It’s against the law not to go to school. It’s more than just a funny rule that gets broken by teenagers with nothing better to do with their time. The truancy laws exist for a good reason, and they’re more severe than you might think. If you’re a student writing about it, it’s best to use law assignment help for the best legal arguments.
1. Truancy is a Misdemeanor
The first reason it’s against the law not to go to school is that truancy is a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor is an offense that can be punished by up to one year in prison. Or less than that if the person pleads guilty or no contest. The second reason it’s against the law not to go to school is that truancy is a crime. The law states that:
“It shall be unlawful for any child between 6 years old and 17 years old who has been enrolled in a public school during any part of the current school year and whose regular attendance therein has been interrupted by absence from said public school during the such current school year, whether caused by illness or otherwise, within 30 days after such interruption commenced; or who has been excused by his parents from attending such public school” (California Education Code 48222).
If your child misses 30 days of classes without getting an excuse from their parents, they could face criminal penalties like fines up to $500 per day plus court fees (which may add up fast!).
2. All States have Compulsory Attendance Laws
All states have compulsory attendance laws. These are intended to ensure that children attend school until they are at least sixteen years old. In some states, such as Oregon and Texas, there is no minimum age requirement for dropping out of school. However, many states have a cut-off age for early leaving high school.
Most states require students to be at least 16 years old before they can legally drop out of high school. And or move on with their lives without further education or training. However, there are certain exceptions. New Mexico allows students between 14 and 17 years old to appeal the decision if they feel it’s in their best interests not to continue their education past this point. (an independent hearing officer must approve the decision). Some other states allow students who wish not to finish high school because they’re pregnant or already have children. Or if they don’t want or need further schooling.
3. The Law Allows Schools to Send your name to the Authorities if you Miss more than 25 days of school
If you have more than 25 unexcused days of absence in one year, the school has to report it. The District Attorney’s Office will then notify the local police department. Schools do this because they want to ensure that children aren’t missing too much class time and falling behind in their education. But also because they want kids in general—across all ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds—to get at least some form of schooling before entering adulthood at 18!
This law teaches kids not only responsibility. But also encourages them to be productive members of society by getting an education from elementary through college.
4. The Law Requires Someone, either Parent or Guardian, to be Held Accountable for an Unexcused Absence.
The law states that the parent or guardian must provide the reason for the absence and sign a form acknowledging responsibility.
We know that truancy can lead to dropping out. According to the California Department of Education, students who are regularly absent from school are more likely to drop out of high school than students who attend every day. That’s why it’s so essential for you to make sure your children go to class each day.
5. Parents are Responsible for their Children’s School Attendance, at least until the Kids Turn 18 and can make that decision on their own
You may think this is a silly law, but kids need to be in school. If parents don’t ensure their child is attending class, they can be held accountable for truancy. If your child gets caught skipping school, you could get fined $200 per day if your kid was absent from class. And if you don’t pay the fine? Their only options are to transfer schools or attend an alternative program until they graduate high school. Both require more time and money than just having them go regularly!
As a parent, you are responsible for your child’s school attendance until they turn 18. This means that even if you have an adult child who can legally make their own decisions. School authorities can still tell the police about unexcused absences during the school year.
Truancy Hurts our Future Society
Truancy is a problem. You may know this already, but if not, here’s some background. In the United States alone, an estimated four million students are chronically absent from school each year. That’s around nine percent of all students across the nation! This means that many children miss so many classes that they never get a chance to learn what they need to succeed in life.
Not only does truancy hurt our future society by making it more likely that people will become criminals as adults. It also hurts individual kids because it makes them less likely to be able to graduate high school on time or at all. There are also other major problems associated with chronic absenteeism. Problems such as the increased risk for suicide and drug abuse among teens who have missed more than ten days per month over an entire school year (which makes sense).
Finally, let’s talk about how schools enforce these laws. They must report child absences during the school year if they are five years old up until 15 (excluding summer break). If this happens too often, you could face fines ranging between $100 and $1,000, depending on where you live!
Conclusion
The bottom line is that it is illegal for parents not to send their children to school. Even if you live in a state where home-schooling is legal, it’s important to remember that these laws were put in place for good reason. If your child is in school, they take advantage of valuable opportunities. They may also be putting themselves at risk of being taken advantage of by others who aren’t as concerned about their safety or well-being.
