FLORIDA
Extending the Compulsory School Age
Florida has filed ominous legislation which would raise the school attendance age to 18, unless the "child files a formal declaration to terminate school enrollment with the district school board." Other states which have introduced such legislation have gone on, in later years, to add more and more "hoops" which families must jump through before a child can leave school at age 16. (See Kansas article) We encourage our member families to contact Representative Tracy Stafford to oppose House Bill 1309, and call their own senator to oppose the senate version—Senate Bill 586.
In addition, S.B. 2022 would roll back the age at which children start school by three months, from six years old on September 1 to six years old on June 1. This rollback would take place over the course of the next three years and would significantly increase public school enrollments. But it is not at all clear that it would be of any benefit to children.
