The South Africa Schools Act requires every child to "attend school from the first school day of the year in which such learner reaches the age of seven years until the last day of the year in which such learner reaches the age of 15 years or the ninth grade, whichever comes first" (Republic of South Africa, 1996). This paper addresses…

An examination of the school laws in the 50 states reveals that 47 have penalties that can result in forced incarceration for young people who do not attend school. In a five-year period, 341 young persons were committed to Maryland juvenile institutions for the crime of truancy. During the same time, 2,699 young people were committed to…

British standards governing school attendance have been modified and strengthened by the 1993 legislation. The required education may be received outside the public school system, but alternative schools in the private sector remain subject to control or regulation. (77 footnotes) (MLF)

THIS DISSERTATION SHOWED THE LEGAL STATUS OF NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES. CONCLUSIONS WERE REACHED ON SEVERAL TOPICS BASED UPON A STUDY OF (1) BACKGROUND LITERATURE AND RELATED RESEARCH, (2) THE CONSTITUTIONS AND STATUTES OF THE 50 STATES, AND (3) RELATED COURT DECISIONS. (LP)

School board members should undertake thoughtful and informed deliberations on the issues involved in home schooling. (MLF)

Outlines the legal authority permitting North Carolina school officials to excuse all students' attendance under a uniform policy and applies this policy to absences and early checkouts by 18-year-olds. Cites cases supporting school officials' legal duty to consider exemptions for 18-year-olds with extenuating family circumstances. Cites 37…

Recent court decisions affecting public school students are reviewed in this chapter. (JH)

Examines first the right of parents to decide educational issues that affect their children and then the bases for children's rights. Proposes a standard for insuring that children's interests are protected when conflicts erupt over an educational issue. (Author/MLF)

This information memorandum describes Wisconsin laws relating to compulsory school attendance and truancy. It outlines school-attendance requirements, exceptions, and alternatives; the written attendance policy; key definitions regarding truancy and school-attendance enforcement; and information on the truancy-planning committee and truancy plan.…

Many parents critical of public education have removed their children from public schools and are schooling them at home. Home schooling has generated a number of lawsuits. Controversies have arisen over the definitions of "school" and of "equivalent instruction," parents' qualifications to teach, and religious exemptions from…

This paper examines five selected court cases concerning state control over private home education. According to the author, the cases were selected on the basis of their relevancy to the subject, but no attempt was made to ascertain their representativeness. The cases discussed include State v. Peterman, Wright v. State, People v. Turner, and…

Reviews Supreme Court decisions involving conflict between the individual's freedom of religion and the state's interest in compulsory education, with particular emphasis on the implications of Yoder v. Wisconsin and its legal antecedents. (JG)

Legal battles are being waged over standards and regulations governing home schooling. Boards of education are advised to work out any accommodations they can with parents but to be prepared to consult with the school attorney. (MLF)

This chapter discusses the issues involved in home education as they relate to state compulsory school attendance laws. The authors first examine the purpose and context of compulsory attendance, then the public or private school alternatives. The statutory and case laws providing for home education are explored and some of the constitutional…