H.38
Introduced by Representative Johnson of Canaan
Referred to Committee on
Date:
Subject: Education; attendance; legal age; driver's license
Statement of purpose: This bill proposes to require all students to remain in school until age 18 or graduated from high school, and to provide that a child under the age of 18 who is truant may not hold a driver’s license.
AN ACT RELATING TO REQUIRING THAT CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 SHALL BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND SCHOOL
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 1121 is amended to read:
§ 1121. ATTENDANCE BY CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE REQUIRED
A person having the control of a child between the ages of six and *[16]* 18 years shall cause the child to attend a public school, an approved or recognized independent school or a home study program for the full number of days for which that school is held, unless the child:
(1) is mentally or physically unable so to attend; or
(2) has *[completed the tenth grade]* received a high school diploma; or
(3) is excused by the superintendent or a majority of the school directors as provided in this chapter; or
(4) is enrolled in and attending a postsecondary school, as defined in subdivision 176(b)(1) of this title, which is approved or accredited in Vermont or another state.
Sec. 2. 16 V.S.A. § 1122 is amended to read:
§ 1122. PUPILS OVER *[SIXTEEN]* EIGHTEEN
A person *[having the control of a child]* over *[sixteen]* 18 years of age who *[allows such child to become enrolled]* enrolls in a public school*[,]* shall *[cause such child to]* attend such school continually for the full number of the school days of the term in which he or she is so enrolled, unless *[such child is]* mentally or physically unable to continue, or *[is]* excused in writing by the superintendent or a majority of the school directors. In case of such enrollment, such person, and the teacher, *[child,]* superintendent and school directors shall be under the laws and subject to the penalties relating to the attendance of children between the ages of seven and *[sixteen]* 18 years.
Sec. 3. 16 V.S.A. § 1126 is amended to read:
§ 1126. FAILURE TO ATTEND; NOTICE BY TEACHER
When a pupil between the ages of six and *[16]* 18 years, who is not excused or exempted from school attendance, fails to enter school at the beginning thereof, or being enrolled, fails to attend the same, and when a pupil who has become *[16]* 18 years of age becomes enrolled in a public school and fails to attend, the teacher or principal shall forthwith notify the superintendent or school directors, and the truant officer, unless the teacher or principal is satisfied upon information that the pupil is absent on account of sickness.
Sec. 4. 16 V.S.A. § 1127(d) is added to read:
(d) A person between the ages of 16 and 18 who is found to be truant shall be ineligible to hold a motor vehicle operator license until the person either ceases to be truant or becomes 18 years of age.
Sec. 5. 16 V.S.A. § 1128(a) is amended to read:
(a) A superintendent may and the truant officer shall stop a child between the ages of six and *[16]* 18 years *[or a child 16 years of age or over and enrolled in public school]*, wherever found during school hours, and shall, unless such child is excused or exempted from school attendance, take the child to the school which she or he should attend.