The School Attendance Law entitles state residents between the ages of 6 and 21 to a free education, and requires persons between the ages of 7 and 16 to attend school. The Constitution entitles the legislature to require by law that children of sufficient physical and mental ability attend school during at least a three-year period between the ages of 6 and 18 years unless educated by other means. The Exceptional Children's Educational Act defines a handicapped child as one between the ages of 5 and 21, and requires that administrative units serve every handicapped child. Thus, a handicapped child may enter school at age five. There are some programs for younger children.
Transfer students register in the district of prospective residence.
Registration requirements and grade placement vary among school districts, but transcripts of the student's records from the school previously attended are usually required. In general, school authorities will send for transcripts. The general assembly shall, by law, provide for organization of school districts of convenient size, in each of which shall be established a board of education . . . Said directors shall have control of instruction in the public schools of their respective districts. In 1993, the Colorado General Assembly enacted legislation aimed at bringing about coordinated improvement in the performance and accountability of the state's K-12 education system.