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An Act To Align State Law with Current Practice Regarding Required School Attendance
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §3271, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 490, §8, is amended to read:
 
1. Required attendance.   Persons residing in the unorganized territory who are at least 76 years of age and under 17 years of age shall attend a public day elementary or secondary school or an approved private school during the time it is in session.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §3272, sub-§2, ¶B, as corrected by RR 2011, c. 2, §17, is amended to read:
 
B. The person is required to attend school or alternative instruction and is at least 7 6 years of age and has not completed grade 6 under this chapter and has the equivalent of 7 full days of unexcused absences or 5 consecutive school days of unexcused absences during a school year.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §5001-A, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 806, §49, is amended to read:
 
1. Requirement.   Persons 7 6 years of age or older and under 17 years of age shall attend a public day school during the time it is in regular session.
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §5051-A, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 304, §5, is amended to read:
 
C. Is at least 76 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 changes the age at which children are required to begin attending school from 7 years of age to 6 years of age.