HB296 Summary

• Increases mandatory school attendance age from 17 to 18 years old, or until graduation from high school, whichever occurs earlier, effective with the 2014-2015 school year.

• Applies to children attending public schools, private schools, church schools, or receiving instruction from a competent private tutor.

• Maintains existing exemption for children attending church schools prior to their 16th birthday if they comply with enrollment and reporting procedures.

• Allows parents or guardians of six-year-old children to opt out of school enrollment by written notification to the local school board.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval, and is excluded from Amendment 621 constitutional requirements because expenditures are limited to school boards.