Skip Navigation
small header image
State Education Reforms (SER)

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