SP0126, LD 311, item 1, An Act To Improve Attendance at Public Elementary Schools

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.

SP0126 LD 311	Session - 127th Maine Legislature		LR 414 Item 1
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