Title: School Attendance

Summary: Providing that compulsory school attendance laws apply to all children between the ages of 6 and 18 years; providing that a student who attains the dropout age does not need a parent's signature to file a declaration of intent to terminate school; requiring students to attend school until the age of 18 years; repealing provisions relating to a requirement that district school boards make available a GED program to students in juvenile justice facilities who attain the age of 16 years or notify such students that they are no longer required to attend school, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to school attendance; amending s. 1002.20, F.S.; providing that compulsory school attendance laws apply to all children between the ages of and years; providing that a student who attains the dropout age does not need a parent s signature to file a declaration of intent to terminate school; removing the requirement that a school notify the student s parent of such declaration; amending s. 1003.21, F.S.; requiring students to attend school until the age of years; amending s. 1003.435, F.S.; providing that a candidate for a high school equivalency diploma must be at least years of age on the date of the examination; repealing s. 1003.51(4), F.S., relating to a requirement that district school boards make available a GED program to students in juvenile justice facilities who attain the age of years or notify such students that they are no longer required to attend school; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) of section 1002.20, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights. Parents of public school students must receive accurate and timely information regarding their child s academic progress and must be informed of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12 students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory rights including, but not limited to, the following: (2) ATTENDANCE.  (a)  Compulsory school attendance.  The compulsory school attendance laws apply to all children between the ages of and years, as provided in s. 1003.21(1) and (2)(a), and, in accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.21(1) and (2)(a): 1. A student who attains the age of years during the school year has the right to file a formal declaration of intent to terminate school enrollment if the declaration is signed by the parent. The parent has the right to be notified by the school district of the district s receipt of the student s declaration of intent to terminate school enrollment.2. Students who become or have become married or who are pregnant and parenting have the right to attend school and receive the same or equivalent educational instruction as other students. (b)  Regular school attendance.  Parents of students who have attained the age of years by February of any school year but who have not attained the age of years must comply with the compulsory school attendance laws. Parents have the option to comply with the school attendance laws by attendance of the student in a public school; a parochial, religious, or denominational school; a private school; a home education program; or a private tutoring program, in accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.01(13). Section 2. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1) of section 1003.21, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1003.21 School attendance.  (1)(a)1. All children who have attained the age of years or who will have attained the age of years by February of any school year or who are older than years of age but who have not attained the age of years, except as otherwise provided, are required to attend school regularly during the entire school term. 2. Children who will have attained the age of years on or before September of the school year are eligible for admission to public kindergartens during that school year under rules adopted by the district school board. (c) A student who attains the age of years during the school year is not subject to compulsory school attendance beyond the date upon which he or she attains that age if the student files a formal declaration of intent to terminate school enrollment with the district school board. Public school students who have attained the age of years and who have not graduated are subject to compulsory school attendance until the formal declaration of intent is filed with the district school board. The declaration must acknowledge that terminating school enrollment is likely to reduce the student s earning potential and must be signed by the student and the student s parent. The school district shall notify the student s parent of receipt of the student s declaration of intent to terminate school enrollment.The student s certified school counselor or other school personnel shall conduct an exit interview with the student to determine the reasons for the student s decision to terminate school enrollment and actions that could be taken to keep the student in school. The student s certified school counselor or other school personnel shall inform the student of opportunities to continue his or her education in a different environment, including, but not limited to, adult education and GED test preparation. Additionally, the student shall complete a survey in a format prescribed by the Department of Education to provide data on student reasons for terminating enrollment and actions taken by schools to keep students enrolled. Section 3. Subsection (4) of section 1003.435, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1003.435 High school equivalency diploma program.  (4) A candidate for a high school equivalency diploma must shall be at least years of age on the date of the examination,except that in extraordinary circumstances, as provided for in rules of the district school board of the district in which the candidate resides or attends school, a candidate may take the examination after reaching the age of.Section 4.  Subsection (4) of section 1003.51, Florida Statutes, is repealed. Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.