5112(a)

Students

Ages of Attendance

In accordance with Connecticut General Statute 10-186, the Board of Education shall provide education for all persons five years of age and older, having attained age five on or before the first day of January of any school year, and under twenty-one years of age who is not a graduate of a high school or vocational school, except as provided in Connecticut General Statutes 10-233c and 10-233d. Additionally, according to Connecticut General Statute 10-76d (b2), special education will be provided for children who have attained the age of three and who have been identified as being in need of special education, and whose educational potential will be irreparably diminished without special education.

Parents and those who have the control of children five years of age and over and under eighteen years of age, are obligated by Connecticut law to require their children to attend public day school or its equivalent in the district in which such child resides, unless such child is a high school graduate or the parent or person having control of such child is able to show that the child is elsewhere receiving equivalent instruction in the studies taught in the public schools. The parent or person having control of a child sixteen or seventeen years of age must consent to such child’s withdrawal from school. The parent or person shall exercise this option by personally appearing at the school district office to sign a withdrawal form. This district shall provide the parent or person with information on the educational opportunities available in the school system and in the community.

The parent or person having control of a child five years of age shall have the option of not sending the child to school until the child is six years of age. The parent or person having control of a child six years of age shall have the option of not sending the child to school until the child is seven years of age. The parent or person shall exercise such option by personally appearing at the school district office and signing an option form at the beginning of each school year. The district shall provide the parent or person with information on the educational opportunities available in the school system.

A child who has attained the age of sixteen or seventeen and who has terminated enrollment in the district’s schools with parental or guardian permission, as described above, and subsequently seeks readmission may be denied readmission for up to ninety school days from the date of such termination.

A child who has attained the age of nineteen or older may be placed in an alternative school program or other suitable educational program if he/she cannot acquire a sufficient number of credits for graduation by age twenty-one.

(cf. 5111 - Admission/Placement)

(cf. 5112 - Ages of Attendance)

(cf. 6146 - Graduation Requirements)

5112(b)

Students

Ages of Attendance (continued)

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes

10-15 Towns to maintain schools

10-15c Discrimination in public schools prohibited. School attendance by five-year-olds

10-76a - 10-76g re special education

10-184 Duties of parents (re mandatory schooling for children ages five to sixteen, inclusive) as amended by PA-98-243, and PA 00-157

10-186 Duties of local and regional boards of education re school attendance. Hearings. (Amended by PA 96-26 An Act Concerning Graduation Requirements and Readmission and Placement of Older Students)

Appeals to State Board. Establishment of hearing board

10-233a - 10-233f Inclusive; re: suspend, expel, removal of pupils

10-233c Suspension of pupils

10-233d Expulsion of pupils

State Board of Education Regulations

10-76a-1 General definitions (c) (d) (q) (t)

Policy adopted: March 9, 2004 EAST HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Moodus, Connecticut

5112

Form

EAST HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Moodus, Connecticut

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF OPTION TO EXEMPT ATTENDANCE OF

CHILD FIVE OR SIX YEARS OF AGE FROM SCHOOL

Pursuant to Section 10-184 of the Connecticut General Statutes,

I ______________________________________________, of ___________________________

Name of Parent, Guardian or Other Address

the parent, guardian or other person charged with the care of the following minor child

________________________________, of ___________________________________ who was

Name of Parent, Guardian or Other Address

born on ____________________________ do hereby choose not to send my child to public

Date

school during the _________________________.

School Year

Furthermore, before signing this form, a representative of the East Haddam school district

met with me and provided me with information concerning the educational opportunities

and school accommodations available in the school system.

ACKNOWLEDGED BY:

_________________________________

Signature of Parent, Guardian or Other

_________________________

Date

5112.3

Students

Dropouts

Parents and those who have the control of children five years of age and over and under eighteen years of age, are obligated by Connecticut law to require their children to attend public day school or its equivalent in the district in which such child resides, unless such child is a high school graduate or the parent or person having control of such child is able to show that the child is elsewhere receiving equivalent instruction in the studies taught in the public schools. The parent or person having control of a child sixteen or seventeen years of age may consent to such child’s withdrawal from school. The parent or person shall exercise this option by personally appearing at the school district office to sign a withdrawal form. The district shall provide the parent or person with information on the educational opportunities available in the school system and in the community.

The administration, guidance staff and faculty of the school system shall extend every possible effort to the end that each student may meet with success in his/her school program, have a favorable school experience and earn a diploma. Every attempt will be made to identify the potential dropout and to provide the appropriate resources in order to assist such students.

Any student who seeks to drop out of school shall be referred immediately to a guidance counselor or school administrator. The student, if under eighteen years of age, must present to the guidance counselor or administrator the required written parental consent of his/her withdrawal. If the student is at or above the age of majority no such parental consent shall be sought. A student under age eighteen shall not be allowed to withdraw who has not presented such parental consent.

The interval between the student’s announcement of his/her desire to leave and the possible presentation of the written consent will be used to attempt to dissuade the student from leaving and to resolve his/her problems so that he/she might continue in school and finish satisfactorily.

(cf. 5111 - Admission)

(cf. 5112 - Ages of Attendance)

(cf. 5113 - Admission/Excuses/Dismissal)

(cf. 5113.2 - Truancy)

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes

10-184 Duties of parents as amended by PA 98-243 and PA 00-157.

10-199 through 10-202 Attendance, truancy - in general.

Policy adopted: March 9, 2004 EAST HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Moodus, Connecticut