1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; increasing the age of compulsory attendance from 16 to 18;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 120A.22, subdivision 5; 120A.24, 
1.4 	subdivisions 1, 2; 124D.68, subdivision 2; 260C.007, subdivision 19; repealing 
1.5 	Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120A.22, subdivision 8.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120A.22, subdivision 5, is amended to 
1.8 	read:
1.9 		Subd. 5.Ages and terms. (a) Every child between age seven or enrollment in first 
1.10 	grade and 16 18 years of age must receive instruction unless the child has completed 
1.11 	the requirements for graduation. Every child under the age of seven who is enrolled in 
1.12 	a half-day kindergarten, or a full-day kindergarten program on alternate days, or other 
1.13 	kindergarten programs shall receive instruction. Except as provided in subdivision 6, a 
1.14 	parent may withdraw a child under the age of seven from enrollment at any time.
1.15 	(b) A school district by annual board action may require children subject to this 
1.16 	subdivision to receive instruction in summer school. A district that acts to require children 
1.17 	to receive instruction in summer school shall establish at the time of its action the criteria 
1.18 	for determining which children must receive instruction.

1.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
1.20 	and applies to the 2008-2009 school year and later.

1.21 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120A.24, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.1 		Subdivision 1.Reports to superintendent. The person in charge of providing 
2.2 	instruction to a child between the ages of seven and 16 must submit the following 
2.3 	information to the superintendent of the district in which the child resides:
2.4 	(1) by October 1 of each school year, the name, birth date, and address of each 
2.5 	child receiving instruction;
2.6 	(2) the name of each instructor and evidence of compliance with one of the 
2.7 	requirements specified in section 120A.22, subdivision 10; and
2.8 	(3) an annual instructional calendar; and
2.9 	(4) for each child instructed by a parent who meets only the requirement of section 
2.10 	120A.22, subdivision 10, clause (6), a quarterly report card on the achievement of the 
2.11 	child in each subject area required in section 120A.22, subdivision 9. 

2.12 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120A.24, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.13 		Subd. 2.Availability of documentation. The person in charge of providing 
2.14 	instruction to a child must make available documentation indicating that the subjects 
2.15 	required in section 120A.22, subdivision 9, are being taught. This documentation must 
2.16 	include class schedules, copies of materials used for instruction, and descriptions of 
2.17 	methods used to assess student achievement and for each child instructed by a parent who 
2.18 	meets only the requirement of section 120A.22, subdivision 10, clause (6), a copy of a 
2.19 	quarterly report card on the achievement of the child in each subject area required in 
2.20 	section 120A.22, subdivision 9. 

2.21 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 124D.68, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.22 		Subd. 2.Eligible pupils. (a) A pupil under the age of 21 or who meets the 
2.23 	requirements of section 120A.20, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), is eligible to participate in 
2.24 	the graduation incentives program, if the pupil:
2.25 	(1) performs substantially below the performance level for pupils of the same age 
2.26 	in a locally determined achievement test;
2.27 	(2) is at least one year behind in satisfactorily completing coursework or obtaining 
2.28 	credits for graduation;
2.29 	(3) is pregnant or is a parent;
2.30 	(4) has been assessed as chemically dependent;
2.31 	(5) has been excluded or expelled according to sections 121A.40 to 121A.56;
2.32 	(6) has been referred by a school district for enrollment in an eligible program or 
2.33 	a program pursuant to section 124D.69;
2.34 	(7) is a victim of physical or sexual abuse;
3.1 	(8) has experienced mental health problems;
3.2 	(9) has experienced homelessness sometime within six months before requesting a 
3.3 	transfer to an eligible program;
3.4 	(10) speaks English as a second language or has limited English proficiency; or
3.5 	(11) has withdrawn from school or has been chronically truant; or
3.6 	(12) is being treated in a hospital in the seven-county metropolitan area for cancer or 
3.7 	other life threatening illness or is the sibling of an eligible pupil who is being currently 
3.8 	treated, and resides with the pupil's family at least 60 miles beyond the outside boundary 
3.9 	of the seven-county metropolitan area.
3.10 	(b) A pupil who is between the ages of 16 and 21 who meets the criteria of paragraph 
3.11 	(a), clause (2), (5), or (11), may be assigned to an area learning center by the district only 
3.12 	after consultation with the pupil and their parent.

3.13 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 260C.007, subdivision 19, is amended to read:
3.14 		Subd. 19.Habitual truant. "Habitual truant" means a child under the age of 16
3.15 	18 years who is absent from attendance at school without lawful excuse for seven school 
3.16 	days per school year if the child is in elementary school or for one or more class periods 
3.17 	on seven school days per school year if the child is in middle school, junior high school, 
3.18 	or high school, or a child who is 16 or 17 years of age who is absent from attendance at 
3.19 	school without lawful excuse for one or more class periods on seven school days and who 
3.20 	has not lawfully withdrawn from school under section 120A.22, subdivision 8. 

3.21 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment 
3.22 	and applies to the 2008-2009 school year and later.

3.23 	Sec. 6. REPEALER.
 3.24 	Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120A.22, subdivision 8, is repealed.

3.25 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for the 2008-2009 school year and 
3.26 	later.