MICHIGAN
Increase in Compulsory Attendance Age Proposed
Senate Bill 56, introduced in the Michigan Legislature by Senator Smith, would raise the compulsory attendance age from 16 years old to 18 years old. This legislative proposal would subject home school students to the requirements of the nonpublic school act for an additional two years beyond what is now required. The Supreme Court of Michigan has determined that home schools are nonpublic schools which must be governed as such. Under current law, nonpublic schools must furnish certain data to the superintendent of schools of the local district or the intermediate school district. The statutory information required by Section 380.1578 of Michigan Compiled Laws Annotated is as follows:
(a) the name and age of each child who is enrolled at the school,
(b) the number or name of the school district and city, or township and county, in which the parent, guardian, or other person in parental relation resides,
(c) the name and address of the parent, guardian, or other person in parental relation, and
(d) the name and age of each child enrolled in the school who is not in regular attendance.
Additionally, another statute, Section 388.555, requires nonpublic schools to provide the superintendent of public instruction with records of enrollment of pupils, courses of study, and qualifications of teachers when requested to do so, unless a religious exemption to the qualifications is claimed by home-schooling parents.
Printer Friendly Version
