NEPN/NSBA Code: JEA
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE AGES
Under state law, full-time school attendance is required of all children from their 7th to their 17th birthday except:
A. A person who graduates from high school before their 17th birthday;
B. A person who has:
1. Reached the age of 15 years or completed the 9th grade; and
2. Permission to leave school from that person’s parent; and
3. Been approved by the principal for a suitable program of work and study or training; and
4. Permission to leave school from the Board of Directors or its designee; and
5. Agreed in writing with that person’s parent and the Board of Directors or its designee to meet annually until that person’s 17th birthday to review that person’s educational needs. When the request to be excused from school has been denied pursuant to this paragraph, the student’s parent may appeal to the Commissioner;
C. A person whose absence is excused under 20-A MRSA subsection 5051. The parent of a habitual truant who has been denied a waiver of this paragraph may appeal to the Commissioner in accordance with MRSA subsection 5051, (2) (E) (habitual truancy); or
D. A person who has matriculated and is attending an accredited, post-secondary, degree-granting institution as a full-time student. An exception to the attendance in public school under this paragraph must be approved by the Commissioner.
Alternatives to Attendance at Public Day School
A. Equivalent instruction alternatives are as follows:
1. A person shall be excused from attending a public day school if the person obtains equivalent instruction in:
a) A private school approved for attendance purposes pursuant to 20-A MRSA §2901;
b) A private school recognized by the department as providing equivalent instruction;
c) A home instruction program that complies with the requirements of 20-A MRSA § 5001-A(3)(A)(4); or
d) Any other manner arranged for by the Board of Directors and approved by the Commissioner.
2. A student shall be credited with attendance at a private school only if a certificate showing the name, residence and attendance of the person at the school, signed by the person or persons in charge of the school, has been filed with the school officials of the administrative unit in which the student resides.
3. The following provisions apply to home instruction programs:
a. The student's parent/guardian must provide a written notice of intent to provide home instruction that meets the requirements of 20-A MRSA § 5001-A(3) (A)(4)(a) simultaneously to the school officials of the administrative unit in which the student resides and to the Commissioner within 10 calendar days of the beginning of home instruction.
b. On or before September 1 of each subsequent year of home instruction, the student's parent/guardian must file a letter with the school officials of the administrative unit in which the student resides and the Commissioner stating the intention to continue providing home instruction and enclose a copy of one of the forms of annual assessment of the student's academic progress described in 20-A MRSA §5001-A(3) (A)(4)(b).
c. Dissemination of any information filed under 20-A MRSA § 5001-A(3)(A) is governed by the provisions of 20-A MRSA § 6001 (dissemination of information); the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 USC § 1232g (2002); and the federal Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, 20 USC § 1401-1487 (2002), except that "directory information" as defined by the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is confidential and is not subject to public disclosure unless the parent/guardian specifically permits disclosure in writing or a judge orders otherwise. Copies of any information filed under 20-A MRSA § 5001- A(3)(A) must be maintained by the student's parent/guardian until the home instruction program concludes. The records must be made available to the Commissioner upon request.
d. If the home instruction program is discontinued, students of compulsory school age must be enrolled in a public school or an equivalent instruction alternative as provided for by law. The receiving school shall determine the placement of the student. At the secondary level, the principal of the receiving school shall determine the value of the prior educational experience toward meeting the standards of Maine's system of Learning Results.
B. A person may be excused from attendance at a public day school pursuant to 20-A MRSA §5104-A or § 8605 (other public or private alternative programs).
Excusable Absence
A person's absence is excused when the absence is for the following reasons:
A. Personal illness;
B. An appointment with a health professional that must be made during the regular school day;
C. Observance of a recognized religious holiday when the observance is required during the regular school day;
D. A family emergency; or
E. A planned absence for a personal or educational purpose which has been approved.
Compulsory education is essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people and the continued prosperity of our nation. Maintaining regular student attendance is necessary to achieve the goal of an educated citizenry. Public schools should ensure the rights of access for all school-age persons to an appropriate educational opportunity and, when necessary, should develop alternatives to regular school curricula for those children and youth at risk of becoming dropouts and those who may have left school.
Parents are responsible for the attendance of students who are under 17 years of age. The Board shall work with families in an effort to ensure compliance.
Secondary school pupils 20 years of age or more will not be admitted to the school system without prior Board approval.
Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA § 5001-A, et seq.
Ch. 125.23 B,5,1 (Maine Dept. of Ed. Rule)
Cross Reference: IHBG - Home Schooling
Cross Reference: JFC - Student Withdrawal From School/Dropout Prevention Committee\
Adopted: January 15, 2004
Revised: November 20, 2014