SF 3837

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; compelling children under seven who enroll in first grade
in public school to remain enrolled; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section
120A.22, subdivisions 5, 6.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 120A.22, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:

Subd. 5.

Ages and terms.

(a) Every child between seven and 16 years of age must
receive instruction. Every child under the age of seven who is enrolled in a half-day
kindergarten, or a full-day kindergarten program on alternate days, or other kindergarten
programs shall receive instruction. deleted text begin Except as provided in subdivision 6, a parent may
withdraw a child under the age of seven from enrollment at any time.
deleted text end

(b) A school district by annual board action may require children subject to this
subdivision to receive instruction in summer school. A district that acts to require children
to receive instruction in summer school shall establish at the time of its action the criteria
for determining which children must receive instruction.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for the 2008-2009 school year and
later.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, 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 deleted text begin kindergarten deleted text end new text begin first grade new text end 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. new text begin This subdivision does not apply to a kindergartner under age
seven whose parent may withdraw the child for good cause after notifying the district.
A kindergartner under age seven who is withdrawn from school by the child's parent is
not subject to compulsory attendance under this section.
new text end

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

deleted text begin (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.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (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.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (e) 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.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (f) deleted text end new text begin (b) new text end 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 2008-2009 school year and
later.
new text end