PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Improve Attendance at Public Elementary Schools
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §5001-A, sub-§1-A  is enacted to read:
 
1-A.  Authorization.     A school board may adopt a requirement that persons 5 years of age or older and under 17 years of age must attend a public day school during the time it is in regular session.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §5051-A, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 304, §5, is further amended to read:
 
B. Has completed grade 6 and has the equivalent of 10 full days of unexcused absences or 7 consecutive school days of unexcused absences during a school year; or
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §5051-A, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 304, §5, is amended to read:
 
C. Is at least 7 years of age and has not completed grade 6 and has the equivalent of 7 full days of unexcused absences or 5 consecutive school days of unexcused absences during a school year.; or
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §5051-A, sub-§1, ¶D  is enacted to read:
 
D.  In a school administrative unit that has adopted a requirement that persons under 7 years of age must attend a public day school, is at least 5 years of age and has not completed grade 6 and has the equivalent of 7 full days of unexcused absences or 5 consecutive school days of unexcused absences during a school year.
 
SUMMARY
This bill gives school boards the option of reducing the minimum age required for school attendance from 7 years of age to 5 years of age. The bill also provides that students who are at least 5 years of age and enrolled in a public day school are subject to the same provisions regarding truancy as students who are 7 years of age or older and who are required to attend a public day school.