House Bill 516 Summary

• Raises compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 18 years old in North Carolina public schools, regional schools, and laboratory schools
• Attendance requirement applies unless the child graduates from high school
• Expands the definition of "undisciplined juvenile" to include juveniles under 18 years of age (rather than 16) who are unlawfully absent from school
• Repeals Section 8.21 of S.L. 2016-94
• Effective upon passage and applies beginning with the 2021-2022 school year