From the ECS State Policy Database Attendance--Compulsory

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary IL Signed into law 08/2012 P-12 Commission for High School Graduation Achievement and Success S.B. 3259 Creates the Commission for High School Graduation Achievement and Success to study the issue of high school graduation in the state. Directs... More... LA Adopted 06/2012 P-12 Compulsory Attendance LAC 28:CXV.1103 Amends compulsory attendance provisions. Permits the parent/guardian of a student who is at least 16 but not 18 to request a waiver from the... More... IA Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Kindergarten Requirement S.F. 2284 - Division XIII This section requires that a student who is enrolled in a district and is age 5 by 9/15 be considered of compulsory attendance age unless th... More... AL Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Reducing Minimum Compulsory School Age S.B. 28 Lowers the minimum age at which children are required to attend public school from seven to six years of age.... More... GA Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Administration and Enforcement of Compulsory Attendance Laws H.B. 706 - Administration and Enforcement of Compulsory Attendance Laws Clarifies that responsibility for administration and enforcement of compulsory attendance laws is the duty of the state department of educa... More... KY Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 School Entrance and Lower Compusory School Ages S.B. 24 Amends school entrance ages and compulsory school ages. Effective with the 2017-18 school year, kindergarten entrance age is 5 by August 1 a... More... MD Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Compulsory Attendance S.B. 362 Raises from 16 to 17 the maximum age at which children are required to attend a public school regularly during the entire school year, subje... More... NE Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Compulsory Attendance L.B. 996 Changes provisions relating to compulsory attendance. Retains upper age of 16 but lays out an explicit process and requirements for early wi... More... OR Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Attendance - Early Grades H.B. 4014 Provides that all children ages 5 or 6 enrolled in a public school are required to attend regularly. (sec. 13) http://www.leg.state.or.us/12... More... RI Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Compulsory Attendance Ages H.B. 5061 and S.B. 46 Raises the upper age for compulsory attendance from 16 to age 18. Add enrollment in a postsecondary institution an exception for this requir... More... LA Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Compulsory Attendance and GED H.B. 95 Indicates that a child who is at least seventeen years of age and who, after successfully completing a program established by the State Boar... More... NV Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Compulsory Attendance A.B. 138--Compulsory Attendance Bill repeals provisions relating to the exemption of children from compulsory school attendance as follows: Repeals 392.090 which permitted ... More... NC Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Enrollment of Child under 5 Who Is Child of Military Personnel S.B. 1246 - Enrollment of Child under 5 Who Is Child of Military Personnel Permits public school entry of child who does not turn 5 by August 31 of the school year but whose parent is an active duty member of U.S. a... More... LA Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Student Attendance Policies S.B. 309 Revises compulsory school attendance, and habitual student absence or tardiness policies. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocume... More... WV Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Implements the High School Graduation Improvement Act H.B. 4593 Implements the High School Graduation Improvement Act, which includes: (1) the continued exploration of diverse instructional delivery strat... More... MI Signed into law 01/2010 P-12 Raise Drop Out Age to 18 H.B. 4787 - Sec. 1561, 1596 Part of Michigan's Race to the Top Legislation. Beginning with students in the 6th grade in the 2009-2010 school year, the compulsory attend... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Sick Leave and Compulsory Schooling Exemptions H.B. 645 Allows a school board to require a certificate from a licensed chiropractic physician as a basis for pay after an absence of 3 days for pers... More... MO Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Compulsory Age S.B. 291--School Flex Program Act established school flex program allowing eligible students in 11th and 12th grades to attend school a minimum of two instructional hours... More... AL Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Dropout Prevention S.B. 334 Increases the upper mandatory school age to 17 while retaining existing exceptions for certain students. Allows a student over the age of 17... More... MS Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Superintendent Approval of Absences for Medical and Dental Appointments H.B. 525 Deletes the requirement that the school superintendent must approve student absences for medical and dental appointments. Authorizes a desig... More... NM Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Compulsory Attendance and Unexcused Absenses S.B. 189 Changes terms and notice provisions of compulsory attendance policies; clarifies how unexcused absences are determined; requires reports. ht... More... ID Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Attendance S.B. 1017 Amends existing law relating to attendance at schools; revises a provision relating to school attendance requirements; revises a provision r... More... UT Adopted 10/2007 P-12 Truancy Prevention R277-607 Adopts rules in compliance with 2007 H.B. 207. Amends definition of "habitual truant." Requires local boards and charter school boards to de... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Compulsory School Age S.B. 543 Requires a person having custody or control of a child who is below the compulsory school age but enrolled in kindergarten in a public schoo... More... NH Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Clarifies Exemptions to Compulsory School Attendance H.B. 87 Inserts clarifications to the exceptions to the compulsory school attendance statute. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/HB008... More... NH Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Raises Compulsory School Age S.B. 18 Raises from 16 to 18 the age for compulsory school attendance and provides a procedure for a pupil who is at least 16 years of age to obtain... More... NV Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Postsec. Dropout Reporting, Exit Exam Alternatives, Competency Based Credits S.B. 312 Expands the annual reports of accountability information to include the rate of pupils who drop out of school in grades 6, 7 and 8. Requires... More... ME Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Compulsory Attendance Coordinator S.B. 155; L Concerns compulsory school attendance. This bill adds to the duties of the attendance coordinator serving as the liaison between the school ... More... TX Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Requiring Attendance of Those Voluntarily Attending School H.B. 566 H.B. 566 authorizes school districts to require persons who voluntarily enroll in school or voluntarily attend school after their 18th birt... More... NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. High School Redesign H.B. 584/S.B. 561 Provides for high school redesign. Directs the department of education to establish a readiness assessment system to measure the readiness o... More... CO Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Minimum Compulsory Attendance Age S.B. 16 Changes the minimum age for compulsory education from seven to six years, on or before August 1 of each year. Compulsory attendance ages the... More... UT Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 School Truancy & Compulsory Education Updates H.B. 207 Directs a local school board, local charter board, or school district to preapprove an extended absence of a school-age minor if it is deter... More... SD Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Raises Compulsory Attendance Age to 18 S.B. 199 Increases the compulsory attendance age for school attendance from 16 to 18, unless the child has graduated or is excused per certain provis... More... CA Signed into law 08/2006 P-12 Compulsory Attendance Policies A.B. 2181 Amends existing law that specifically authorizes a court to order a person who is convicted for failing to comply with compulsory attendance... More... OK Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Enforcement of Attendance S.B. 1597 Details fine amount and community service obligations for parents who refuse to comply with the state's compulsory education laws. http://we... More... MD Vetoed 05/2006 P-12 Compulsory Attendance in Baltimore S.B. 741 Increases the age range for compulsory public school attendance in Baltimore City to between the ages of 5 years old and 18 years old; requi... More... VT Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Increasing Compulsory Education Age H.B. 867 - Section 20 (h) Directs the commissioner of education to gather information to facilitate discussion during the next legislative session about increasing th... More... MD Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Compulsory Attendance Task Force H.B. 36; SB 741 Establishes a Task Force to Study Raising the Compulsory Public School Attendance Age to 18; requires the Task Force to evaluate and make re... More... TN Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Compulsory Attendance for Blind Students S.B. 3917 Concerns Education; revises the age of children to whom the compulsory school attendance requirements for blind children apply from between ... More... GA Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Dropout Prevention S.B. 413 Section 1 and 2 Changes certain provisions relating to mandatory education for children between ages six and 16; provides that an unemancipated minor older ... More... CO Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Compulsory Attendance Age and Hour Requirements S.B. 73 Concerns the age specifications relating to compulsory school attendance. Every child who has attained the age of seven years and is under t... More... FL Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Requirements for Students Leaving School at Age 16 H.B. 7087 (Section 18) If a student decides to leave school at age 16, several procedures must be followed. This bill adds the following requirements: The student... More... WV Rule Adoption 04/2006 P-12 Attendance Title 126, Series 81 Amends rules regarding half-day attendance and specific ages for compulsory school attendance. Identifies the specific number of days in whi... More... WV Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Penalties for Compulsory Attendance Violations S.B. 631 Clarifies the summons or warrant and complaint process when a parent, custodian or guardian fails to comply with compulsory attendance laws ... More... NV (H) APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR. CHAPTER 151. 05/2005 P-12 Authorizes school districts to prescribe minimum attendance requirements for pupils in kindergarten and first grade and for pupils in certain remedial programs. H.B. 518 AN ACT relating to education; authorizing the boards of trustees of school districts to apply to the Superintendent of Public Instruction fo... More... IL Signed into law 01/2005 P-12 School Code H.B. 757 Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code to allow a child with a disability who has completed four years of high sch... More... CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Compulsory Attendance Laws A.B. 2525 (multiple provisions) Extends authorization to January 1, 2006 for a court to order a person who is convicted for failing to comply with compulsory attendance law... More... NY Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 Minor Age Increase For Non School Attendance A.B. 1892 Provides that each school district shall have the power to require minors from sixteen to seventeen years of age to attend upon full time da... More... AR Rule Adoption 06/2004 P-12 Mandatory Attendance Requirements for Grades 9 - 12 ADE 169 Establishes rules regarding mandatory attendance requirements for grades 9 - 12. http://arkedu.state.ar.us/pdf/ade%20169%20mandatory%20atten... More... KS Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Postsec. Compulsory Attendance Exemption for Concurrently Enrolled Students H.B. 2795 (multiple provisions) Section 1: Allows student age 16 or 17 to be exempt from compulsory attendance requirements if student is regularly enrolled in a school and... More... VA Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 School Attendance Enforcement H.B. 1326 Strengthens the mechanisms for enforcement of the compulsory school attendance law; removes the restriction on the court's use of contempt p... More... KY Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Children With Disabilities H.B. 10 Provides that an exemption from compulsory attendance student may be granted to 1) a child certified by specified professionals to have a ch... More... RI Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Compulsory Schooling Ages S.B. 594 Provides that a child, who has or will have completed six (6) years of life by September 1, rather than December 1, of any school year, and ... More... LA Signed into law 07/2001 P-12 Compulsory Attendance Until Age 18 H.B. 19 , Requires with certain exceptions, persons having control of a child to send such child to school from the child's seventh birthday until h... More... CA Signed into law 09/2000 P-12 Mandatory Student Attendance S.B. 1913 Authorizes, until 01/01/05, a court to order a person who is convicted for failing to comply with the attendance laws, as specified, to imme... More... CT Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Compulsory Attendance - Age 18 H.B. 5276 Starting July 1, 2001, this act requires students to stay in school until age 18, instead of age 16, unless their parents consent to their l... More... GA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Omnibus Bill - Compulsory Attendance H.B. 1187 The compulsory attendance age is lowered from seven to six. ... More...