50-State Analysis: School Attendance Age Limits
50-State Analysis: School Attendance Age Limits
50-State Analysis: School Attendance Age Limits
Introduction
States have a variety of requirements for the school attendance age of their students. Most states have laws regarding the minimum
and maximum ages to which education must be offered free of charge. “Free education” refers to the ages in which a person must
be admitted to a public school by law without charge. “Compulsory education” refers to the age range where students are required
to be in school. While some states have either not set a maximum age limit to which free education must be provided or have left
that determination up to the local education agency, all states (including Washington, D.C.) have implemented laws setting
minimum age limits and compulsory attendance ages.
WA
ME
MT ND
OR MN VT
ID NH
SD WI NY MA
WY MI CT
IA RI
PA
NV NE NJ
IN OH
UT IL DE
CO WV MD
CA MO VA
KS
KY
NC
TN
OK
AZ NM AR SC
MS AL GA
TX LA
AK
FL
HI
District of Columbia
Required Free Education - Minimum Age Limit
3 (1 state) 4 (3 states)
WA
ME
MT ND
OR MN VTNH
ID
SD WI NY MA
WY MI CT
IA RI
PA NJ
NV NE
IN OH DE
UT IL MD
CO WV
CA MO VA
KS
KY
NC
TN
OK
AZ NM AR SC
MS AL GA
TX LA
AK
FL
HI
District of Columbia
Maryland 21 5 5-16
(MD. CODE ANN., EDUC. § 7-101) (MD. CODE ANN., EDUC. § 7-101) (MD. CODE ANN., EDUC. § 7-301)
Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 810 • Denver, CO 80203 • 303.299.3600 • fax 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org
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State Maximum age limit to which Minimum age to which free services Compulsory age attendance
free education must be offered must be offered requirements
Massachusetts 21 3 6-16
(MASS. GEN. LAWS ch. 71B, § 1) (MASS. GEN. LAWS ch. 71B, § 1) (MASS. GEN. LAWS ANN. ch. 76, § 1;
MASS. REGS. CODE tit. 603, § 8.02)
Michigan 20 5 6-16
(MICH. COMP. LAWS § 388.1606) (MICH. COMP. LAWS § 380.1147) (MICH. COMP. LAWS § 380.1561)
Minnesota 21 5 7-16
(MINN. STAT. § 120A.20) (MINN. STAT. § 120A.20) (MINN. STAT. § 120A.22)
Mississippi 21 5 6-17
(MISS. CODE ANN. 37-45-1) (MISS. CODE ANN. § 37-15-9) (MISS. CODE ANN. § 37-13-91)
Missouri 21 5 7-16
(MO. REV. STAT. § 160.051) (MO. REV. STAT. § 160.051) (MO. REV. STAT. § 167.031)
Montana 19 6 7-16
(MONT. CODE ANN. § 20-5-101) (MONT. CODE. ANN. § 20-5-101) (MONT. CODE. ANN. § 20-5-102)
Nebraska 21 5 6-18
(NEB. CONST. ART. VII, § 1) (NEB. CONST. ART. VII, § 1) (NEB. REV. STAT. § 79-201)
Nevada UNABLE TO LOCATE/LOCAL 5 7-18
DETERMINATION (NEV. REV. STAT. § 392.040) (NEV. REV. STAT. § 392.040)
New Hampshire 21 UNABLE TO LOCATE/LOCAL DETERMINATION 6-16
(N.H. REV. STAT. ANN. § 189: 1-a) (N.H. REV. STAT. § 193:1)
Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 810 • Denver, CO 80203 • 303.299.3600 • fax 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org
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State Maximum age limit to which Minimum age to which free services Compulsory age attendance
free education must be offered must be offered requirements
1
At least 5 years old before October 15th of school year or 4 years old by October 15th if enrolled in a public preschool program
(where offered).
2
Age 16 if a student has an alternative learning plan for obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent, otherwise age 18.
3
Age 16 if a child enrolls in a general education development test preparation program that is school-based or for which a school
contracts, and the child successfully completes the test or reaches the age of 18 years.
Marga Mikulecky (mmikulecky@ecs.org) is a researcher with the Education Commission of the States.
© 2013 by the Education Commission of the States (ECS). All rights reserved.
ECS encourages its readers to share our information with others. To request permission to reprint or excerpt some of our
material, please contact the ECS Information Clearinghouse at 303.299.3675 or e-mail ecs@ecs.org.
Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 810 • Denver, CO 80203 • 303.299.3600 • fax 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org
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