«		LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE UPDATES		»
ACROSS THE STATES

MISSISSIPPI

Bill extending compulsory attendance requirement dies

As reported in the May/June 2005 issue of the Home School Court Report, Home School Legal Defense Association tracked six bills being considered by the Mississippi Legislature this year to make changes in the compulsory school attendance ages. We reported that five of those bills had died in committee, but that Senate Bill 2312 was still alive at press time. This bill is now dead as well. After first receiving approval by the Senate on February 2, 2005, it failed to make any progress in the House Education Committee, where it was referred after the Senate vote.

This bill would have raised the compulsory attendance age by requiring a child who turned 17 during the school year to continue to attend school for the remainder of the school term (usually the following June). Current law requires a student who becomes 17 years old on or after September 1 to remain in school only until the end of the calendar year (December 31).

HSLDA will continue to oppose any legislation expanding state control over education.