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| Table 5.1. Compulsory school attendance laws and exemptions, by state: 2005 | ||
| State | Age of required school attendance | Exemptions |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 7-16 | Legally and regularly employed under child labor law |
| Alaska | 7-16 | No exemptions |
| Arizona | 6-16 or completion of grade 10 | At least 14 with parental consent and gainfully employed |
| Arkansas | 5-17 | Must complete school year |
| California | 6-18 | No exemptions |
| Colorado | 7-16 | Has current age and school certificate or work permit |
| Connecticut | 5-181 | At least 16 with parental consent |
| Delaware | 5-16 | No exemptions |
| District of Columbia | 5-18 | No exemptions |
| Florida | 6-16 | May terminate beginning at 16 with parental consent |
| Georgia | 6-16 | No exemptions |
| Hawaii | 6-18 | At least 15 if employed |
| Idaho | 7-16 | No exemptions |
| Illinois | 7-17 | Employed and excused by school official |
| Indiana | 7-162 | At least 16 with consent of parent and principal, 14 if parent agrees and State Labor Bureau issues a certificate, and must go back to school within 5 days of termination of employment for which certificate was issued |
| Iowa | 6-16 | No exemptions |
| Kansas | 7-18 | At least 16 and 17 with parental consent |
| Kentucky | 6-16 | No exemptions |
| Louisiana | 7-183 | At least 17 with parental consent |
| Maine | 7-17 | At least 15 or completed 9th grade |
| Maryland | 5-16 | No exemptions |
| Massachusetts | 6-16 | At least 14 |
| Michigan | 6-16 | No exemptions |
| Minnesota | 7-16 | No exemptions |
| Mississippi | 6-17 | No exemptions |
| Missouri | 7-16 | At least 14 with parental consent and approval from the superintendent and gainfully employed |
| Montana | 7-164 | At least 16 or completion of 8th grade, whichever is later |
| Nebraska | 6-17 | At least 14 and 16 with parental consent; special legislation for home schooling |
| Nevada | 7-17 | At least 14 and excused by board of trustees; 14 if work is necessary for own or parents' support |
| New Hampshire | 6-16 | No exemptions |
| New Jersey | 6-16 | No exemptions |
| New Mexico | 5-18 | At least 17 if excused by school board and employed in a gainful trade or occupation or child is in alternative schooling with parental consent |
| New York | 6-165 | At least 17 in cities with 4,500 or more population and union-free school districts |
| North Carolina | 7-16 | No exemptions |
| North Dakota | 7-16 | Necessary to support family |
| Ohio | 6-18 | At least 16 with parent's and superintendent's permission |
| Oklahoma | 5-18 | At least 16 if excused by written joint agreement |
| Oregon | 7-18 | Or excused by district school board; At least 16 with consent of school and parent |
| Pennsylvania | 8-17 | At least 16 if regularly engaged in employment with a certificate, 15 if in farm work or domestic service in private home with permit, and 14 if completed elementary school with permit recommended by district superintendent of schools or principal of private school |
| Rhode Island | 6-16 | At least 16 with written consent |
| South Carolina | 5-176 | At least 16 if further attendance is determined by court to be disruptive, unproductive or not in best interest of child |
| South Dakota | 6-16 | At least 16 or completion of 8th grade if member of certain religious organizations |
| Tennessee | 6-177 | No exemptions |
| Texas | 6-18 | No exemptions |
| Utah | 6-18 | At least 16 and 8th grade completed |
| Vermont | 6-16 or completion of grade 10 | At least 15 and completed 6th grade and services needed for support of family |
| Virginia | 5-188 | Exempt any pupil with parent's and principal's consent or superintendent or a court believes the minor cannot benefit from education at school |
| Washington | 8-18 | At least 16 if parent agrees, or child is emancipated, or has received certificate of competence |
| West Virgini1a | 6-16 | No exemptions |
| Wisconsin | 6-18 | No exemptions |
| Wyoming | 7-16 or completion of grade 10 | No exemptions |
| 1 The parent or person having control of a child five years of age shall have the option of not sending the child to school until the child is six years of age and the parent or person having control of a child six years of age shall have the option of not sending the child to school until the child is seven years of age. 2 An individual is required to stay in school until he or she: graduates; is between 16 and 18 and meets the requirements for an exit interview; or reaches at least 18 years of age. Withdrawal before 18 requires parent/guardian's and principal's written permission. 3 “A child between the ages of 17 and 18 may withdraw from school prior to graduation with the written consent of his parents, tutor, or legal guardian.” 4 Requires that a child shall remain in school until the later of either the child's 16th birthday or the date of completion of the work of the eighth grade. 5 Both New York City and Buffalo require minors to attend school from the age of 6 until the age of 17. 6 In South Carolina, kindergarten is mandatory. However, state statutes permit parental waiver for kindergarten at age five. 7 A parent or guardian who believes that such parent’s or guardian’s child is not ready to attend school at the designated age of mandatory attendance may make application to the principal of the public school which the child would attend for a one semester or one year deferral in required attendance. 8 For a student who is at least 16 years of age, there shall be a meeting of the student, the student’s parents, and the principal or his designee of the school in which the student is enrolled in which an individual student alternative education plan shall be developed in conformity with guidelines prescribed by the Board. SOURCE: The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts: 2006, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 2006 and State Notes: Attendance 2005, Education Commission of the States, 2005. Data Source |
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