HB211 Summary

• Amends Section 16-28-3 of the Alabama Code to increase the mandatory school attendance age from 17 to 18 years, or until graduation from high school, whichever is earlier, effective with the 2013-2014 school year.

• Allows children to attend public school, private school, church school, or receive instruction from a competent private tutor to satisfy the attendance requirement.

• Maintains existing exemption for children attending church schools prior to their 16th birthday, and allows parents to opt out of enrollment at age six by written notification to the local school board.

• Acknowledges the bill requires new or increased local expenditures under Alabama Constitutional Amendment 621 but exempts it from further compliance requirements because expenditures are limited to school boards.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval.