HAWAII
Legislation Proposed to Lower Compulsory Attendance Ages
Senate Bill 519 would lower the maximum compulsory attendance age from 18 years old to 17 years old. Another bill, House Bill 844, would lower the compulsory attendance age from 18 years old to 16 years old. These legislative proposals are unusual in the current trend to expand compulsory attendance ages on both ends of the scale. However, from a practical standpoint, studies have shown that 16-year-olds who lack the self-motivation to continue in school receive little benefit from compulsory attendance and, in fact, have a negative influence on other students their age who are attending school voluntarily. Given the breakdown of discipline in the public schools, legislators should not impose any requirement of attendance on students over age 16 who do not wish to be there and who will further disrupt efforts of teachers to instruct those students who desire to learn. Home School Legal Defense Association believes that these legislative proposals are a step in the right direction.
Unfortunately, another bill being considered in Hawaii is a step in the wrong direction. Under current law, the department of education may establish kindergartens in school zones in which there are at least 15 children eligible to attend, but there is no legislative mandate for the department to do so. However, Senate Bill 501 would make establishment of kindergartens mandatory for children who are five years old by December 31. It would also lower the compulsory attendance age from six years old to five years old. Senate Bill 501 would further reduce the control which parents now exercise over their children in determining the appropriate age for them to begin to receive formal instruction.
Home Schoolers Seek Access to Recreational Facilities
House Bill 1549 would permit home school children to have access to and use of the recreational facilities of the public school they would otherwise be required to attend. Although the language of the bill falls short of guaranteeing home school students participation in public school extra curricular activities, it clearly authorizes them to use the same recreational facilities as public school students.
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