SF 1939

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/24/2015 09:04am

A bill for an act
relating to education; clarifying that children under age seven who voluntarily
enroll in school are subject to the compulsory attendance law; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120A.22, subdivision 6.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 120A.22, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Children under seven.

(a) Once a pupil under the age of seven is enrolled
in kindergarten or a higher grade in a public school, the pupil is subject to the compulsory
attendance provisions of this chapter and section 120A.34, unless the board of the district
in which the pupil is enrolled has a policy that exempts children under seven from this
subdivision.

(b) In a district in which children under seven are subject to compulsory attendance
under this subdivision, paragraphs (c) to (e) apply.

(c) A parent or guardian may withdraw the pupil from enrollment in the school for
good cause by notifying the district. Good cause includes, but is not limited to, enrollment
of the pupil in another school, as defined in subdivision 4, or the immaturity of the child.

(d) When the pupil enrolls, the enrolling official must provide the parent or guardian
who enrolls the pupil with a written explanation of the provisions of this subdivision.

(e) new text begin Once a pupil under age seven enrolls in kindergarten or a higher grade, that pupil
is subject to the attendance requirements of the school or district and must regularly attend
school or be subject to truancy laws under sections 260A.02, 260A.03, and 260C.007,
subdivision 19, unless the child's parent or guardian withdraws the child from school. new text end A
pupil under the age of seven who is withdrawn from enrollment in the public school under
paragraph (c) is no longer subject to the compulsory attendance provisions of this chapter.

(f) In a district that had adopted a policy to exempt children under seven from this
subdivision, the district's chief attendance officer must keep the truancy enforcement
authorities supplied with a copy of the board's current policy certified by the clerk of
the board.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and
later.
new text end