SP0126
LD 311
Session - 127th Maine Legislature
 
LR 414
Item 1
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

An Act To Improve Attendance at Public Elementary Schools

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §5001-A, sub-§1-A  is enacted to read:

1-A Authorization.   A school board may adopt a requirement that persons 5 years of age or older and under 17 years of age must attend a public day school during the time it is in regular session.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §5051-A, sub-§1, ¶B,  as amended by PL 2007, c. 304, §5, is further amended to read:

B. Has completed grade 6 and has the equivalent of 10 full days of unexcused absences or 7 consecutive school days of unexcused absences during a school year; or

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §5051-A, sub-§1, ¶C,  as enacted by PL 2007, c. 304, §5, is amended to read:

C. Is at least 7 years of age and has not completed grade 6 and has the equivalent of 7 full days of unexcused absences or 5 consecutive school days of unexcused absences during a school year . ; or

Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §5051-A, sub-§1, ¶D  is enacted to read:

D In a school administrative unit that has adopted a requirement that persons under 7 years of age must attend a public day school, is at least 5 years of age and has not completed grade 6 and has the equivalent of 7 full days of unexcused absences or 5 consecutive school days of unexcused absences during a school year.

SUMMARY

This bill gives school boards the option of reducing the minimum age required for school attendance from 7 years of age to 5 years of age. The bill also provides that students who are at least 5 years of age and enrolled in a public day school are subject to the same provisions regarding truancy as students who are 7 years of age or older and who are required to attend a public day school.


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