COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

UNTIL 18TH BIRTHDAY

House Bill 4132

Sponsor:  Rep. LaMar Lemmon, Jr.

Committee:  Education

Complete to 2-11-09

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4132 AS INTRODUCED 2-4-09

The bill would amend the Revised School Code to require students to attend school until their 18th birthday if they turned 14 years of age on or after December 1, 2007 or were 14 years of age before that date and entered Grade 9 in 2008 or later.

Specifically, the bill would require parents and guardians to send children to school during the entire school year from the age of six until the child's 18th birthday.  The bill would retain current exceptions; for example, for students who have already graduated from high school and students educated privately or at home.

Children who turned 14 before December 1, 2007 or who entered Grade 9 before 2008 would have to stay in school until their 16th birthday, as is currently the law for all schoolchildren

MCL 380.1561 and 1596

FISCAL IMPACT:

Raising the compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 18 would create additional costs for the State and school districts.  If all students actually remain in school until age 18, it could raise pupil memberships by approximately 30,000 statewide.  At the current per pupil weighted foundation allowance of $7,668, the bill could cost $230.0 million annually.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Mary Ann Cleary

                                                                                                                           Bethany Wicksall

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.