 15Message from Senate.
- Vote recorded Shall the bill pass? Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15Immediate message.
- Apr 15Passed Senate, yeas 47, nays 0.Major
- Apr 15Senate concurred with S-5165.
- Apr 8Message from House, with amendment S-5165.
- Apr 7Immediate message.
- Vote recorded Shall the bill pass? Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7Passed House, yeas 85, nays 8.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 7Committee amendment H-8246 adopted.Major
- Mar 26Placed on calendar under unfinished business.
- Mar 19Placed on calendar.
- Mar 19Committee amendment H-8246 filed.Minor
- Mar 19Committee vote: Yeas, 22. Nays, 1.
- Mar 19Committee report, recommending passage.Minor
- Mar 9Subcommittee recommends passage.Minor
- Mar 5Subcommittee Meeting: 03/09/2026 1:00PM House Lounge.
- Mar 5Subcommittee: Hora, Behn and Madison.
- Feb 24Read first time, referred to Education.Minor
- Feb 23Message from Senate.
- Vote recorded Shall the bill pass? Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Shall amendment S-5022 be adopted? Result: fail.Upper
- Feb 23Immediate message.
- Feb 23Explanation of vote.
- Feb 23Passed Senate, yeas 46, nays 0.Passed 1st Chamber
- Feb 23Amendment S-5023 filed, adopted.Major
- Feb 23Amendment S-5022 filed, lost.Minor
- Feb 5Committee report, approving bill.Minor
- Feb 5Introduced, placed on calendar.Introduced
Education