Compulsory School Attendance Laws ¿,.3 .4

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OFTHE INTERIOR Harold L Ickes,Secretary OFFICE OF EDUCATION J. W.STUDEBAIMPI, Commissioner

. l COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS AND THEIRADMINISTRATION

* By WALTER S.DEFFENBAUGH Chief, Division ofAmerican School Systems and WARD W. KEESECKER Specialist in SchoolLegislation

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BULLETIN,1935, No. 4 e .-

11,

UNITED STATES 1 Ilk GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE

WASHINGTON:1935

Per solo by the ewer IntendantalDocument., Washington,D. C.---Price 10mots

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J.--... 1 . CONTENTS v rage . FOREWORD VII PURPOSE . ii THE: PROBLEMOP SCHOOLATTENDANCE______- - --A- - 1 of Magnitudenonattendance 1 Causes . of absencesfrom school -, 4 Effects of absence fllornschool . i . _ _ _ _ _ 5 Developmentof compulsoryKhool attendance laws _ _ 6e Improvementin schodlattendance , 9 SCHOOLATTENDANCEREQUIREMENTS _ _ _ _ _ ...._ .. _ _ _ Om . ... alg.. 11 Compulsoryattridanceages , 11 Amount ofattendancerequired ...... 14 Number ofyears 14 Amount of attendance . OMan. =I, required eachyear Mr OM 14 Exemptions .4 .- _ ...... 15 . Minimumamount ofeducation 15 gr. Workpermits 16 Attendanceatprivitteorparochialschools______- _ _ _ 17 Distancefrom school 17 Churchobservance 19 Childrenof indigent parents ... ee . mi.am. 19

Indefiniteexemptions _ ...... __r...... 4..... OW.. M 21 Provisionsfor . administration__ 22., . The schoolcent;:MD =I a.m...... ~...... ______...... m..m.... , . , 22 Function_ ..______It ...... __ _ 22 Censusagesandeher data 25 Censusenumerato 29 . # Attendance _ _ officers...... _ a.e - - - 31 Selectibn andq cation 31 'Improvementin service 39 Number__ ...... ____...... ______40 Salaries and cost of aN. GM IMO MD 41I attendance service. _ _ _ 41' . Reporting e truancy Ow ... _ ...... _...... AO MD (11. am eNO 43 Whentruancy mustcease . 44 Penalties fornonenforcement 45 Courts ofjurisdiction_ 47 Organisation for attendanceservice...... _ UM MN _ 48 State supervision of.schoolattendance 51 Alabama 52 Connecticut , 52 In

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e IV CONTENTS

SCHOOL ATTENDANCEREQUIREMENTSContinued. Provisions for administrationContinued. MO State supervision of schoolattendanceContinued. Page Indiana 53 New York ______54 Pennsylvania______... 56 Summary and implications of sompulsoryschool

attendance laws______.....4M 57 COINIPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCEPROVISIONSBYSTATES__ 65 ._. i . Alabama_ .. _...... _____ . _ ... ______....MD / 65 Arizona__ ..... _ ... _ _ - _ _ J- ....- - .... 66 1 Arkansas _ ...______67 Ji e California - - - - ... - . - 67

Colorado _ a.mOW .. .0 ______... _ 68

.. q...... e..... AM Connecticut SW 4M 69 Delaware - ...... _ 69 Distribt of Columbia______70 Florida... ____ .... ____ 70 S. Georgia_M. ..., MO NW ,,,... 71 , Idaho _ ...... _. . _ 72 Illinois__ ...... _ .. _ 72 Indiana______...... _____-_-_,. _ 73

Iowa..______- ___ ,_, ...... -- I *mop .=...... eft am ... 74 . Kansas 4. . OM al ...... 74 Rentucky ___ 75 LouisianaLouisiana______...... -....___ _ 1M...ao10 _ 75 Maine_____-_, .__ e 76 Maryland______76 , Mftssachusetts A.0 .=. ii 11. MP , ID mt _ 747 _____ Michigan__ ..______,78 Minnesota______.... _ 79 Mississippi , ... _ _ ...... _ ... 79 . Missouri _ ...... MID MS 80 Montana ...... _ ... _ _ _ ... _ _ .... 80

Nebraska_ __ _ _06 M. MED ND MID 81

Nevada ...... _ .. _ ...... 82 New Hampshire_ _ ...... ______...... ____-_-______4_ 83

New Jersey _ .....__AM M MD 1SilIIM 83 New Mexico__...... _ .... _ ...... 84 New York 84 % 4 .___ ! North Carolina - 85

North Dakota _ :85 Ohio__ _ ....a _I ...... _.. 86

L , _ - ___ _ _, Oklahoma . ...-., _ .86 . Oregon .. - ..... __. _ ...... __ ...... ______.... 874w Pennsylvania.::...... ___... emmo .. .. to Baft am aso, .... 88 ______- - RhAle Island 7 - - 89

Boei Carolina ____....., mo m aft. dia 89 : ...... South Dakota...... _Ow as. no ..... Ism Am M. IN, ..... 90 CONTENTS V

COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCEPROVISIONSBYSTATES Continued. Page Tennessee iMrwpm= ...... 90 m. Texas______. _...... _ 91 Utah__ =11.....IM 91 Vermont__ 92 _ _awm.m. Virginia_ .... MD OD SW .m...... am qw OD 93 ______, Washington S 93 . S6,- West Virginia 1 MP...__ _ ...... _ _ _ _...... _ 94 Wisconsin .....-.-_ _ .... _ _ _ _ _ : _ _ _ -, 95 Wyoming______..... ____ .., . _.___. -.- _,-3 96

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O p. FOREWORD Since 1918 lws requiring schoolattendance have eiisted in all States of the Union.These laws hadtheir conception in the faith that education isessentialto th,e perpetuity of populargovernnient and sooial justice.This faith continues unabated.Although the problems ofnonschool attendance, together with child labor, donot exist to thesameextenta's gib formerly, they stillarein -need ofsolution.There isnow, perhapsmorethanatanyprevious time, widespreadopinion thata moresatisfactory solutionto the pralems relatingto school attendance will affordvital aid in solving other social problems. Numerous inquiries concerningschool-attendance laws in differentStates, educational requirements for laborper- e mits, their enforcement,ptc.,areaddessedto the Office of Education.This publication is designedtoanswerthese inquiries andto give information which will be helpfulto those who seek the further developmentorimproved administration of laws relatingto school attendance. BESS GOODYKOONTZI Assistant Commissionel . VII s.

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COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCE TAWSAND THEIRADMINISTRATION PURPOSE

. HIS STUDYhas been prepared tohelpanswer questions frequentlyasked regarding certainfeatures of the compulsoryschool attendancelaws in theseveral States,ascompulsory schoolages,exemptions provided, amountof attendancerequired, qualificatioriof attendance 0 . , officers,State supervisionofattendanceenforcement,and otherprovisions foradministering the attendancelaws. The legislativeenáctmentsoncértain features ofschool attendancearesummarized in the textandadigest ofsome of the featuresof the attendancelaw in each of theStates is appended. THEPROBLEMOF SCHOOLATTENDANCE

MAGNITUDE OFNONATTENDA*E . Theideal of havingall the children öfelementary and secondaqschoolage(6 to 17,inclusive) attQnd schoolhas notbeenattained.According to the 1930United States Census, 4,173,951, or14.3 percent,of the 29,066,072Oildren 6 to17yearsofage werenotattendingschool.Of thenumber notattending school, 1,658,965, or39.7 percent, wereof elementaryschoolage(6 to 13,inclusive) and 2,514,986,or 60.3 percent, wereof high-schoolage(14 to 17,inclusive). Theforegoing figures,which showthe total numlerèf children 6 to 17 yearsofagenotin schoolIat all,donot presentthe entirepicture of theproblem of school attendance since theydo not takeinto account the averagedaily attendanceof those whowereenrolled.Considering attendance in relation toenrollment in thepublic schools 4,413,129,or '17.2percint, of the 25,678,015children enrolledwereabsent eachchi)y.. Adding this number tothe numberofchildren notinsjchOo-1 at all, thegrandtótalnumber bf children not .

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in schoolon any onedayduring°the school termwas8,587,080. This figure, however, is onlyapproximate, since the enrolh mentsand attendance in pzivate414liarochialschoolsare notincluded, and sincesomeof the childrepincluded in the averagedaily attendance figuresare5yearsofageandsome are18or more yearsof age; but it isplainly evident thata hugearmyof childrenareoutof schooleach dayin round, numbers 8,500,000, rir approximately 27.5 percent,of the school population 6 to 17yearsofage. :Thereareth'us evidentlytwo parts tothe problem of school attendanceone is that ofenrolling all the children of elementary an* secondaryschoolageand the other is that of keeping those enrolledin regular attendance. The first-named problemhas been solvedin large part for children of compulsory schoolattendanceage.Of the total number of children of the usualabsolute compulsoryattend-

ance age,that is .theagewhereveryfew exemptionsare allowed (7to 13,inclusive), 95.3 percentof the total number 9f children of thisage group wereenrolled in schools, and 88.8 percentof the children 14and 15/-eatTsofagewhoare usually subject to the compulsoryattendance laws but who maybe exempd forreasonsin addition to those provided for children 7 to 13yearsofageweieattending school, while only66.3 percent ofthe children 6yearsofage)and only 57-.3 percent'of those 16 and 17 Years ofage wereenrolled. 4 If the compulsory school attendanceage wereextended to 18 thepercentage of children 16 and 17gearsofageattending school would doubtless be greatlyincreased.It is significant to note thatin the five States,Idato,Nevada, Ohio, Okla- homa, and Utah, in each of w,hich theuppercompulsory school attendanceagelimit with certain exemptions is 18, the percentage of children 16 and 17yearsofageWending school is muchhiglierthan theaveragefor the country, 57.3 percent: In jdaho, 72.3 percent of the children ofthese 4 ages wereattending school; in Nevada, 75.7 percent;in Ohio, 67.7 percent; in Oklahoma, 63.2 percent; andin Utah, 80.9 percent. The following table shows byagegroupsthe percent of children attending school in each of the Sites:

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TABLE 04,.-Percent of children attending schoolat variousagelevel8I °t.4

I a State I, uyears 7 to 13 14 and 1516 and 118 to 20

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I 88. 8 I 57. 3 21. 4 United Statesa. 66. 3 95. 3

New England 81. 8 98. 2 I 90. 9 54. 9 22. 3

Maine -82. b 98. 0 i 91. 7 59. 8 23.1 1 New Hampshire 69. 3 97. 9 1 '.93. 5 55. 5 22. 2

Vermont 63. 7 97. 3 I 90. 6 55. 7 21. 3 M assach use t ts_ _ _.... 83.6 9S. 3 92. 9 59. 5 25. 0 . Rhode Island 41" 79. 9 98. 1 87. 9 40. 4 17. 0 Connecticut .86. 0 98. 3 Sf). 1 47. 3 17. 8 Middle Atlantic 75. 7 97. 6 Sa. 4 53. 3 18. 7 New York 79. 5 97. 7 93. 9 59. 4 20. 4 . Nor Jersey _ ..... 85. 6 98. 1 91. 1 47.b 16. 9 Pennsylvania . 68. 0 97. 3 91. 2 48.6 17. 2 East North Central _ 76.3 97. 9 93. 5 62. 2 21. 1 Ohio 74. 3 97. 9 96. 6 67. 7 22. 8 Indiana 87. 8 97. 8 95. 8 62. 4 21. 7 Illinois_ 75. 0 97. 7 92. 4 57. 1 19. 9 Michigan 83. 8 98. 1 94. 2 61. 7 20. 2 Wisconsin a 4 98. 0 SO. 3 63. 4. 21. 5 West North Central N. 6 97. 7 89. 3 59. 2 24. 3 . Minnesota 80.1 98. 0 91. 1 57. 0 24. 4 Iowa 91. 2 98.3 89. 8 63. 9 2& 1 M issouri 74. 1 96. 8 135.7 51. 6 20. 0 Nortts Dakota_ _ _ ..... 66. 1 97..2 88. 2 58. 4 1 South Dakota 69. 9 97. 4 88. 8 62. 8 27. 9 Nebraska s.90. 0 98. 4 91.1 63. 2 24. 7 Kansas 76.4. 98.0 92. 1 66. 4 28.9 South Atlantic 51. 1 91. 4 79. 5 48. 0 18. 1 Delaware 65. 1 97. 1 91. 4 52. 0 18. 1 Maryland 62. 5 96. 4 80. 6 42. 2 16. 2 District cif Columbia..._ - .480. 5 97. 6 95. 5 67. 7 29. 8 Virginia, 38. 7 90. 7 81. 3 48. 3 18. 1 West Virginia 451. 8 94. 1 86.2 49. 8 20. 3 North Carolina___ _ 50. 4 93. 0 79. 1 49. 3 19. 2 South Carolina 44. 8 86.4 73. 8 44. 7 18. 1

Georgia- (, 55.0 . 88. 6 73. 7 43. 6 14. 3 Florida 59. 8 91. 7 84. 1 55. 0 19.; East South Central 49. 4 90. 6 83. 8 53. 1 19. 9 Kentucky _____ - M. 47.3 1' 91. 2 82. 5 49. 2 19. 1 Tennessee 48. 6 91. 7 85. 2 53. 2 19. 9 Alabama 39. 0 88. 5 82. 6 51. 5 18.. 0 Mississippi 66. 9 91. 3 85. 3 59. 6 23. 1 West South Central 44. 1 90. 3 84. 4 57. 4 21. 1 Arkansas 57. 3 90. 6 84. 9 59. 5 22. 6 Louisiana, 55. 3 89. 4 78. 3 49. 5 17. 8 Oklahoma 63. 7 94. 3 88.9 63. 2 26. 8 Texas_ 26. 1 88:7 84.6 57. 2 P19. 8 Mountain 64. 7 95. 8 91. 2 66.8 X 2 Minima .. 67. 2 97. 4 92. 9 67. 9 29. 6 Idaho 59.8 97. 9 94. 1 72. 3 32. 9 Wyoming 71.1-- 98. 0 93. 0 68. 4 26. 5 Colorado 70. 9 96. 8 90. 3 63. 2 28. 4 New Mexico 59. 3 90. 7 84. 8 57. 4 22. 1 Arizona_.....e e _ 57. 2 90. 8 85. 4 56. 6 22. 6 Utah 63. 8 97. 9 97. 1 80. 9 82. 7

. Nevada, et 70. 8 95. 7 75. 7 31. 2 Pac 77. 1 97. 6 96. 5 . 79. 7 32.9 Washington 65. 5 97. 7 9& 6 76. 8 33. 6 Oregon 69. 5 97. 7 94. 5 72. 8 V& 3 California. 481.7 97. 6 97. 2 82. 1 32. 7

I Compiled fromU. S. Census report, 1930. Tht otherphase of the attendance problem is that of keeping the childrenenrolled in regularattendance. Ofcourse, perfectattendance cannot be expectedofeverychild enrolled,

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but thereis, nevertheless,the problem ofunnecessary absences.Ineverycommunity thereare some parents who will keeptheir childrenout of school foradayortwo ata timeto assist Ivith chores and with farmwork.Dataare not availableto show for the entirecountry howmanypupils areunlawfully absent,but- thatmanychildrenareabsent from schoolwithout lawfulexcusesis evidentaccordingto data compiledby the PennsylvaniaState Departmentof PublicInstruction.'In 1933 the number ofsessionsof absence in thatState amountedto 36,861,941.Of thisnum- ber1,731,631wereunexcused.Therewerein thatyear 57,409Pupils,or2.8 percent, of the total vnrollmentunlaw- fully absentonfirst offense and24,412,or1.2jercent,of the enrollmentunlawfully absentonthe seconditense.If these/ percentages of unlawful absences marbe re6rdedas average, the totalnumber of unlawfulabsences for the firstoffepse in thecountryas awhoreamounts to735,712 and for thesecond 'offenseto 315,305. ( I

s. CAUSES OFABSENCES FROMSCHOOL Absencesaredueto severalcauses.In Pennsylvania,for example, of the unexcusedabsences in1933, 84-.8 percentwas dueto parental neglect; 14.4percent to.tru4nry and 8per- Centto illegal eniployment.InPhiladelphiiiin1931-32 the causeof absences both unexcusedand eNcused ofthecases investigatedwasdistributedasfollows: 2 Parental neglect,33.5Percent;illegal employmebt,0.3per- cent; truancy, 9.3percent;illness of child,37:1 percent; ill- 4- nessin family,3.9 percent; death in family,0.5''percent,; quarantine,0.9 percent; inclement weather,0.7 percent; other, 13.8percent. .. These figuresareprobably repräsenta- .tive ofcause*-of 4bsente inthe large cities. Intherural-khool districts farmwork is responsiblefor --1. ,..,, manyabsencesfrom school."Manycountryschools";the .. e Children's Bureau ieports,3"are almost emptied of their .,... . 9,. AÌ- .,..., pupils during thebusysea.son Qnthe surroundingfarms...... Cotton picking; beginning inthe latesunimer, is often not 1Keeping in Touch With the Schools,Statistical Research Studies,Apr. 1934,no. 7, pp.8, U. t'-1Compiled from data in Report ofthe Division of Compulsory Education,Philadelphia, ._. Pa., 19142.--'''. , ,;slie S. DepartmentOf Lobo*, Children's Bureau,Children in Agriculture.Publication t. .. tTo.187.Washington, Government PrintingOffice, 1929,PP. 2fr-26. . r a

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sir COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCELAVVB 5

completed until after Christmas,sothatmanycotton pickdrs do not enter school until ' along in January.' Many farmers' children in sugar-beet growing districts donotes'en enroll in school until after the middle of November when the beet harvest isover.Truck farming has much thesameeffect onchildren's schooling. * * * Child agricultura work- ersin almosteverylocality in the Children's Bureausurveys had been absent from school during theyearof thesurvey for farm work, and farrh workwasalmostuniversally the chiefcauseof absence." EFFECTS OF ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL Theoreticially irregular school attendance tendstocause a pupilto achieveless than he is capable of achieving inthe subjects that he is studying.Hemay,however, makeup the lost time by home studyorby being coached by his teacherorby his parQnts, but if he doesnot makeupthe lesson assignments his achievement isnodoubt less than it* would have been if he had been in regular attendance.If the pupil is coached by the teacher during class period he takessomeof the time that the teacher should be devoting tiQthe class. Anyone who has had experienceas ateacheror as aschool principal wouldagreewith the foregoingstatements, butcp16 manyparentsmaynot be entirely convinced, for they often seetheir children who have been irregular in attendancepro-, motedatthe end of the schoolterm'.They failto realize that.their children might have achievedmoreif they had attended school more\regularly. Unfortunately there have been fewor nosttidiesshowinò

the relationship between pchoor attaendance and possibles .achievement.The studies that have been madeare concerned chiefly with the relation between attendanceand marks given by teachers,orbetweeiiattendance andprogress through school.In fiery few stVies haveattempts been madeto eliminateorto take into account factors other than , marksor progressthrough schoo Absentees who "give been .coached shoulddoubtlessbe..1191ated fromanystudypur- portingto show thp relation between attendance and advance6 ment.Studies using onlyprogrsthrough schoolaathe

, .. %* COMPULSORYSCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS, basis of showingthe relationihip donot take all factors into consideration.Children of highabilitymaybe irregular in attendance and theymaystill be promoted.The question that needsto be answered is "what might thepupil have achieved had hebeen iiregular'attendance?"If he is absent20 daysaterm and makesa scoreof 70, what would hisscorehave been if he hadattended schooleveryday? However, such studiesashave been madeonthe relation between attendanceand marks and attendanceandprogress show,uponthe whole, that there isapositive relationship. For example, Ziegler 4 inastudy of the recordsof 307-junior high school pupils foundapositive correlationof 0.34 between school attendance and schoolmarks andapositive correla- tion0.35 between attendance andprogressthrough school. A study by Rosenberry 5 quoted in Ziegler'sstud:[lows a correlation. of +0.38 between habitualabs6nce and marksof 3, 4, ,and 5. Cooper 6 in his study of progress andattend- anceof rural school children in Delaware foundthatasthe meanpefeentage of attendance in 1 teacher,2 and 3 teacher, and in fully graded schools decreasedthe slowerwasthe progressof the pupils.For example, pupils inthe fully graded.schotAs making normalprogresshadanTean attend- ancepercentageof 90.6, those retardeda year82.9, those retarded 2years82.7, and those retardedmorethan 2years hada meanattendance percentage of only73.4. DEVELOPMENT OF COMPULSORY SCHOOL 6 ATTENDANCE LAWS

IPThe problemofnonattendaii,ceat schoolwas onethatcon- fronted schooladministrators atanearly date, and inorder tohelp solveit State after State enacted compulsory school attendance laws.The first State toenact suchalawwas Massachusetts. When thedevelopment of the factorysystem began in Massachusettsin the early part of the nineteenthcentury 4 Ziegler, CarlW., School Attendanceand its Significance, Teachers College, Columbia University, Contributionsto Education, no. 7)7, New YorkCity,NU,p. 96. I Rosanborry,Z.E., AMaster'sThesis, University of Southern California, Los Angels, 161: .8Oboper, Henna% AnAmounting of Progress and Attendance of Rural School Children in Delaware, 'paean C\ollege, Columbia University,Coutribtitionsto Ed9cation,no, ea, P.92. 1 gORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS . 7 e and the population beganto concentrate in villages.and cities, itwasfound that childrencould do much of thework in factories and that theyweretakenawhyfrom schoolfor thatpurpose.In orderto remedy this condition,a" factory law "wasenacted in1842, but itwaspracticallyadead letter, at leastin its relationto school attendance. Sogreat had the evils of nonattendance andtruancy becometilibatHorace Manngaveespecial attentionto it in hisreports, and by 1850 public sentiment had beeqmesufficiently arousedtopass a truancylaw. A compulsoryattendanceact followed in 1852, and thatwasamended in1859 to readasfollows: SECTION 1. Everypersihaving under his controlachild betweenthe agesof 8 and 14yearsshall annually duringthe contjnuance ofhis control send such child tosomepublic school in thecityortown in whichleresides at least 12 weeks, if the publicschools of suchcityor townsolong continue, 6 weeks of which time shallbe consecutive,and foreveryneglect of such duty the party offending shallforfeit to theuse ive such cityortowna sumnot exceeding $20; but if itappears upon the inquiry of the truant officerorschool committee ofanycityor town,or uponthe trial ofanyprosecution, that the partysoneglecting wasnot able, by'reason ofpoverty to send such child to school,orto furnish him with themeansof education,orthat such child hasbeen otherwise furnished with themeansof education foralike period of time,orhas already acquired the branches of learning taughtin the public schobls,orthat his bodilyormental condition hasbeen suchas to prevent his attendance at schoolorapplication to studyfor the period required, the penalty before mentioned shall not be incurred. SECTION 2. The truant officers and the school committeeof the several cities and-towns shall inquire into allcasesofrieglectof the dufyprescribed in the preceding sectio4and agcertain from thepersons neglecting thereasons,ifany,therefor; and shall forthwithgive notice of all violations, withtliereasons,to the treasurer of thecityortown, and if such treasurer willfullyneglectsorrefuses toprosecuteany personliable to thePenaltyprovided for in the precedingsection he shall forfeit thesumof $20.7 The failure; of these early laws tosecureattendancewas apparent,and Superintendent White tookupthe subject in

1870, saying:841/4 Iamfully convinced, aftermany yearsof observation and inquiry, that the several enactments relaiing to this matter (absenteeism)are ill-adapted to theirpurpose,discordant, and incapable of execution, and therefore needacareful and thorough revision, to which ample time andthought should be given.I therefore respectfully recommendthat r IRpod of tbe United StatesCommissioner ofEducation,1888-89,p. 472. Ibid.,pp.471-474. te

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the present legislaturebe requested topass aresolve directing theboard of educationorsuch otheecompetent bodyas maybe deemedproper to take into consideration allexisting laws relating to schoolhttendance, truancy, absenteeism, and the employmeni ofchildren in manufactur- ing establishments,and inquire what alterations andamendmentsare needed to egAine saidenactments intoauniform, consistent,and efficient code adaptedto the present views and wants of the public. By1890 the law had beensoamended that itwaswell &forced, accordingto Supt. J. W. Dickinson, who'at that time reportedto the United States Bureau of Ecluotion that " the cotnpulsory lawoperateswell and isgenerall3robeyed." 9 The obedience which seemedtosatisfy Mr. Dickinson would probably failto'meet the approval of the officçrs a thepresent day; but con.stantimprovement has been madesince then both in the laws and inthe method of their enforcement. Thenext State to enactanattendance lawwasVermont (1867).The District of Columbia,however, enactedsucha Jaw in1864. By 1900, 32 States and the Districtof Colum- bia had enacted compulsoryschool attendance laws.From 1900 to 1910, 10moreStates fell into line, andby 1918every Statein the Union hadanattendancèlaw.The following shows the date of theenactment of such laws in each ofthe States:

Massachusetts__ _ 1852 Rhode Island._ ___ 1883 Iowa______1902 District of Colum- Illinois__ _ 1883 Maryland_ 1902 bia_...... 1864 NorthDakota_ 1883 Missouri_ 4 1905 Vermont ____ 1867 South Dakota__..... 1883 Tennessee 1905 New Hampshire_. 1871 Montana . ___ 1883 Delaware__ 1907 Michigan_.. 1871 Minnesota... _ .. 1885 North Carolina__ . 1907 Washington_____ 1871 Nebraska_ . _ . _ ___ 1887 Oklahoma___. _ _ _ 1907 Connecticut....2 1872 Idaho.______1887 Virginia.... 1908 Nevada 1873 . Colorado___ _ ._ - - _ 1889 Arkansas...... _ _ 1909 New York 1874 Oregon___ _ ... _____ 1889 Louisiana 1910 Kansas 1874 Utah .. ___ 1890 Alabama 1915 California______. 1874 New Mexico__.... 1891 Florida ._ _ . 1915 Maine__ 1875 Pennsylvania.____ 1806 South Carolina__ ... 1915 New Jersey.. 1875 Kentucky ___ 186 Texas 1 ______1915 Wyoming 1876 West Virginia 1897 °emit' . 1916 Ohio 1877 Indiana___.. _ ion Milaissippi 1918 Wisconsin______1879 Arizona_ _ ___ 1899 . Y. , j

1The Texas law of 1873establishingafree publio-schoolsystem containeda compulsory school attendance provision. Thislawwas somewhat ineffective and unsatisfactoryat that time andwas superseded by other legislation in 1876 whichomitted the compulsory school t. attendance provision.

AlthougheveryState in the Unionhas enacteda com- . pulsory attendance law,each State hadtooverqomemuch oppositiononthepart of those who consideredsuchalaw un--American in principle, inthat itli provisioninterferes with

Ibid.,p. 486.

4 lIt7;st Otx.t.1 . . . .1 1:411t1- COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS 9 the personal liberty of theparents.In1891 and in 1893 Governor Patterson, ofPennsylvania, vetoedcompulsory education billsonthese general grounds.In 1895 when Governor Hastings signedasimilar bill, he didsoonly because he did notwishto obtrude his judgment in thematter, whichwas against the bill. . In 1872 when Connecticutwasconsidering the enactmert ofacompulsory school attendancelaw,someof thearguments against itsenactment that the skretary of theState board of education discqssed in hisannualreport,were:(1 ) Anewcrime is created(2) it interferes withthe liberty ofparents.; (3) new powers areabrogated by theGovernment(4) it is un-American andnot adaptedtoour'freeinstitutions; (5) compulsory education ismpnarchical inits origin and I history;(0attendance is justasgieat withoutthe law.In practicallyeveryState, suchcontentions hadto be met when bills providing forcompulsory schoolattendancewere introduced in the Statelegislature. As might be expected, theconstitutionalityof compulsory scho91 attendancelawswas aquestion that founditsway into thecourts.Decisionsonthe constitutionalityof such legislation have beenrenderedinat leastfOurStatesIndiana, New Hampshire, Ohio, andPennsylvania.In'each'instance thecourtsaffirmed the constitutionalityof the attendance law.Innoneof thesecases wasthe question ofattendance at private'orparochial schools involvedsince attendanceat such schoolswaspermitted. Court decisionson numerousotheraspects of the attendancelaws have beenrendered '° and the ¡principlethat the Statemayrequire childrento attendsomeschool has been firmly established.

IMPROVEMENT INSCHOOL ATTENDANCE Although the ideal of havingeverychil4 of elementary and seCondary schoolage,and especially allhildren from7 to 16yearsofage,attend school hasnot been realized, the percentage of such children enrolled in schoolhas been

so Bender, 3ohn Frederick, the FunctIonof the Courts in Enforcing SchoolAttendapos Laws. New York, Bureau of Publications,Teachers College, Columbia University,1927.

12711112°7-4111---2 ¡So- t' 1

e . lo COMPULSORY SCHOOL-Al'rE-NDANCELAWS

'steadily increasingand attendanceonthepart of those enrolled has greatlyimproved. The followingshows byage groupsfor the entirecountry the percent of childrenattend- ing school in1910 and in 1930:

- Ages 1910 1930 _

5 . 17.0 20. 0 6 52.1 66. 3

7 to 13 . . 86.1 93. 3 14 and 15 _ _ 75.0 88.8 16 and 17 43.1 57. 3 18 to 20 ...... _ 15.2 21.4 4 41, .awr-

4 No dataareavailableto show byagesthe increasein 1 regularity of attendanceonthe part of thechildren enrolled, but thepercent of public-school children enrolled,attending each day, increased from72.1 in 1910to 82.8 in 1930 andto 84.7 percent in 1932. The increase in thepercentage of children attendingschool and thepercentageof increase inaveragedaily attendance aredueto severalcauses.The compulsoryschool attendancelaws have becomemoreeffectivenot only by causing morechildrentoenrollin school, but bycausing better attendanceonthe part of those enrolled.Many ofthecom- pulsory attendance laws havebeen strengthenedby requiring attendance for the fulllength of theschoolterm, the compulsory attendanceage spanhas been increasedinmany States, and fewer exemptionsareallowed, thustendingto keepmorechildren in school. Better schoolattendaucecannot, however, be attributed entirelytoimproved attendancelaws and improvedat- tendance service. Asmay-be noted inthe -foregoing data, ittendance-ofchildren below and abovethe usualcompulsory attendanceagehas greatly increased. 4 Thepercent ofchildren 6yearsofageattending schoo.1increasedfrom52.1 in

1910 to 66.3 in 1930, and thepercent of ohildren. 16 and17 ¡earsofageattending school increasedfrom43.1inh910to 57.3 in 1930.Evidently the .compvlsoryattendance laws werenot responsible, at least not directly, forthe increased f attendanceattheseaggs. Otheifactors have beenat work. Teachersare.nowbetter -7:-trained than formerly andknow better howto.aripealto the interests of children, thusmaking schoola moredesirable

. r .1 4:

- .400101.10151001

I .

4 *- - 4 .; -.A , , . o4 ,444,, :7,1 s wit10,- .k 4 - 410 7.V VIAe .74. - -,1?4,145.1t33.'.f 4;- - //le...._a-4r F. -t-Si.a aiateM -I.-- COMPULSORY SCHOOLA Eq DANCE LAWS

place than itwas20years ago.Coursegt of studyhave been improvedmorenearlyto meet the needs of individualpupils, thus helpingto hold children inschool.Transportation óf pupils has alsocontributedto better school attendance.In manycommunities childrenwho livesomedistance from schoolareti'ansportedand neednolonger remainat home onaccount of inclement weather.Improved healthconfii- tionsmaybe mentioned,asanother ¡actor.On the whole the inerea§ed interestof the publicin general ineducation maybe regardedasthe predomirfantcauseoebetterschool attendance. SCHOOLATTENDANCEREQUIREMENTS COMPULSORYATTENDANCE AGES In only 2 States is the minimumcompulsory schoolattendance ageplacedat 6years.These StatesareNew Mexico and Ohio. Theminimum compulsoryattendanceagein30 States is 7years,and in16 States it is8years.Of the42 States that hadcompulsory attendancelaws in1914,none hadaminimumageof 6ears,16 hadaminimumageof7 years,25aminimumageof 8years,and1 hadaminimum ageof 9years. The maximumcompulsory attenaanceagein1934wasless than 16yearsin only6 States, 16yearsin 31 States,17 in 6 States, and18 in 5 States.In1914, 22 of the42 States' having compulsoryattendance laws placedthe maximum compulsory attendanceageat less than 16years;19 at 16 years;and only1 at 18years.The following sh9wsfor1914 and1934 the minimum and maximuumcompulsoryattend- ance agesfor full-time schools andthe number ofStates having each of theagesindicaad:

, Number of Number of Mrnimum compulsory States 1 Maximum compulsory States t attendanceage attendanceage 1914 ii. . 1934 1914 1934 _ . 1 2 3 e 1 2 a

6 o 2 12 a o 16 7 , 30 14 10 6 8 25 N 16 . 9 1 i . . 9. -- . 1 0 16_...... --...... _-...... :----1919 31 17 o e , o 1 a.

6 States did notbasilcompulsory school attendancelawsin 1914.

4 12 COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS

The compulsoryattendanceagesfor both full-time and continuation schools and the work-permit, ages areshown in table2.

TABLE 2.Compulsory school attendance and work-permitages I.

Cornpulsory attendanceages 1 Work- State Full- permit time Part-time cpntinuation ages school

2 :1 4

Alabama 7-16 14-17 Ar s 8-16 14 to 16 14-16 Arka 7-16 14-16 Ca Morn 846 Under 18_ _ 14-16 Colorado_ 8-16 f4-16 A Connecticut 414- 7-16 14 to 16 14-16 Delaware 7-17 12 to 16 14-16 Florida 7-16 14 to 16 ...... 14-16 Georgia 8-14 14 Idaho 8-18 14-16

Illinois 7-16 14 to 18 14-16 Indiana 7-16 _do 14-16 Iowa V 7-16 14 to 16 4, . 14-16 Kama 7-16---- z 14-16 Kentucky 7-16 14 to 16 14-16 f14 to 16, boys Louisiana 7-14114 to 18, girls ...... 14-16 Maine, _ .. 'di. O 7-17 15 go ...... Maryland 7-16 14-16 Massachusetts_ _ _...... 7-16 14 to 16:...... _ _ 14-16 Michigan 7-16 Under 17 15-16 .21

Minnesota 8-16 4 4e ...... 14-16 M ississippi 7-17 14-16 Missouri- a. e . co 7-16 Under 18 14-16 Montana 8-16 4111 In,...... 14-16 Nebraska 7-16 14 to 16 14-16

Nevada 7-18 14 to 18 14-18 New Hampshire...... 41. e - 8-16 14-18 New Jersey 7-18 14 to 18 14-16 New Mexico 8-16 _do 14-16 New York 7-16 14 to 17 14-17

North Carolina_ ..... or 7-14 14-15 North Dakota_ _...... 7-17 14-16 Ohio. 6-18 16 to 18 16-18 Oklahoma 8-18 do 10-18 Oregon__ _ ..... _ 44114.16.4 7-16 do ______14-18 Pennsylvania 8-16 14 to 16 ... e . 14-16 Rhode Island 7-16 ...... e ...... 15-16 South Carolina 8-14 14 South Dakota 8-17 14-16 Tennessee 7-18 14 to 16 14-16 ¡kit_ Texas I 8-14 412-14 Utah _ 8-18 Unlit'18 14-18 Vermont 8-16 14-16 Virginia 7-15 14-16 Washington 8-16 14 to 18 14-18

West Virginia 7a-16 14 to 16 14-16

Wisconsin 7-16 do , ee e ee. 14-17 Wyoming 7-17 14-16

I For exemptions, see pp. 15-22. I 7-16, inclusive, alter May 6, 1936.

C .. 1

ti, 4 -44'4 . IL-% ir. -. t: .. , . G * .. AMS4.14aUiigjEu.244 12/ '14- . -Lji,g&g:M 1 1- _' . -... 4.a.tiiri-:.;4zA:-:.eirt:t."g__Te_.,.._,LIC,-..16*.muKALX-:-A*.let -y..- .L;.-.k...._ .__,..., - WT., 2...,..1. - ,Ae'''-'. COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 13

TABLE 3.Amountof attendancerequired andtheminimum legal school term, by States -_ .

Legal mini- State A t tendance required mum .\ school term in months

Alabama __ - Full term (2) Arizona do._ Arkansas 8 100 days 6 California A Full term Colorado do 834 - eV 6. Connecticut do Delaware 9 do 411. 8 Florida do 8 Georgia 6 months Idaho 6 _ ...... _ ...... Full term _ 7

rilinois V. do f 8 Indiana do 6 . Iowa...... -...... _-24 consecutiveweeks 1___ 8 Kansas Full term 8 Kenlycky do 7

Louisiana _ ...... 140 days 7 Maine Full term 17,¡ Maryland .do 9 Massachusetts do 8 Michigan do 7

Minnesota do 7 Mississippi 80 days 4 M issouri Full term ... ______8 Montana do 39 Nebraska _ do 4_ 19

Nevada do 6 New Hampshire do 9 New Jersey do 9 New Mexico do 7 New York do 14¡ North Carolina do 8 North Dakota do 7 Ohio ...... _ do 8 Oklahoma Two-thirds ofterm 3 Oregon Full term 8

Pennsylvania .., do 8 Rhode Island ...... do 9 South Carolina 80 days4 7 South Dakota Full term 4 8 Tennessee______- . - ...... do 8 Texas r 100 days 7 6 Utah_ .v- 20 weeks o Vermont._ Full term 8,¡ Virginia_ do _ 8 Washington...... _ _do 9 6 West Virginia do 9 Wisconsin do 8 Wyoming do 6

l Not fixed by law. aBoardmayrequire full term. s 4 months in tMrd-class districts. 6 In metropolitan city. & 6 months, districts with fewer than 10 pupils. Districtmayrequire full term. I The 1935 legislature required attendance from 7 to 16, inclusive,and required attendanoe for 120 days, effective May 6, 1935. s3 weeks in first- and seoond-class districts. I8 months in first-class districts.

a J-- 14 COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS -a

AMOUNT OFATTENDANCE REQUIRED e NUMBER OF YEARS I. The number,ofyearsof school attendancerequired--sraries from6yearsin Georgia,South Carolina, andTexasto 12 yearsin Ohio.The usual number ofyears' attendance required is9; 10 States require 8years,and22 require9 years.(Texas required9 years'after May 6, 1935.) The tendency hasbeento iyrease the number ofyearsof required attendance.Of the States that hadcompulsory attendance laws in1914, 7 required-childrento attendlchool for 9years.In1914, 16 States required attendancefoless than8yearsand 6 hadnoattendance laws; in1934,oly 5 States required lessthan 8years.The following shossksfor 1914 and 1934 the number of years'attendance requiredand the number of Statesrequiring theyearsspecified:

NumberNumber of States e of years' attendance required 1914 1934

o 6 v.0 4 2 0 5 1 0 6 4 9 2 8 18 10 9 7 9 o 1 o 1

AMOUNT OFATTENDANCE REQUIREDEACH YEAR One-of the defects in maiiy-ofthe earlycompulsory school attendance lawswasthat they didnot prescribeadefinite time forattending schooleachyear,but insteadspecifieda certain proportionof the time,or acertain numberof days, or a.certain numberofcol 'tidy :,_..eeks withoutstating when -the periodwasto begin.This ledto confusion, and itwasoften difficulttodetermitewhenachild hadattended4 the prescribedtime.Most States,however,nowrequire attendance forthe full periodschool is insession inthe district, which insomedistricts exceedsthe minimumterm prescribed bylaw. Theamount of attendance required andthe legal minimum chooltermareshown in table3.

4. COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 15,

EXEMPTIONS' e. Every compulsoryattendance lawprovidesfor exemptions within thecompulsoryAge limitsonseveralc9nditions.The principalones'are:A minimumamount of education,asthe completion ofcertaingrades;distancefrom school;depend- ent children; physicalormentalincapacity;attendanceat privateordenominationalschools; andworkpermit incer- tain conditions.

le MINIMUM AMOUNTOFEDUCATION In.mostof theStates theeducationalrequirementforex- emption isthe completionof theelementaryschoolcoutse. Eight Stateshave,howevex,madethe twelfthgradethe standard foreducationalexemption.SomeStatesprovide thaachildmaybe excusedfrom schoolattendanceonly after reachingacertainageand providedhecompletescer- tain grades.Table4 showsthe provisionsofeducational exemptions ineach of theStates fromfull-timeattendance:

TABLE4.Minimurneducationrequire yState laws

For exqnptionfrom scho61attend-For laborpermitsto minors State ance on account of educationac- withincompulsoryschoolat- quired (gradescompleted) tendanceages (gradescompleted) I

2 3

Alabama 8th grade,if 14years of age 8th grade,if 14years ofage. Arizona_ 8th grade_ 5th grade. Arkansas_.-...r do 4th grade. California___ .....12th grade_ 8th grade,if 14years ofage; or 7t1i. Colorado grade, if 15years old. I8th grade, if14years of age Read andwrite. Connecticut 6thgrade. Delaware..... 8th grade, if14years of age...... 8th grade. Florida 8th grade_ Read and write. Georgia_ 7th grade_ Idaho Read andwrtte simplesentences...... 8th grade, if 15years of age Literacy andsome knowledgeof geography andarithmetic. Minob 8th. goade. Indiana_0._ 8 grade Iowa ao eth grade. - Kansas _ e e edo Kentucky 8th grade. 12th grad& 8th grade, if14years or age;or 7tb brad., if15years of age. Louisiana__ ¡Elementarycourse of study...-.8th grade,or 8 years' schoolatp tendance (OrleansParish). Maine 8th grade, if15roan of age 8th grade. Upland 7th pads, if14yrs of age andam-7th grade (6th gradein Baltimore).- PYed-lo Massachusetts eth grade, ff 14years of age andem-eth grade. Nord- IBlankspaces Indicatno educational requirementnoted.

.. b,

. . . . - s - . . . , .. .. . , '.--"--.---ke.-Z.-...,,L..-,..,..w.: 4 __;.:,_5_1-_*;,.S.L. .b%..:,' ._,...44..14Ak..11....,---- ,-..,_ ....,.,..4.IL:.,...... -- ,:-....------4 ...:-... ------, -z -7''' 16 COMPULSOTtY SCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS

4. TABLE 4.Minimum education requiredby ¡Mate lawsContinued .1

MI For exemption from school attend-1.'or labor permitsto minors State ance on accountof education ac- within compulsoryschoolat- quired (grades completed) tendanceages (gradescorn- . pleted)

1 2 3,

Michigan 8th grade andemployed in nonhigh-6th grade. school districts;must be 16 in high- school districts. Minnesota_ __ May be excuseduponcompletion of8th grade. 8th grade. M ississippi.. _ _ . . Common schoolcourseof study._ _ Missouri...______do_ 6th grade. Montana _ _ 8t h grade, if 14yearsofage 8th grade. Nebraska...._ _ 12th grade in high-school districts:8th grade,orliteraqy in English.' otherwise graduation from school s maintained. Nevada._ _ _ _ _.12th grade Elementary school course( New Hampshire_ 8th grade, if 14yearsofage and legallyLiteracy in English. employed. New Jersey 8th grade, If14years old; or 6th grade, if 15years old. New Mexic4._ New York_ __ _ _ 12th grade 8th grade, if 14; 6thgrade, if 15. North Carolina.... xi North Dakota__ 8thgradeeir 8th grade,or school attendance for 9years, Ohio_ - - - - 12th grade 7th grade. Okial;oma._ ..8th grade, if 14years of ageandem-Read and writesimple sentences ployed. in Engligh. Oregon _ - 8th grade, 14.years ofageandem-lith grade, if under16years of age. a ployed.

Pennsylvania__ 6th grade, if 14yearsofageandem-6th grade. ployed. Rhode Island , 8th graZie. South Carolina

South Dakota__ 8th 'grade 40 OP Read'andwrite simplesentences in English. Tennessee _do _, No or ...... 7th grade, if 12 and ifservicesneces- 5th grade. sary for stipport. 'tah 12th grade None mentioned. ermont...__ _ _ _ 8th grade 8th grade. 'irginia 7th grade, if employed Washington_ _ _ 8th grade 8th grade, If 14years old.

West Virginia__ 8th grade, unless high schoolwithin6th grade. 2 miles from residence. Wisconsin...... Completion ofmost ad vanCloL coa&seCompletion ofmost advanced in district, if 14yearsofage. °course indistrict.

Wyoming___ _ CM.IMP fit h grade ...... r* 8th grade. kr Plus attendanceat eveningor continuation school.

e WORK PERMITS

IneveryState childrenbetweencertain agei,ugilally14 to 16 (table 2),Milt-be excusedfrom _Attendingscho91 if legally employed,but generallyoncondition thatcertain educationalrequirements have beenmet. Of the 48 States, .

s. . -a loot' "',4;ig.11:a., . )

J..411e !It _ - , COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 17 21 require thecompletionof theeighth grade,3, theseventh gkde,9, thepsixthgrade;1 requiresthe completionof the fifth grade;1 ,requiresthe completionof thefourthgrade; 7 require theabilityto read and w-'rite;and in6 States noprovision isstated.Theeducationalrequirementsfor, work permitsaregiven byStates intable4.

ATTENDANCEATPRIVATEORPAROCHIALSCHOOLS

The compulsoryschoolattendancelaws ofeach of,khe Statesexpress orimplythatchildrenmayattendprivateor parochialschoolsinstead 6fpHblicschools.Some ofthe State laws,however,containthteproviso' thatsuch schools mist be approvedby theappropriatepublic-schoolofficials. * That childrenmay% attendother thanpublicschools isa well-establishedprincipleandonethat has beenupheld f by thecouris.For example,therearosein tileState -ofOregon a casefromalaw passedin November1922, by thevoters of Oregon underthe initiativeprovisionof thtaconstitutionof tkat State;Thi* lawrequiredthat all'childrenbetween8 and16yearsofageshould attendpublicschools.Thisact was,therefore, ineffectaprohibitionofpatronage to private school: E ,Iiildren withinsaidages.Tbis lawwas to become effectiveSeptember1, 1926.On March31, 1924, theFederal districtcourt of theDistrict ofOregonissuedaninjunction (296 Fed.Rep.928) restrictingthe Stateof Oregonfrom enforcingtheactuponthe groundthat itwasunconstitutional. The issuanceof thisinjunctionwasapprovedby theUnited States SupremeCourtonJune1, 1925 (268U. S.571). I Hence theOregon lawwas never put into operation,asit wasdeclared=constitutionalbekethe dateitwas to becomeeffective.Thisde4sionplainlyestablishesthe principlethatchildrenofcompuloryschoolage may attend privateschools. DISTANCEFROMSCHOOL

! Theattendancelawsof 22 Statesprovide forexemptionon account of-distancefromschool.Eighteenof theseStates exempt childrenlivingbeyondcertainspecifieddistancesand 4 Stitt*provide . . - that theschoolauthoritiesmay .ex6u*sess A-

I- `O. . . - . - .

, a 4 g. t . . . y ..,..":1

v , 18 COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS

childrenonabcount of distance.The distance spe_cifiedin miles inthe18 Statesare:

State: mitts Oregon andVirginia California, Florida(2 for children7 to 9yearsofage;3 for children 10to 16), Iowa, G9orgia,Pennsylvania, South Carolina (2for children under12yearsofage;2% for others), WestVirginia, Wisconsin 2 Alabama, Michigan,Mississippi, Texas, Utah 214 New Neexicoand Tennessee 3

North Dakota GM MD ...... _ IM These &stancesdonot& apply if free transportationis provided.The 4 States inwhich the schoolauthoritiesmay excusechildren fromattending schoolonaccount of distance areMinnesota,Montana, Nevada,and North Carolina. It is obviousthat the schoolattendance laws inthe States exemptingchildren livingbeyondaspecified distancefrom school make it liossibleformanychildrento be excused, since ransportationseldom providedfor children attendingone- roomschools.Distance beingafactor influencingschool attendance, itwouldseemthat in ordertoimProvetchool attendance mfrural communitiestransportation shouldbe provided forchildren livingbeyondaspecified distance. paumnitzrorts " that nontransportedchildren living withinamil of theirschools attendmoredaysper yearand moreof themattendmoreregularlythan do children living . between1 and 2 milesor2 and 3 miles.He also showsthat when ruralchildrenaretransportedto their schoolat public expensethey makeamuch betterattendance recordthan whennotransportation isfurnished. Reaviifound" that, inthe absence oftransportation, distance isthestrongest single factorinfluencing theattend- anceofcountry children, andthat children livingmorethan 2 miles fromschoolattend only halfas manydaysaschildren living withina quarterofamile cif school. What'distanceshould'children livefrom schoolbefore transportationis provided? isaquestionnpteasytoanswer. Climate,conditionof roads,ageof children, andother factors It Claumnitt,W. H., Availabilityof Publio4khoolEducation in Rural CommunitiesU. 8. Office of Education,bulletin, 1930,no. 34, pp. 28, 30. " Reavis, tleorgeH., FactorsControlling SchoolAttendince in Rural Schools. NewYork Teachers College, Columbia University,1920, Contributionsto Education No.108,pp. 12-13. eOMPULSORTSCH6OLATTENDANCELAWS 19 .should beconsidered,but, ingeneral, thedistance shouldnot beso greatastocausechildrento attend schoolirregularly. Reavig, inIlis'study,concludes:13 If allchildrenlivingbeyondagiven distanceareto betransported, that distanceshould beone-fourthofamilerather thanamileor more. In theabsence ofsome means ofconveyance, country childrenlivint beyonda quarter ofamile fromschool donot have equaleducational opportunitywith thoselivingnear school. Whateverthe walkingdistancedecidedupon by legislation orschooladministrators,those childrenlivingbeyondthis distanceshouldnot be excusedfromattendingschool,but should betransportedat publicexpense.

CHURCHOBSERVANCE

EightStates tirovidebylegislationexemptionfromschool attendancein orderto attendconfirmationclassesorother churchobservance.TheseStatesareIllinois,Iowa,Michi- gan,Minnesota,NorthDakota,Oregon,SouthDakota,and WestVirginia.Thisprovisionis usuallysubjectto certain 4limitation.Forexample, inIllinoisandMichigan,exemptions forchurchobservancearelimitedto childrenbetween 12 and14yearsofage;inMinnesota,achildmaybeex- emptedfornotmorethan3 hoursaweek, 'findin Oregon,for notmorethan 2hoursaweek inorderto receivereligious instruction.

d CHILDRENOFINDIGENT PARENT8 Whetherchildrenshould beexcusedfromschoolattendance beciuseofpoverty isaquestionthatlegislatorsinenacting compulsoryattendancelawsmust face.Nineteen of the a States liveunder certainconditions-¡rovidedforexemption from schSolattendanceforpovertyreasons, but theseexemp- lions donotas arule applywherefinancialreliefto enable themto attend schoolispubliclyorpiivatelygranted.These StatesareArkansas,Colorado,Connecticut,Florida,Idaho, Louisiana,Michigan,Montana,Nebraska,Nevada,North Dakota,SouthCarolina,SouthDakota,Tennessee,Texas, Utah,Vermont,Washington,andWestVirginia.In Colo- -Lido, Michigan,.Montaria,andNevadaachildmust be14 yearsofage tobeexcusedon acqount ofpoverty of.parents; Is Ibid. 0

'1400 raf 20 COMPULSORYSCHOOLAVENDANCELAWS

in Idahoand Washington,15 in Vermont,15 and completion of ruralschDolcourse;in SouthCarolina,12yearsofagein Texas, thecompletionof the seventhgrade isrequired.It is noted that33 States havemandatory lawswhichprovide under certainconditions relieffor dependentor'neglected children.These Statesare: Alabama Maryland NortbDakota Arkansas Massachusetts Ohio California Minnesota Oklahoma Colorado Mississippi Pennsylvania Florida Missouri Rhode Island Georgia Montana South Carolina Illinois Nevada South Dakota Indiana New Hampshire Tennessee Iowa New Jersey Texas a. Kansas New York Vermont Kentucky North Carolina Virginia Fourteen Stateshave laws ofapermissivetype which authorizepublic educationalrelief fordependentorneglected children.Theyare: Arizona Maine Utah Connecticut Michigan Washington Delaware Nebraska West Virginia Idaho New Mexico Wisconsin Louisiana Oregon Since suchlaws usuallymakeprovisiononly forthe furnishing ofclothingortextbooks, thechildrenof indigentpar- entsmaystill beunableto attend school.Ifparents of children ofcompulsory schoolageneedassistariceitwould seemthat it isnot the duty ofthe children,but ofthe State to give such assistance.It is justasìlecessaryfor children inpoverty to attend schoolasfor childrenof wealth.An argument that might beoffered forpublic reliefof indigent parents who need thesupport of their childrenof schoolage .is thatthe benefit arisingfrom the laborof childrenofcom- pulsory school itgesis short-lived,since theirearningcapacity is small, andif theyareallowedto work duringtheirimmature yearstheir opportunitiesfor earningwillas arule belimited; and in view ofthe factthat thereis littleopportunityfor childrenunder 16yearsofage toobtainemployment,it is obviousthat theycannot do muchto helpearn alivingfor their families,especiallychildrenliving incities.In the COMPULSORYSCHOOLAITENDANCELAWS 21 rural districts,theycanstillhelp byworkingonthefarm,but any farmtenantorfarmerwhoneedsfinancialaidshould not haveto keep hischildout of schooltoearn a few dollars. There should/6esomeotherform ofrelief. Dr. H. Franklin Giddingsraisesandanswers s "Is it thisquestion:'5 rightto takea strong,overgrown boy 13yearsofage frommoney-earningemploymentandforcehimto attend school when, byso'doing,wecompelawidowedmotherto apply to privateorpublicschoolagenciesforhelp,there.b3 making her, andperhapsthe boyalso,a pauper?"Pro- fessorGiddingsconcludesthat theonlyanswer consistent with the policyofcompulsoryeducationitself isthe propos- sition that insuchcases adequate publicassistanceshould be given, notascharity,butas aright.Healso.pointsout deepekrdifficultywhichhasreceivedbutlittleattention. That is thematter of"racesuicide.".Hesays: Large familiesare no longerseen, especially intheso-called class."It isstrange that "middle no one has pointedout theconnectionbe- tween theincreased demand-upon parents tomaintaintheirchildren in school,foregoingthe earningthatchildrenmightaddto thefamily income, andthediminishingsize of theaverage family. * ** The question,therefore,thatweshallhaveto faceandto Shallthe State answer is this: pay parents forkeepingtheirchildreninschool theagesof 10and 14? between Sincethere isno workforchildrenunder16yearsofage the questionmay,beasked,Shallthe&Mepay indigent parents for keeping theirchildreninschoolup to 16years age? of INDEFINITEEXEMPTIONS In17 States childrenmaybeexemptedfromattending schoolfor reasons satisfactoryto theschoolauthorities, JI board ofeducation,superintendent,teacher,or attendance officer.TheseStatesare: Arizona, Colorado(if14yearsofage),Delaware,Florida, Georgia, Idaho (if15yearsofage),Illinois,Indiana,Maine, Massachusetts,Mississippi,NewHampshire(if14years age),'North of Carolina,RhodeIsland,SouthCarolina,Ver- mont, andWestVirginia.The lawsoftheseStates state for usually "bestinterestsof childorforgoodreasons."In Georgia, however,achildmaybetemporarilyexemptedby u Prooeedinpof the National EducationAssociation,1906,p. 112.

.4 aloe' goo" 22 COMPULSORYSCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS

the local boardof education,which is authorizedto take into considerationthe need offarm labor ingrantingexcusesfor childrenin fanningdistricts. It wouldseemthat after certainexemptionshave been named, theprovision "for podreasons" isnotnecessary. SuchaprovisiOnmaybe wiselyadministered,but it doubtless affordsanopportunitytoexcusechildren forreasons not recognized inthe laws ofmanyStates. PROVISIONS FORADMINISTRATION THE SCBOOLCENSUS FUNCTION

Originally thepurposeof the schoolcensus was to afforda basis for thedistribution of Stateschool funds. Thispur- posestill obtainsinanumber of States,but sincethe tend- encyisto distribute State schoolfundsonbasesother than the numberof children ofspecifiedage,the early purposeis not the solereasonforaschoolcensus. Otherimportant purposesof thecensus are: 1. To ascOrtain theamotint of educationalservice thatthe school districtmust provide. 2. To provideabasis fordevelopingaschool building program. 3. To assist in theenforcement of thecompulsoryattendancelaw. One of the firststepsin theenforcement ofacompulsory school attendancelaw is thetaking ofaschoolcensusin orderto ascertain what childrenof compplsoryschoolage arenot in school.That sucha censusisnecessaryis obvi- ous.Everyfearchildrenmovefromoneschool districtto another, and other'sreach theminimumcompulsory atteV ance age.Ifaschoolcensushas beentaken, thepubc, private, andparochial schoolsshould beableto check off promptly thosechildrennot. enrolled.Theattendance officerscanthen easily locatethem anddiscoverthecauseof their nonattendance. . --Asearlyas1873 Supt. JohnD. Philbrick,of Boston, called attentionto the needs ofaschoolcensusthus: Inalarge city it isextremely difficultto executethe lawrespecting the attendance of,children between8 and 14years ofage without the

T`.

P.. r.-gr

01.0" COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 23 aid of some new instrumentality.Thetruant officershaveno means of knowingthewhereabouts ofthosenonattendantswhoare not found wandering aboutthe-streetsand publicsquares. What isneeded register of the isa names,ages, and residencesof allchildrenof thepre- scribed schoolage. Suchregister isfoundnecessary wherevercorn- t pulsory educationis fullycarriedout. Everyauthorityonschooladministrationsincethattime has advocatedthe needofanadequateschoolcensus.For example,the CommissionerofEducationofNew York16 recentlywrote: The basisforenforcementof thesChoolattendancelaws isfound in an accurate censusof the childpopulation.Anattendancebureau cannot functionproperlywithouta record of theessentialfacts concerningeach childin itsterritory.It isnecessary to knowwhat children therearein thecommunity,the datewhen eachchild ßecomes of compulsoryschoolage,and whoisres. z*ble incase he fails to eatir. A schoolcensus eliciting thisinforIs : on should bemandatory in all States.The law requiringit shouldbe clearandspecific,pro4 viding foraccur4cy and efficiency. - Every Statenowprovidesby lawforaschoolcensus.Of the48 States33 provideforanannualcensus, 7 forabien- nialcensus, ifora censusevery3years, 1fora censusevery 4years,3 fora censusevery 5years,and3 foracontinuous census. Althoughevery Stat*providesforaschoolcensus,many schooldistricts ofthecountry donot makeuse4 of it inthe enforcementof theircompulsoryattendancelaws.Insome States it isusedchieflyas abasis forsecuringStateschool funds.It isevidentthat unlessthecensusiscontinuousor takenat least annuallyit is oflittlevalueto theattendance 'officer._Accordingto the WhiteHouseConfereneeReport:" Theadvantagesof checkingan annual enumerationof all of specified persons age against schoolenrollmentisapparent.Suchuseof the census, however, istheexceptionrather thenthe rule.It issur- prisingto find inonecitywhere thereisananniial part of the enumerationas a childaccountingsystem thatdataarenoteven filed alphi- betically.* * *Unlessthere isa central filein which individual's every currentrecord isavailablethere isnoassúrancethatevery child inthe community willbe servedaccordingto hisindividualneed. Otherreports treatingof theenforcementofthe school attendancelaws,especiallyofsurveysof school systems, fre-. 14OrevAlt hank P.,The Administrationof AmerkanEducation.New York, millen Co.,M2)p. 143. The Mao- -17 WhiteHouse Conferenceon Child Healthand Protection,TheDelinquentChild,no- tion II.New York,The CenturyCo.,pp. 388-1189. 24 COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LAWS

quently call attentionto thelack ofanadequate schoolcen- susandto the fact that often littleuseis made ofsuch censusrecordsas areavailable. The committeeonúniformrecords andreports, for example, discovered the following weaknesses in the administration of the school census:18 1. Incomplete and inaccurate information regarding total school population. 2. The informationistemporary and collectedspasmodically. There isnodefinitely organized continuingcensus. 3. The actual school population is not adequatelyorregularly checked with the school enrollment. 4. There is lack of full 000peration between the schoolauthorities o and the nonpublicschotls,making the so-calledcontiimingcensusin most cities merelyacontinuing registration of public-school enrollment. 5. The school rather than the home is made the basis of infórmation for the so-calledcensus. 6. The State schoolcensuslawsarenotmandatoiyinsomeStates; o so no censusisnowtaken in most of the cities in those States. 7. The schoolcensusis usedas abasis foraState appropriationfor school funds rather thanfor the full enforcement of the compulsory school laws and child labor laws. 8. Many school authoritiessee nonecessity formoreaccurate,continuing information regarding the school populationfor which they arelegally responsible. 9. Often there is failureonthe part of school and community agencies to cooperate with the administrativeofficers in maintaining accurate school population statistics. (a) becausethey do not understand and appreciate the significance ofacontinuingcensus;(b) because the careless oi inefficient administration ofthe schools does not inspire confidence andcooperation. A schoolcensusto be effective must be continuous.If the annual schoolcensusis takenasit is inmanyStatesamonth or morebefore the opening of schoolit willnot be accurate when schoolopens,sincesomechildren will in the interim moveinto the school district andothers willmovetoother communities. Afteracompletecensushas been taken byahouse-to- housecanvasit should be kept up-to-dateby adding the namesof the children moving intothe school district and by removing from thecensusfiles the cards of thechildienwho have movedto other districts.The attendance officer, schoolntuses,and others connectedwith the school will be

isReport of CommitteeonUniform Records and Reports. U. 8. Moeof Education,bu1I Ain, 1929,no. 24, p. 40. COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 25

ableto learn ofmanysuchchanges, butit willstill beneces- saryt,o obtain informationfrom othersources regarding change ofresidence,aschambersofcommerce,welfaro associations, andpublicutilitycompanies.

CENSUS AGESAND OTHERDATA Thereare15 differentcensus agelimits used'by the48 States. Thegreatest number ofStates havingthesame _census agesis only14.Theseages arefrom6 to 21year. In 8 Statesthecensus agesarefrom6 to 18years,and in6 States from5 to 21years.The followingtableshows for each ofthe Statesthe schoolcensus ageand thefrequency of enumeration:

TABLE5.Schoolcensus ages and frequency ofenumeration

State 1 Age of childrenenumerated Frequencyf enumeration

Alabama..______6 to 21

Aritona _ _ do 1 _do...... 0. .Annually. Arkansas do Do. California...___ _ . Under 18------Every thirdyear. Colorado _ - - - 6 to 21 Annually(implied). Connect icut. 4 to 17 Annually. Delaware 5 to 18. Biennially. District ofColumbia ___do. Florida A nnually...... _ _ 7 to 18_ _ May becontinuous. Georgia- 410 6 to l& ..... Every 5years.

Idaho AD ea %ID _----- a 6 to 21...... Annually.

Illinois e 40 .1IND MN, M, M.a. _ _ - a 7 to 16 Do. Indianaee 40412. e e e e ee 6 to 21 Do.

Iowa_ 4WD ND M. - -a& M. a aa a a 5 to 21 Biennially. Kansas_ _ _ 6 to 21 Annually.

Kentucky...._M IMMme 6 to 18. Continuing. I4uisLazia..... _ _do Every 4years. Maine _ _ 5 to 21 a e ow a Annually. Maryland _ _ 6 to 18...... - ...... Biennially. Massachusetts__ 5 to 18 Annuarly.

_ Michigan ea40am ab 5 to 20 Do. Minnesota.....______6 to 16 .... _ ...... ,__,_ _ Do. Mississippi...._ma_____5 to 21 1 À Biennially. Missouri _IM4140...6 to 21 Annually. Montanatang'.. 0 .. M 410 ...... Under 21 . Do.

Nebraska...... _MD e eee a 8 to 21 Do. Nevada__.....-- --eeea Under 21 (mustshownum- Annuallyor oftener,as directed ber between6 and 18). by Statesttperintendent. New Hampshire__ 5 to 16_ Annually. A-- New Jersey___MP AIM. 5 to 18. Every 5years. New Mexico__ _ '5 to 21 Annually. New York44".4.., 40 40.0.Under 18 Continuous in1st-, 2d-, and3d- class districts;annually elsewhere. NorthCarolina___ _ 6 to 21 Continuous. North Dakota _do Biennially. Ohio._------5to 18_ ...... Annually. Oklahoma.....a _ 6 to 21 Do. I School admissionage;lio specificages noted in schoolcensus provisions. 127382°-35--3

e 26 COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS

0 TABLE 5.Schoolcensus agesand?frequency of enumerationCon.

"a State Age of children enumerated Frequency of enumeration

Oregon 4 to 21 - ...... a at Annually. Pennsylvania 6 to 16 Do. Rhode Island 4 to 21 Do. South (iina. _ 7 to 16 M...... ' MD M Do. South Dako...... 6 to 21 Do.

. Tennessee 6 to 18 ...... M. MD . ...MD Biennially. Texas do___ _ A nnhally. Utah do_ ___ . . . Do. Vermont do Do.

Virginia 11 ono . _ ... 7 to 20 ...... II M 111, ID Every 5years.

______I 61. Washington_ 5 to 21 . MP Annually. West Virginia____.._ 6 to 21 ,- Do.

. _ Wisconsin ___ _ .__ 4 to 20 I Do.

Wyoming__ __.__._ __ : 6 to 21 Do.

In only1 State, Illinois,arethecensus agesthesame as the compulsory schoolattendanceages.In45 States the minimumcensus ageis less thanthe mi4imumcompulsory attendanceage,and in4 States it is thesame.In 39 States the maximum schoolcensus ageisgreater than the maximum compulsory attendanceage,and in9 States it isthesame. In 22 States theschoolcensus ages arethesame asthe legal schoolage's.In33 States theMinimumschoolcensus age is thesame asthe minimum legalagefor admissionto school, in 11 States itis- less, apd in4 States- it isgreater than the admissionage.In 31 States ihemaximumcensus ageis thesame asthe maximum legalagefor schoolattendance, in15 States it is less, and in2 States it isgreater than the maximum legal schoolage. The foregoingdata showagreat differenceamongthe 'States withrespect to the schoolcensus agesand withrespect to the relation of suchagesto the compulsory and the legalagesfor school attendanCe.Several questionsarise. Should thecensus agesbe thesame asthe compulsory attendance ages?Or should theybe thesame asthe legal school ages?Or should theynot Ve.thesame aseither the legal compulsoryorlegal attendanceages? With iespectto the minimumcensus age,attentionmay be calledto the fact that unless thecensus ageis loss than the legalentranceage,schoorádininistratorscannot have at, hand populationdatato assist them in determiningbuild* programsand other policies. Asto the maximumcensus ageit wouldseemthat since there is littleopportunity for boysand. igirk,under18or

- 110 Damn Mimic MINIM ASIS Mamma STOUR .DEPARTMENT OF BATS CENSUS AND ATTENDANCE BLOCK SCOWL RADS OATS ENTERED CHICKCoat FOR 413 7111 NONE CONDITIONS F. OWEI LANSUMIZ IN sOult COO( 0001-1141TIVITY or COWES 11110411 WWAT OUTSIDE 11C11001.. ARW 241T2 FAT111111 4- I 8* I I I OCCUPATIONsae. V I yin& OTHER crnzam LIPS CHILD. FAMES. AND MOTHER 11I11. a.11041mAnta SCOTLAN Punta O DISK/ ir COO( ROUEN r I OCCUPATION EMIRS T tS AIRO Ole 14.se.17.Is.14. 11011114STJAPAN NUMB CHINAwitatas 40411 TO WHAT OUTSIDE SCHOOL. ARID 05p OT Ovvicge ITuners lams PAnturi SZPILRATID FAT111111 imam= 1 MOTHER REMARRIED SI.Et.111 11111=1.4110 mussels ALSACE L 1. MUSICAL C MENTAL COO( FOR CHIEF cAusa C T. LEFT CITY OF 01011INROLLNINT masons elm aimsWPM um NMI: NAVE IMPS &HT aloe. MIMS. seasISS Ivoiras merle sasAnvga 1 24.al.Lt. 4111ECE AIRVINIASPAIN P. . 4. IS. aI. NOISEPLOT C. I. I.mum sowssMIMI* I I8 toSS ITSs.$ Icernvicill1. IIIST1TWT011 cull 11tAlt VACCINATILS11.4211111110611 IA. 111,111O. SCISOOL C. SISta . AUTHORITY FOR A111 Haar. i 87.111. 11181U10101. otnaAla HOLLAND Tit COOt CAUSE Of PIIIIM117 ISITUDIVHAL 4 RACE LAIR MAXI OF C. WT. C. COMA ç.C. GAM MOVIE MAST DATE Of BIRTH SS. NATIVITY LAST SCHOOL CHECKED IF OUT or GRADE COMPLETED SCHOOL COOKWHYOUTMO. 41.1cITI O. FIGURE 1. WIT TEAS 1 C. I v. I i 111 I' 11-I t.2 11. ployed. abo facts regardingthem 28 above thecompulsoryattendance tendance s. the COMPULSORY It isdoubtfulif "MI young men age Ap a wbo are 4 as SCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS aot and whether inschool a many in school women WORK communities know age above thecompulsory would reveal or whether a certain much FIGURE 2. em- COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 29 The questionmaybe asked,Whyshouldthecensusage spanbe18yearsinsomeStatesandonly9yearsinother States?If thecensusistoserveanypurpose, this it would purpose, seem,shouldbe thesamefor alltheStates.In order to havecompleteinformationregardingtheyoung children andthe youthofacommunitythecensusenumera- tion shouldinclude allpersons under 21yearsofage. ., The school censusshouldmakeavailableinformationon at least thefollowingpoints: 1. The number ofchildrenofcompulsoryschoolage,or better, children ofall ages up to 21years living in theschooldistrictand in eachattendancedistrict. 2. Wherethe childrenlivestreetandnumber. 3. Who isresponsiblefor thechildren. 4. Dateonwhich the childrenbecomeofcompulsoryschoolage. 5. Howmany should be inschool. 6. Howmany are in publicschools,privateand ornot in school. parochialschools, 7.Whetheremployedandotherreasons for 8. Number nonattendance: ofphysicallyandmentally handicappedchildren. The followingcensusrecordcardused ijDenver,Colo., illustratesthe tkpes ofinformationthataschoolcensus department shouldcollectandcompileregardingeachchild in thecity., CENSUSENUMERATORS In several States theschoollawsprovidethattheattend- anceofficer'stake theschoolcensus.Inmost States,however,the boardofeducationisdesignated,butthe work of actual makingtheenumerationisdonebypersons employed by theboard,as, attendanceofficers,teachers,andspecial enumerators. It wouldseem that theenumerationofchildreninlargecities especiallyshould beoneof thedutiesof theattendancedepart- ment, sincethisdepartmentisresponsibleforthe ofthe enforcement compulsoryattendancelaw.Severalschoolsurvey reports indiscussingtheschoolcensus recommend underthe that itbe directionoftheattendancedepartment.For amplethe ex- schoolsurvey report ofHolyoke,Mass.,states:'9 Thekeepingof the schoolcensus shouldbeconsideredoneof the majorresponsibilitiesof the departmentofattendance.Theofficerin " Strayer, et George D.,and others,Report oftheSurvey,of the NewYork,Teachers Schools of Holioke,Mass. College,ColumbiaUniversity,1930,p. 32. 30 COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LAWS

charge of the wholeprogramof attendanceservice should be responsible for seeing that the enumerationsaremade, that supplementaryinforma- ... tion is obtained from timeto time, and that thecensusissomapaged that itis readily accessible to all school agencies whichmayhave occasion touseit. The actual clerical work of keeping tbecensusrecords should be in the hands ofa censusclerk. This clerkmaybe thesame personwho has charge of the other clerical work of theattendance department.This clerk should also be responsible for seeing thatthe lot 'cenausinformation iscomplete and continuing at all times. ,

. . Attendance officers insomecommunitiesare,liòirever, probablynotqualifiedtotakéanaccuratecensus.Dr. Mosher, director of the attendance divsion; NewYork State Department of Education,saysregarding attendance officers asenumerators:2° Where the officer is well equipped for such workbyadefinite understanding of itspurposeand of the need ofaccuracy,speed, and complete- ness,hecanoften performagreat service in causinga censusof superior qualities to be taken. The usefulness in this work of his knowledgeof the school district is clear.Taking thecensusisnojob foranyonewho is physically unfit, who is illiterate,orwho lacks tact and judgment: In manYinstahcesanunderstanding of statistical work and work with lists and card catalogs isnecessary.

Asto the special enumerator, Dr. Moshersays:-21 Unless theyareunder constant ,and competent supervision andare carefully trained the resultsare sureto be disappointing. Inmanycommunities the, eniimeration is efficiently made rio by teachersorprincipals.In regardto teacherstaking the census,Dr. Mosherstates:22

Apamethod it contains valuable elements not foihnd in other plans. The teachers of Binghamton have taken the school.censusfor their city foranumber ofyearsand recently in Troy notably successfuluse wasmade of the plan, while in Baldwin,Bronxville,"Elmira,Lawrence, Lansingburg, Lynbrook, Mount Vernon, Patchogue, Pelham,. Port Chester, Port Washington, Poughkeepsie; -Roslyn, Tonawanda, Water- vliet, Waverly, and presumably other cities and villages,teachèrshave taken thecensuscompletelyorhave done the work assisted by attend- . anceofficers and special pnuniirators. . . . Teachers understaiidcensustaking better than mostothérsavailable asenumerators. By it theyarebmight into touch with the parents of their pupils withoutanyelement ofcriticisImorcomplaintasthereason fortheir visit' but presenting to the parent in opportunity forcoopera. 30 Mosher,CharlesL., Albany, N. Y.,Universityof the State of New York, Bulletin No,

928, 1929, p. 9. . alIbid.,P-'9. 21 Ibid.,pp. 0-7. COMIULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 31 tion. Knowledge ofthecensusand ofthehelpOtcan give inbringing promptlyto schoolforrtgistration thosechildrenrequired tóattend arousesthe interest ofteachers andresults inmore effectiveuseof the censusby them. Teachersare gladto giveevidence of iheirconfidence'n theirsuper- intendent by follos.vinghisleadershipandeffectivelycarryingout his plans in thisconnectionand findthemselvessurprised, has ben when thework completed,at iti3value tothem andtheenjoymentthatthe task hasaffordedthem. Whatevermethodis usedthe enumeralorsshouldbeper- sonswhoare intelligent,whounderstandtheimpoitanceofa schoolcensus,whowillmakeathoroughcanvasof the districtassignèdthem,andwhocanorganizethework thoroughly. ATTENDANCEOFFICERS

,Selectionandquabfication.Schoolattendanceofficers are usuallyselectedbydistrictor county boards ofeducation. InsomeStates bothmethodsareused,thecounty officials selectingtheattendanceofficersexcept in cityandother districtsindependentof thecounty schoolsystem. In threeStates,Florida,Maryland,andWestVirginiA, t e. county school boardsseectattenance oc forte entirecounty.In18 Statescounty schoolofficia:elect attendanceofficersexcept forindependentdistricts. i ese Stafe;sageAlabama,Arizona,California,Georgia,Illinois, Indiana,Kansas,Michigan,Missouri,Nebraska,Ohio,Okla- homa, Oregon,SouthCarolina,Tennessee,Texas,Virginia, andMashington.In thefollowing20 Statestheattendance officers areselectedby thedistrict,town,ortownshipschool boards:Arkansas,Colorado,Connecticut,Iowa,,Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts,Minnesota,Montana,Nevada;New Hampshire, NewJersey,NewYork,NorthDakota,Penn- sylvania, RhodeIsland,SouthDakota,Utah,Vermont,and Wisconsin. InDelaware,withtheexceptionof theindepend- ent districts, theattendanceoffidbrs,knownasschoolvisitors, are appointedby theStateboardofeducation.In Idaho,the attendanceofficersare appointed bytheprobatecourt with the approvalof thecountyconimissionersInLouisiana, the law providesthatreportson truancy bérnadedirèctto the juvenilecourt. InMississippi,thecounty superintendent 32 COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS

o is authorizedto actasattendance- officer and trustees of municipal school districts witf. 10,000populationmay em- 4 ploy attendance officems.In New Mexico, the school officials areauthorized to enforce the law. In Wyoming, the deputy sheriff and constablesareauthorizedtoenforce school attendance,but districts withmorethan 2,000 populationmay appoint aktendance officers. Comparatively few States prescribeeducational qualifica- e tions for attendance officers, the matterbting leftto the boards that appoint such officers.Eight States have, however;set-up educational standards thatmaywell be emulitted by the other States, namely, Alabama, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, however, thelaw doesnotspecify qualifications for attendance officers, but it does provide that school districtsmayemploy home and school visitors in addition.to attendance officers, and _that such homeand school visitors shall be legally certificated. The educational requireimints for attendanceservfce in each of theaforementioned-Matesare asfollows:

ALABAMA Each attendanceofficermusthaveacertificate from the State department of education.Attendance officers must furnish proof of having met requirementsse ythe State department of education before theycanrecte*certificate. The Tequirenientsaregraduation fromastandard college;a yearof 4raining in social work, school attendance, and related subjects; 3 years' successful experience either in teachingorin social work. Three months' training in social work is accepted in lieu of theyearof social workat present and experience is not required of assistants. .

CALIFORNIA In California,anapplicant foracredential in child welfare and supervision -of attendance must present:" I. A certificate fromaphysician licensed to practice medicine and surgerycertifying that the applicant is physically and mentally fit to engagein child welfare and supervision of atteudance.

IsCalifornia StateDePartmentof Education, Division of Teacher Training and Certifica- tion, BulletinNo. ..11-2.p. 51.

480 "NV}

106 COMPULgORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 33

II. Verification ofavalid Californiacertificate,credential,or life diploma of elementaryorsecondary grade. III. A recommendationfrom the departmentof educationofacol-. legeoruniversity accreditedby the California StateBoard of Education, verifying: A. Two yeats of successfulteachingorsocial-serviceexperience. B. Bachelor's degreefromanaccredited collegeoruniversity. The deipartmentof educationmayat its discretionrecommend candidates for the credentialwho have securedstanding equivalent to that required for thedegreeorwho have hadat least 3yearsof experienceas aprincipal, supervisor,orexecutive officerinsonic school system ofmorethan five teachers. C. Fifteensemester hours of workrelating to child welfareandsuper- vision of attendance. 1. Requiredcourses: (a) Schoolorganizationand administrationincluding Cali- fornia schoollaw. (b) Growth anddevelopment ofthe child. (c) Methods of socialinvestigation. 2. General electives:

. Social and economic p roblems. Control ofpoverty. Care of dependents. Social institutions. Immigration. . Socialcasework. StùdiesinstandardEnPliving. Crimeas asocial problem. The ruralcommunityits organizationand institution.

Social psychology. . . Tests and nieasurements. This credential is issuedforaperiod of2yearsandmay be renewed thereafter forperiods of5years uponverification ofat least 5 months of successful experiencein the public schools of California. ILLINOIS

Thecounty superintendent of schools in eachcountyshall appointacounty truant officer who shall beanassistant countysuperihtendent of schoolsand who shallpossessquali- ficationsassuch.Assistantcounty superintendents shall be _personsof good attainment, versed inthe ,principles and methods of education, familiarwith public-school work,and competent to visit schools. r

4 34 COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTEIMANCELAWS

INDIANA24 Specific requirements. AI; A. One-year licenses. Attendance officers' livensq valid for 1year maybe issued to high-school graduates who have completedanapprovedcourse in attendance work inanaccredited Indiana State collegeor university,orthe equivalent. B. Two-yearlicenses. Attendance officers' licenses valid for 2years maybe issued to the following: (1) Graduates fromanapproved 4-year collegecourse(120 semester hours) including at least 6 semester hours in social subjects.In lieu of 6 semester-hours' credit in social subjects, the applicantmayoffer 1year(12 months) of experiencein active social work other than serviceasattendance officer. (2) Graduates fromanaccredited 4-year collegecoursewith service of 1or more yearsin attendance work under theacts of 1921, and withaminimumsuccessgrade of 87 percent.

(3).Persons who have had experienceasatttndance officers under the acts of 1921 of not less than 8years,and who have attaineda successgrade of not less than 95 percent. (4) Attendance officers who have served underthe acts of 1921 not less than 4years,who have attaineda success grade of 90 percentor more,and who offeraminimum of 2 term-hours (or 1semester-hours) credit inanapprovedcoursein attendance work. C. Five-yearlicenses. Attendance officers' licenses valid foraperiod of 5years may be issued to graduates froma4-year collegecoursewho have had 5or moreyears' experienceasattendance officers underthe acts of 1921, and who have attaineda successgrade of 95 percent orabove. .A KENTUCKY

411. The State board of education hassetup64 semester hours of college trainingasthe requirement foranattendance officer's certificate. MARYLAND

Completion of standard 3-yearnormalcourse orequivalent.The attendance officer's certificate is validfor3years, renewable for 4years uponIlividenceof successfulexperience S4 Teacher Training and Licensing in Indiana, Legal Provisions and Regulationsof State Board of Education, prepared under the direction of George C. Cole, StateSuperintendent of Public Instruction, 1932. COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS 35 and professionalspirit and completionofa6-weeksummer termand renewablesubsequently for4-year p(7iodsupon thesameconditions. OREGON Anypersoninadistrict ofanyclass who shall heorwho has been the holderofacertificate valid forteaching in the public schools ofOregon, and who shallsubmit evidencoof knowledge of thecommonsocial problems whichrelateto school attendance,and of Oregon lawsrelatingto compulsory education, childlabor, and-registrationof minors, andability to keep the records of the office andto make such statistical recordsas maybe required of suchsupervisors,mayqualify for the positionof attendancesupervisor; provided,thatany person nowholding the positionoftruant officer sholl, be given1yearin "whivhto qualify for the position ofeAtendance supervisor. PENNSYLVANIA All home and schoolvisitors shall belegally certificatedks such by thedepartment of publicinstruction uptnmeeting such requirementsasshAll be prescribedby theState council of Oucation.The regulationsregarding theircertification are asfollows: 1. A coiltificatof standard grade(college provisionalor permanent, temporaryorpermanent standard, normalschool certificateordiploma) maybe validated authorizingthe holder toact asliorneand school visitoronthe completion of 6 serriesterhours in approvedcoprsesof college grade selected fromthe followinglist,orequivalentapproved courses: Applied sociology. Socialpsychology. Sociology of educationalproblems.Methods ofsocial investigation. Principles of familysocial work. Socjety, andthe child. Problems ofpoverty. Principlesand problemsof child Sovial problems of the family. welfare. Social control. Oka chool administration,including Social hygiene. records Ìndreports and school Social maladjustment. law. 2. A temporary standardcertificate authorizingthe holderto actas home and school visitormaybe issuedtoanapplicanrwhohascom- pleted 4yearsof approvedhigh-schoolpreparationand at least2 yearsofanapproved collegeorpost high-schoolcurriculum including semater hours from the list ofsubjects givenabove.Thistemporary

St, 36 COMpULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS

standardcertificate isvalid for 2years.The firstrenewal ofthis certificateis dependentupon a rating of "low"orbetter.Subsequeht 0,renewalsrequirearating of"middle"orbetter.Thiscertificate will be madepermanentonevidence of 4yearsof experienceon aState certificate,including 2yearsof experienceashome andschool visitoron . a temporary standardcertificate in thepublic schoolsof the Common- wealth. Some citieshavesetup certain educational standardsfor attendanceofficers.Among suchcitiesarethefollowing, 'A together withthequalifications requiredin each:". AKRON, OHIO Civil serviceexamination. ALBA1NY, N.Y Appointedoncertificate ofmunicipalcivil servicecommission-:' BALTIMORE, MD High-schooldiploma, ,2years' trainingbeyond high-schoolgraduation. BOSTON, MASS Required topass an examination given by the MassachusettsCivil ServiceCom- missiononthe State lawwith reference to compulsoryschoolattendance and the employmentof minors. , CHICAGO,ILL Civil serviceexaminationundercivilserv- ice requirements.High-schooldiploma.

CLEVELAND,OHIO_ m m High-schooldiploma.Thesamerequire- ments approvedby civilservice-2 years' trainingbeyond highschool NN:ith' preferencegivento collegegraduate. DENVER, COLO____ _a_High-schooldiploma, plus2 years'training. NoonewithoutA. B. degreehas been employed. DETROIT,MICH A. B. degree. INDIANAPOLIS, IND _ A. B. degree;experienceincasework. LOS ANGELES,CALIF _ State andcounty certificate. MADISON fWIS-- No statedrequirement,but attendance officers haveuniversitydegrees and have hadexperienceassocialworkers. MPHIS, TENN oal_____Allnewofficers mustholda high-school diploma. MILWAUKEE, WIS High-schooldiploma,normal-schooltraining. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN Collegegraduate,plusaminimum of1 yearteachingexperienceand 1year paid socialwork experience. 7 *NEWARK, N.J High-schooldiploma, 2years' successful social welfarevork.

is Los AngelesCity Schools,division ofAttendance andEmploymentof Minors,circuit* 1930. g.

Iry COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 37

NEW YORK, N.Y 11e m V» ow_ _High4choo1 diploma,60 hours'socialwork certificate. OAKLAND, CALIF State credential. PATERSON, N. J Localexamination. PHILADELPHIA, PA Elementaryteachersrequirement, i.e., at least 2yearsofpost high-schoolwork. PROVIDENCE, R. L._ .11M Try tohave themas graduates ofsome school of socialwork. ROCHESTER, N. Y __-- m Collegegraduateor graduate of 2-year normalcourse and 2 .ears' teachingex- perience.Socialservice workdeirable. SAN FRANCISCO,CALIF_ Staterequirements. SEATTLE, WASH A. B. degree;social servicetraining. ST. LOMB, MO Civilservice examination. WASHINGTON, D. C High-schooldiploma, 2years'collegeor normal school. In general,definiteeducationalattainmentsare notrequired ofpersonsappoiritedto the positionofattendance officer.Accordingto the WhiteHouseConferenceReport: . Attendance servicehas sufferedasthe place tofvluich politicalap- pointmentsaremade.It isalso utilizedtocare for superannuated personnel fromother fieldsaswellasother schooldepartments.In onecity itwasexplainedthatoneof theattendanceofficers hadbeena teacher foranumber ofyears,but findingteaching toostrenuousshe had been askedto be transferredto.a lessarduousassignment.In the places visited(17, including7 largecities), withone exception thema- jority ofattendance officerswere over 45yearsofage.Inmostcases, moreover,those in their 'fiftiesand sixtieshad not hadan extended period ofattendance servicebut hadentered thefield latein life. With possiblyfourexceptions,thereare attendance officersin the places visited whohave notcompletedan elementary education.From materi41onschool attendancesecured fromthe countystudy itwas found that insomecounties allthe attendancework is doneby the marshal,members ofthe schoolboard, thesheriff, theconstable,or the policemanonhis regularbeat. By andlargeadefiniteeducational standard is notrequired ofthose selectedto doattendancework. Inastudy " of thequalificationsofattendanceofficersby Ilebler, hefoundpracticallythesameconditionsasdescribed in theWhiteHouse Confereinte Report."Inonesection of _ thecountry " (Eastern),hestates, " itwasfound that36 percent of thecompulsoryeducationofficerswere51yearsof age orolder;35percent had beenengaged inthistype of work for10or moreyears,andnotonehadspentaday during that timeonprofessionalimprovementalthough60percent Liebler,Charles C., Qualificationsand Compensationof PersonsCharged with theEn- forcemeat ofCompulsory Education,Elementary School Journailhvol.27,p. 705.

ç. -

38 COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS had onlyanelementaryedIrcatio'norless, while the last previous occupation of the 43personsreplyingtotheques- tionnaire included,Police officer, realestatedealer, factory worker,meat-, cutter, expressman,glassblower,printer, electrician, andcottonmill worker.Only 6,or14 percent, could byany meansbe classifiedasprofessionally trained; these 6 included 3 superannuatedteachers,amusic teacher with2yearsof high-schdol workand 2: !.-;ina conserva- toryof music." Formerly attendance servicerested almost entirelyupon the idea of co4u1sion, thusemphasizing thepolicepowerof attendance officers.Therewaslittleor nosuggestionas to the social service that attendanceofficers might 'render.The policepowerofanattendance officer,while stillnecessary, is less emphasized,moreemphasis beingplacedupon correc- tive and curativemeasureA. Since school attendanceservice involvesmorethan the chasing oftruantsasthe keeping ofchildren in regular attenda .the discoveryof thecausesof absence, and the study n omeand. otherconditions affecting children attendancofficers shouldbe well equipped fortheir duties through generaleducation and byspecial training in social and child welfarework.The standards set by several of the States,asCalifornia, Indiana,Oregon,orMaryland, should be adoptedineveryState ofthe-Unionif attendance service is to beregardedas asocial problem rather thanone of forcingchildren to attendschool. There has,however, beènatendency to improve attendanceservice by requiringhigher qualifications of attendance officers.In 1926, thelaws in only 3 States provided for the certification of suchofficers, while in 1934 the laws of 8 Statesprovided for theircertification. - The numberof cities prescribingminimum educational requirements forattendance officershas been increasing, find inmanyinstances the minimumrequirements h4ve been raised.In Philadelphia,for example, therewas noscho- lastic requirementuntil 1915 whenahigh-school education wasrequired.Since that time therequirements have increased toseveralyearsof post high-school work.As shown by the changeof the type of theexamination questions used ;#1.

did

COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCE LATS 30.

in that city, it isobvious that itsattendance officersmust he much betterqualifiedfor the work thantheywere notso many yearsago."In 1917, theexaminationwasloaded with questions%hid wouldseemthat workof the attend- anceofficerwasstill largelyofapolicecharacter.Lav examinations includedquestionsonchild welfarein relation toschool attendance,socialcasework, ment:Atesting. Judged by theexaminationquestions used,the position of attendance officer inPhiladelphia hasgrown tothat ofa social workerand educator,ranking closeto teachers in the grade andhigh schools.** The increase inthe requirements for the positionof attendanceofficer insomeof the othercities has been equallyznarlTd, but intoomanyinstancesthere are nowfew requirementsfor the position. Improvewht in$(rrirc ..Nationaland sectionalconfer- encesof .attendanceofficersaredoubtless helpingschool executives andattendance officersrecognizemorefully the scopeand importanceof attendancework.. For example, the NationalLeague ofCompulsoryAttendance Officialsat i:s annualmeetirigs has beenconsideringthe attendance problem in' itsbroadaspectsas aneducationaland social problem.In the Stateof New York"conferencesareheld in nine districts,in each ofwhichanassociation ofattendance and child- adjustmentworkers has beenorganized.Talks by school administrators,psychiatrists, andothers of experience in the field ofchild welfarearepresented.Discussion ishad of questionssentin priorto the meetingorpresentedatthat time.Particularattention is giventhematter ofcontact with communitygroupsand organizationsto whifh attend- anceworkersmust oftenturn when the child's.trouble is foundtolieinfundamentally badorweak homecon- di 4ons." " InIndiana there isaState AttendanceOfficersAssociation which has been affiliatedwith the StateTeachersAssociation. TheState superintendentin hisreport for 1931saysregarding the conferences of thisa&sociation andof sectionalgroups:31)

r DaviS, Frank G.. and Wheeler.Charles A., TheDevelopmentof the Work ofthe advice Officer, Vocational GuidanceMagazine, vcl.II. April 1:111,pi310-313. It I bill 1* Twenty-eight Annual ReportOf the EducationDe;turtm7.1.. A ib3ny. N.Y..Tne Uni veimily of the State of New York.1932. p. 20o. w Annual Report of the Department ofPublic Instructiolyofthe Statet,:1.r.tl-.1Th:;3073l p. 140.

Igo 4 40 COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS

The percent ofattendance atthe annualmeeting isalways high. The members electtheir ownofficers,appointcommittees, initiate discussions,securespeakers,and listento variousreports such asthose of schooladministrators intheir effortsmade tosomodify theschoolpro- gram asto adequately carefor themaladjusted.These State meetings contribute to theunderstandingof the purposeof compulsoryschool attendancenamely, to serveboys andgirls of theschool population whoarenot physically ormentallyadjusted to theregular school routine,orthose1%:holack books,clothing,orparentalcare.Further- more,the Stateorganizationfosters inthe officers an assuranceof the worthwhileness of theirwork and aconfidence intheir ability to carryonattributesessential tosuccessfulleadership. In addition to theState conferencethereareorganized sectional groupswhich hold 1-daysectionalmeetings 3 or4 timesa year.Ten or adozen officersattend eachmeeting,participate in round-table discussions'and studies.Thesesectional meetings areto theattendance workers what thecountyinstitutes wereto the teachersbefore the latterwere°requiredto takeprofessionaltraining.Other school officials frequently attend thesemeetings and areasked to contributeto the program. Maryland is anotherState inwhich thereareconferences of attendanceofficers atwhich suchtopicsasthe following have beendiscussed:Problemsgrowing out %of povertyand pauperism; problems resultingfrom lowintelligenceor indifference of parentsorchildren;problems resultingfrom broken homes;the relationofoveragetoattendance; incen- tives and devicesthatmaybe usedby attendanceofficers for securing betterschoolattendance;underprivilegedchildren and specialeducation andothertopics_of equalimport. Number ofattendanceofficers.Itis difficult tosaywhat thepupil-attendanceofficer ratioshould be.The ,White House ConferenceReportsays,however, " thatifanattend- anceofficer forevery1,500br 2,000children enrolledin public, private,orparochialschoolswereprovided itwould be possible todomoreintensive workinevery casefor which such workis needed."This standardhas_not beenattained in cities havingapopulation of 10,000 ormor6.In the small cities wheretheenrollment isabout 1,500 to. 2,000and whereanattendanceofficer isemployedonfull time,asis often thecase,the ratiosuggested hasbeen attained,but in manysuch instancesthe attendanceofficersarenotqualified for socialcasework. COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 41

The following showsfor 32 the ratio of pupilenrollment in the public schoolto atte dance officer bygroupsof cities havingapopulation of10,000or more:

; Ratio of 1 pupilen- Populationgroup rollment t to at- 'te !time driver

1,000,000 andmore. 3, 483 500.000 to 1.000,0(X)... 4, 330 41\ 100,000 to 54X),000 5, 372 30,000 to 100,000 4, 425 10,000 to 30,000 2, 902

If the ratioswerebaseduponboth public.and private orparochial schoolInrollmenisthere wouldbemorechildren perattendance officer.Ifaratio is usedthe numberof children of compulsory schoolageshouldbe'usedasthe base.However, in determining thenumber ofattendfoce officers needed, otter factors should"be considered,asthe areatobe covered and the attitudeof theparents toward school attendance. Salaries of attendance officers andcost of attendanceservice.The laws ofmostof the Statesprovide thatsalaries of attendance officers be fixed bythe body thqtappoints such officers. The laws ofafew Statesprovide forfees or a perdiem.Theperdiemrates in these Statesare $1 to$3-inGeorgia, $2 in Kansas,$3 in Oregon, and$2 in Vermont. Insomeof the cities of thecountry the salary ofattendanceofficers is equaltdthe salaryof elementaryschool teachers.The following shows themedian salaryofattendance officers and elementary schoolteachers in1933 in cities grouped accordingto population: 31

Median Median salary salary Population of at- of ele- tendance mentary school mor. 0 officers teachers

100,000 andover $1, 971 $1,947 30,000 to 100,000 -1, 817 1,528 10,000 to 30,000 930 1,360 5,000 to 10,000 600 1,217 2,500 to 5,000 806 1, 089 00 al Special salary tabulations, Research Division ofthe National Education Association. Tabulations I-B, II-B, IV-B, V-B, 1933. 17738r:35-4 42 COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS

No dataare atbandto show the salaryofattendance officers inplaceshavingapopulation of lessthan2,500. It is wellknown,however,that in theSmallercommunities the salaryof suchofficers isverysmall. No dataareavailabloshowing thetotalcost of attendance service inthe United Sentes.Howewer, in1932, 28States reportedanexpenditureof$3,278,439 forcompulsory-school attendanceservice.Theamvunt expended byeach of the States reportingwas:

A labama. P . $131, sta New Mexico.. $20, 752 Arizona.._ . .. 12, s.',8 North Dakota__ : 422, 440 Connecticut. _ 57, 129 ...... hio._ --- 234, 1?.0 Delaware. . 1 (1, 767 Oregon__ . _ N. 371 District of Columbia 35, 5s3i; ...... J. Pennsy 1v ania_ __....._ _ _-. 903, 698

: . Florida_ ...... 3S, 053 ; Rhode Island.__ 72, 4)4 ieorgia .- ...... 36, s07 , Tennessee 85, 563 Idaho , 11, om Utah.. _ __ . .- 23, 227 Illinois 31 4, 492 Vermon_ ._ 4, 616 Kentucky_ . 30, 371 Virginia 15, 699 Maine 12. 300 Maryland West Virginia 79, 002 7:i.7o2 W iscoasin 67, 107 . . Montana 20, 129 0 Wyoming_.. . ._.- 5, 990 Nebraska_ . 1, stis New Jersey...... 528,c4i ra' If theStatesnot reportingexpendedin thesamepropor- tion forattendanceservice,the totalwas more than 5million dollars.This is,however,probablyalowestimate,for accordingto data compiledregardingexpendituresforattend- anceservice in215 citieshavingapopulationof10,000or more,theamount expendedin1931-32 forsuchser4cein these citieswas $3,540,226. Thefoflowingshows thetotalamount expendedfor attendanceservice,theoamountexpendedperpupil inaverage dailyattendance,andtheamount expendedperattendance officer forseveralcitiesreporting forthe differentpopulation groupsin1931-32: .%

Total Amount A triount Number amountexpenue.',,expended Size of city of cities expengedperpupilper at- forat- 1 reporting n averagetendance tendancedailyalb service tendanceofficer

N. 2 3 I 4. 5 1,000,000or more 5 i i841 ri07 W. 85 $2, 615 500.000to 1,000,000 . s o 523, 303 .67 2, 492 100,000to 500,000__ _ . _ 61 h38, 418 .43 1, 968 30,000to 100,000 _ - . $4 10,000 to 30,000 277, 307 .36 1, 594 57 54,691 .31 , 912 Total 215 3, HO,226 .61 2, 233 A. COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 43 The higherpupilcostin the largercitiesmaybe dueto severalcauses:(1) Theproblem ofattendancemaybe greater and itmaybe takenmoreseriouslythan inthe smaller cities;(2) salariesof employees,in general,arehigher in the largercities.If datawereavailable forcities of less than 10,000populatio,n,thecostof attendanceserviceper pupil in these citeswould hefar less thanthe31 cents for cities havingapopulatiolibetween10,000 and30,000. 4 REPORTINGTRUANCY

In only29 of the Statelaws is mentionmadeasto when truancy shall be reported.In13 States,reports of absences arerequivdimmediatelyor promptlyIndiana,Iowa, Maryland,Mo.nrana,Nebraska,Pennsylvania,Tennessee, Texas, Vermont,Virginia,Washington,Wisconsin,and Wyoming; in5States,weeklyAlabama,Florida,Kentucky, New Mexico,aridSouth CafOlina;in1 State, SouthDakota, every2 weeks; in7 States,monthlyArkansas,Georgia, Idaho, Kansas,Missouri,Ohio, andOregon; andin3 States, from timeto tin-leIllinois,Michigan,andMississippi. Clearly, if absenteesarereported butonce amontha parent maykeep his childout of schoolas manyas20 days before he is calledto account. Ina. well-ddministeredschoolsystemnochild isout of school 1itn6morethanadayor twowjthoutthe 'Witcher's makinganeffortto ascertain whysuch childis absent.In manyinstancesthe teacherherself isnot in à positionto ascertain thecauseof 'absence,but sheshouldhe heldrespon- sible forreportingabsences whenthecauseof absencvisnot known:The WhiteHouseConferenceReportreads regarding thacliers' ieportingabsences: " Fewsystems hold the4acherssufficientlyresponsible inthematter of attendance.Where effortis madeto judge ofthe efficiencyof t he teacher,'attentionshould begivento her recordofattendance.It is frequentlytrue thatcases cope to the attentionof theattendauce department fromoutsidesources which reveal thefact thatcertain children have beenabsent fromschool whenthecause was illegal and avoidable witkiutbeingreported. Evenalegalabsencemayhe the beginning ofatendencytoward avoidableabsences.One ofthe most frequenttypes of suchcasesis childrenexcludedfromschool because " The White House Conferenceon Child Health andProtection,The DelinquentChild. New York, TheCentury Co.,1932,pp. 391-392.

11.

41111.-

-10 6

4 44 COMPULSORYSCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS

of skin Iiindhead conditions.It is imperativethat these 'casesim- mediately befollowedtosecureneededcare sothat the childmay be returnedto schoolat the earliestpossible time. Faildreto reporttruancymay,however, be dueto the fact that inmanyStates the laws donot definetruancyor indicate howmanydaysapupil 'may beabsent fromschool before heshould be reported.Truancy shouldbe defined either in thelaworprovision shouldbe madeto have it defined by theState departmentof education. Only21 States haveincorporated intheir compulsory attendance lawsanydefinition oftruancy.These definitions arealmostas numerousasthe Statesthatattemptadefini- tion,as maybe notedfrom the following,which showswhat constitutestruancy in the States definingit:

Habitually absent_ _ New Jersey,South Dakota,Wiscon- sin, Wyoming. Without reasonableexcuFe Iowa, Louisiana.Rhode Island.

1 week w. Connecticut,Virginia (inanyiichool month). 7 days, (ir14 half-daysinanyMassachusetts. 6-mcinthperiod. 4 days unexcusedabsenceanyFlorida. mohth. 3 days,orparts of 3 days_ California,Nevada, Kentucky. 3 days,orequivalent_ Pennsylvania,Maryland(within8 consecutive weeks). 2or more consecutive days__ Kansas.

Mora than1 day___ _ _ 01N _ _ Mississippi. One-halfdayor more______Maine. 8 unexcusedhalf-day absencesOregon. inany4 weeks. Defined byState board______North Carolina. WHENTRUANCYMUST CEASE It wouldseemthattruancyorabsence, r aspecified mvber ofdays' absencewithout lawfulexc shouldcease as soonastheparent has beennotified btheattendance officer.Yet only30 States' lawsspecifywhen thechild must returntoschool,and thespecificationsarefar from beinKuniform, vayyingfromatonce to 10 days,ortoa reasonabletime,as may behoted in thefollowingwhiclbshows itthe tinieallowed forreturningto schoolthe childw4hout legal excustuin thoseStatesspecifyingwhentruancy haust cease. Is

ft COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 45 Within10Clays Geoigia. Within 5 days Arkansas,Colorado,Connecticut,Ne- braska,NewJersey,Oklahoma, Virginia,Wisconsin,Wyoming. Within 3days Alabama,Delaware,Mississippi,Mis- souri, Penns'ylvania. Within2 days _ - - Montana. 1 day,"oratonce Florida,Indiana,Kansas,Kentucky, Michigan,Nevada,NorthCarò- lina,Ohio,Oregon,Tennessee, Texas, WestVirginia. Withinreasonable time,or asIdabá,Illinois. soon aspractictible.

PENALTIESFORNONENFORCEMENT Penaltiesfor thenonenforcementof thecompulsoryattend- 1. ancelaws applyto attendanceofficers,parentsorguardians, andteachers.NineteenStatesprovidepenaltiesforattend- anceofficers forfailureto act intruancy.cases. Thefinesvary considerablywithintheseStates.For example,inIllinois. the fineprovided isnot less than$25, in Minnesotanotover $10, in Washingtonfromi2121to $100, inTennesseeremoval from office,in NorthDakota$10 andremoval,as may be noted fromthefollou4ringwhichshows thepenaltiesthatmay be imposeduponattendanceofficers forneglect intheenforce-

ment of theattendance laws: . Removal fromoffice California,Florida,Tennesgee. $10 and removal NorthDakota. .16 Notover$25 and removiil______Iowa. o Not less than$25 _ Illinois. Notover$141110 Arkansas. Notover$10ornotover10 days inMihnesota. jail. Notover$25 Pennsylvania. **Notover$50 Colorado. I. Notover$100 Vermont. a $3 to $20 WestVirginia. $5 to $20 J Oregon. $5 to $25 Wisconsin. $10 to $50 Maine, South Dakota. 411.

$20 to $50. do MDOm* M Ohio. $20 to $100 Washington, e 61. $25 to $50 andremoval__ OM_ _3__Kentucky. The questionmaybe raisedwhether removalfrom office rather thanafine shouldnot be the penalty.In the32 States 46 COMPULSORY SCHOOLArliNDANCE LAWS

that do notspecifyapenalty for failureof officers to actontruancy cases ortoperform the dutiesassigned them, Air theycandoubtless be removedfrom office in thesame manner asother employeesof the board ofeducation. All the State lawsprovide for thepunishment of parentsor guardian's uponconviction of failure tokeep their children in schoolasprovided by thecompulsory attendancelaN%:s. In 5States, Alabama,Idaho,Oklahoma, RhodeIsland, and Utah, the anwunt of fineisnotstated in the law, but thefailure 'of aparent tokeep his childin school is punishableas.a mis- demeanor. The fines thatmaybe imposeduponparentsor guardians N'aryconsiderably. Forexample, in Pennsylvania the fine for first offenseis $2, inIndiana from $20 to $200; and in Mississippi from $1 to$10.The following phows the amountof fines thatmaybe imposed forfirst offense and the States imposing suchfines: $2 Pennsylvania. $5 Texas. $10 New,Hampshire. Notover$5 aegmel. Connecticut, Florida, Maryland,New Jersey,'.NewYork.

Notover$10 IM .1=1. Arkansas,California, Georgia, Ken- tucky, Louisiana,Nevada. Notover$20 Massachusetts. $1 to $10 _ _ Mississippi. $2 toll() _00 ______Tennessee. $5 to $20 Illinois, Iowa, Montana,North Da-

. kota, Ohio. a $5 to $25 Colorado, Delaware, Kansas,North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont,Wyo.' o ming. $5 to $50 Arizona, Michigan,Wisconsin. $5 to $100_____ ------_ Nebraska, New Mexico. $10 to $25 Missouri. $10 to $50 South Dakota. $10 to $200 Indiana. Amount not stated Alabama,Idaho, Oklahoma, Rhode, Island, Utah. In 16 Statesrprincipalsandteachersmaybe fined forfailure to reportabsences.Three States, Alabama, Idaho,aria Kansas,provide forwithholding the month's salary.The fines thatmaybe imposeduponprincipals and teachers and the Statesimposing such finesare asfollows: COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 47

Monthly salarywithheld Alabama, Idaho,Kansas. $5 W South Çarolina. Notover$10 Arkansas,Minnesota. 4 Notover$25 Pennsylvania. $3 to $20 West Virginia. $5 to$20` Iowa, Oregon. $5 to$2:5 Vermont,Wisconsin. $10 to $50 _ _ South) Dakota. $20 to $50 Ohio. $20 to $100 Washington. $25 to S50 ___ Kentucky.

to COURTS OFJURISDICTION Variouscqurts have jurisdictionover truancyorfailureof aparents to comply with theproviisions ofthe attendancelaw. InsomeStates severalcourtsmayhave jurisdidtion,but the justice of thepeace courthas jurisdictionmoreoften than hasanyothercourt.The followingisalist ofthecourts having jurisdiction,together withthe states inwhichsuch courts have jurisdictionever truancy:

Court ofcompetent jurisdiction_ Alabama, 'Arkansas. Countycount, Arizona,Colorado;New York,South Dakota, Texas,Utah, Virginia. Proper court e California, Nevada. Justice of thepeace CoAecticut,Delaware,Maryland, *Ifichigan Mississippi,Missouri, New Mexico,Oklahoma,Oregon, Pennsylvania,Tennessee,Virginia, Washington, . West Virginia,Wis- consin, Wyoming. Juvenile court., Districtof Columbia,Indiana,Kan- , sas,Maryland,Missouri,Nebraska, New York,Ohio, Tennesseé,Vir- ginia, Wisconsin. Any court of jurisdiction___ _ _ Florida; Minnesota. Probate court ofcounty.______Idaho. Court ofpeace Illinois. Circuitcourt k Indiana, Missouri. 0114 Superior court Indiana,Washington. Nearest court ofjurisdiction_7_Kentucky. Court ofjurisdiction______Georgia,Montana,Ohio. A magistrate Maine, SouthCaiolina. s Courts of specialsession _ _ _..New York.

Policemagistrates__ _ _ Mo IN alb aM Do. State attorney North Dakota,Vermont. Districtcourts__ Rhode Island.

. 48 COMPULSORYSC1OOLATTENDANCELAWS

.FORATTENDANCESERVICE ORGANIZATION al* Theorganization forattendanceservice variesfromapart- time attendanceofficer 'insmall schooldistricts to large de- partmentbureausordivisions inthe largecitiès. Generally theattendanceoffic.erorthe attendancedepärt- mentis responsible tothe boardof educationthraugh the superintendentof.scflools.If,however, theattendance division is part ofabureau, itis responsible tothesuper- .intendent of schoolsthrough thedirector of the bureau.In afew instance,especially insmall school systems,attendance service is performedby thesupervising principaland ina few instancesthe serviceis performed byan agencyoutside the school system.The only typeof organization acceptable to authorities onschool administrationis theonein wilich the attendancework is delegatedby the superintendent of schools toanattendance officeror adepartment of school attendanceor a.divisionwithinadepartment, since this typeof organizationrecognizes theprinciple of delegated authority andresponsibility.If there is but,oneattendance officer, heshould be responsibledirectlytothe superintendent of schools; ifthere isadepartment, thechief attendance officer should bedirectly responsible tothe superintendent of schoolsand the otherattendance officers tothe head of the attendancedepartment.If, however, theattendanoe work is partofalarger bureau of childwelfareorofaservice bureau, thechief attendanceofficer should be responsible -to the directorof the bureau. In the Stateshaving the countyunit form of school administration theorganization of the schoolattendance service should follow thesame geneJ-ff:;L:lan used in the cities of the . county.In the States notorganizedonthe county unit plan of schooladministration, but in which county super- intendentsareemployed, the attendancework should also be under thegeneral direction ofthe countysuperintendent. In otherwords, there shouldbe county attendanceofficers directly responsible torthe countysuperintendent of schools tolook after all mattersrelating to nonattendance inthe several school districtsof the county. In theorgarLization of attendanceservice provisionshoUld be made for theclosest cooperation with otherdepartments

tii COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE¡JAWS 49 and agencies.It is doubtful A-hetheranyother department ofaschool system has relationships withasmany,other de- partmentsoragenciesasdoes the attendance de.partnwnt, which, for example, has relations with the superintendentof schools, the principals, the teachers, the children,theparents, the courts, the school and city health departments, employers, welfare aftncies, correctional institutions, andnonpublic schools.These relationships hold foranycityor county schoolsystemwhether it be largeorsmall.Theone attendance officer ofasmall schoolsystem has ptactically the samerelationshipto other school officials andto various agenciesashasalarge attendance department. To illustrate the organization andsomeofthel services performed by attendance departments in thelargeciesthe 4 following brief descriptions of the attendancedepaments in Philadelphia, Pa., Denver, Colo., and Boston, Mas. are presented: Philaddphid.33The following isasummary of theserv- ices rendered by the division of compulsory attendançe: 1. Taking the schoolcensus. 2. Investigation ofcauseof absence referdto the attendance department. 3. Visits to homes, to the schools, and toerriployers. 4. Furnishing information to social sérvice agencies andtomany personsoutside the school system requesting informationin regardto children in school. 5. Interviews with children and parents withaview to making adjustments in the home and in the school. 6. Investigation byaspecial social service staff of childrenwhoare serious behavior problems in the school, of the homes employingchil- dren for domestic serviceonexemption permits, study of children referred foradmassionto the parental school. 7. Referringcasesto magistrates' court. 8. Referringcasesto jrivenilecciurt. 9. Supervision of street trades. 10. Filing records of pupils' witsttrawal from school. 11. Preparation of the monthly and annual reportsonenrollment and attendance. 12. Investigation ofeasesof damage to schoolproperty by school. children. 13. Assisting with relief work for needy families having children a attending school. u Report of the Division of Compulsory Education, Philadelphia, Board of Public Education, June 30, 1933. 50 COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LAWS

14. Junior placement service, including registration ofyoungpeople 14 to 21yearsofage,educational and vocational counseling, issuing employment certificates, vocational guidance and follow-up, and visit- Ingemployers. Denver,Colo.34.--Theattendance department knownasthe censusand attendance department enforces three State laws: Compulsory school attendance law, the child labor law,and the schoolcensuslaw. Thus the work is orgänized into three definite divisions: Census, attendance, andwork certification and placement. Supt. A. L. Threlkeld commentingupon the4work of the Denver attendance departmentsays: In addition to such traditional functionsasenumerating pupils of schoolagein the district, enforcing the compulsory schoollaw, and the like, functions important in themselves,the work of this department includesthaitype of social service which ascertains thecausesof irregular school attendance and attemptsto bring about theneces- sarychangesin the individual, his home,orthe community at largefor the removal of thesecauses.In general, itmaybe 'said that the removal of thecausesof irregular attendanceoftenremovesthe obstacles to the pupil'ssuccessin school.Therefore,the work of this department increases in significanceasit develops techniques insocial service for making those adjastments whichareessential to good. school work. The information concerning the pupilsof schoolageineveryblock of the city which this department keepsonfile and which is available atamoment's notice, is of incalculable value inplanninganeconomical buildingprogram. Thesenewerfunctions of the department ofcensusand attendance Irmandahigher type of trainingonthe part of its personnel, training in various sociological fields in additiontoabroad educational back- ground. This fact the board of educationhas recognized byadopting asalary schedIlefolk the personnel of this departmentwhich recognizes training ande rienceasthese factorsarerecognized in the schedule for teachers. Boston, Mass.The attendance departmentcomprisesa head supervisor of attendance and32 supervisors of attendance. Thirty supervisors are"asiiignedto the work in connectionwith the elementary, intermediate, high, continuation,and eveningschools. One supervisor is assignedto supervise the enforcementof the laws pertaining to continuation andevening school attendanceand theem-

14Organization and Work of the Departmentof Census and Attendance,Denver Public Schools, Monographno. 8, 1930. eik 13 Public Schools ofaMetropolis, General Federationof Women's Clupartment of Education, Boston, Mass.,1932. COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS 51 ployment of illiterate minors.He also makesspecial investigations pertaining to employment and educational certificates.-Onesuper- visor is assignedassupervisor of licensed minors andenforces the general laws pertaining to street trades, and the rules andregulations of the school committee regarding thesame. The head supervisor of attendance is also in chargeofttbe certificat- ing office,whichissues working certificates to all minorsbetween the agesof 14 and 21 who seek employment. Anewcertificate is issued witheverychange of employment' STATE SUPERVISION OF SCHOOLATTENDANCE State school administrators seeing the lackof enforcement onthe part ofmanylocal school officials havefrom timeto time recommended Statesupervision.The followingmay be citedasexamples of such recommendations: There should be connected withthe State superintendent'sofficea special attendance officer whose dutyit should beto cooperate with school superintendent, committees, andlocal attendance officersto the end that all children between theagesof 7 and 15maygive regular attendance at school.This isnecessaryif the full spiritof the lawis observed.36 Administration of the law is entirely inlocal haldsand, hence, is subject to all kinds of neighborhoodlimitations.It is doubtful'whether the law willeverbe effective until ultimateauthority to diroctits enforcement is placed in the State departmentofedAatii4nandpro- vision made for following itupthroughout the State.This wouldbe in harmony with thepower nowvested in the Departmentof Labor in tile administration of the child labor law8.37 The appointment oftruant officers should he madecompulsoryupon boards of eduCation, and in orderto get the best resultsthere should be made provision foraState attendanceofficer whose dutywould be to checkup onattendance throughout the State."

, In several States, however,the State departmentsof educa- tionareendeavoringto keep in touch with theattendance work in the various communitiesof their respective_States. In Alabama, there isaState attendance officer-rin Deras6ro, the State board of educationemploys visiting vteachers;in Connecticut, the State departmentexercises supervisionover attendance throughanattendance office; inIndiana, there is aState board of attendance,which employsaState attend-

Se Report of the State Superintendentof Schools of Maine, 1920-21,p. 22. la Twenty-first Biennial Report ofthe Department of Education.State of Minnesota, 1919-20, p. 11. so Biennial Report of the StateSuperintendent of Free Schools ofWeg Virginia, 192'2-24, p. 67.

drow

4120

01...=01.1111111111MMINI111.1111....- 52 'COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LAWS

anceofficerasits executive; in New Hampshire, the director of child welfare of the State department ofeducation has general supervision of attendance; in Kentucky,there isa State supervisor of attendance; in Maryland, the Statede- . partm'ent ofeducation assignsamember of the staffto act asadviseronattendance problems; in New York, there isan aetendanceand child accounting division in the Statedepart- ment of education; in North Carolina, the State dQpartment of child welfaresupervises the enforcement of theattendance laws; in Ohio, the enforcement of the compulsoryattendance laws, studies of their effects, and the planningof the annual schoolcensus centersin the director of childaccounting; in Pennsylvania, the supervision of theenforcement of the attendance law is centered in the childaccounting and statistics division of the Statedepartment of publicinstruction. The followingarebrief descriptions ofthe organization and work of the attendancegrofficesand bureaus in severalof the State departments of educati6n:

ALABAMA The State school attendanceoffice 6f Alabamawas organized in1928.The function of the officeisto administer the biennial schoolcensusenumeration, theapportionment of the attendance fund,to supervise attendanceprograms,andto make statisticalreports.It supervises attendanceby advis- ing with Cityandcounty attendance officers, by requiring areports, and by assisting in the selection ofattendance officers. Monthly andannual attendancereportsarerequired. 4. CONNECTICI1T In 1869amember of the ConnecticutState Board ofEduca- tionwasappointedtoseethat therewas noillegal employment of children and that eachchild hadat least .3 months' schooling.In 1872aregularagentwasappointed. Thereare17 employees connectedwith the Stateattend- anceoffice:1 director of attendance,7 supervisors of attendance,and9 clerks.The function ofthe State officeis the securing of attendancein accordance withthestatutes of the

e COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 53 State.The leavingcertificatesto childrenareissued bythe Staff) attendance office. No supervisionis exercised bythe State officein citiesand in villages and rural districtshaving attendanceofficers unless conliplaintsarereceived.Where thereare nolocaltruant officers the State officetakescareof the entiresituationbased uponmonthlyreports from each teacher.During theyear 1933-34 the State officeinvestigatedcasesofirre.gular attendance, visited5,836 families and2,757 schools. INDIANA" In 1921 á State boardof attendancewascreated in the State of Indiana.The personnelof this boardis thesame asthat of the State boardof education,which consistsof the State' superintendent ofpublic instruction,the presidentsof Purdue University,the Staie university,and theState normal school,superintendentsof schools ofthe the3 cities having the latest enumerationof school children,3 citizens actively engaged in educationtilwork in the State,atleaM,1 of whom shall beacounty superinVndent of schools,and 3personsactively interestedin aria ofknown sympathy with vocationaleducation;1 of whom shall bearepresenta- tive of employeesand i of employers. Although the personnelof the Stateboard -of attendance and the State boardof educationareidentical, theofficial organizationmaynot be thesame.Whenmatters relating toschool attendancearecònsidered,the State boardof educationconvenes asthe State board ofattendance. Thepowers-and duties of the Stateboard of attendance,are: 1. AppointaState attendance officerand fix his salaryata sum not to exceed $3,000a yearand his dutiesnot otherwisè providedfor. 2. Fix the qualificationsof attendanceofficem 3. Remove attendanceofficers fromoffice for incompetenceor neFlect of duty. 4. Design and requiretheuseofauniform system ofattendance repprts, records, and forms needed forthe full enforcementof the compulsory scho61 attendanceact. 5. Perform all otherAtiesnecessaryfor the full and complete interpretation andenforcement of thecompulsory school attecdance act. 4 19 Stated Indiana, Departmentof Public Instruction, Bulletin No.110, Compulsory Educa- tion, Related Laws, andComments, 1931. s 54 COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS The State attendance officer is appointedby the State hoard of attendance foraperiod of 4years to actasits executive officer.Hispowersand dutiesare: 1. To have general supervisionoverthe attendanceofficers of the State. 2. To visit the various attendance districts of the State,inspect the work of the attendance officers, and investigatethemannerin which the compulsory attendanctact is being enforced. 3. To institute court action wherevernecessary. 4. To make such reports and perform suchother dutiesas are required of him by the State board of attendance. The general supervisionof the attendance' officersis accomplished by the State officer carryingto the local officers the rules and regulations andwishes of the State board of attendance, by counselingwith them and meeting with them in conferencegroups,and by encouraging attend- anceofficerstoemploy approved social service technique. Although the law makes it the province ofthe State boilird of attendanceto"fix the qualifications of attendanceofficers", the board assignsto the State attendance officer the duty of passinguponthe applicant's credentials beforethe licensing division is authorizedtoissue the license. All attendance officersarerequiredto makeareport to the'.State board of attendance semiannually.Thisreport includesanaccounting of fill children movin* intooroutof anattendance &strict, of all children of compulsorYschool agenotenrolled, number of children who have beenabsent legallyorillegally, number of days of absence andcauses, efforts of attendance officerstokeep children in school, and notesoncourtaction. NEW YORK 1 The attendance and child accounting division of the New -York State education departmentwasorganized in1904 to seetoit that all tile children of the Stateareassured the American birthright of in education, whethertheirparents favor itornot. Thereare16employees connected with the division 1 director, 1 assistant to director, i secretary-stenographer, 4 field supervisors,and 3 clerks.The functions of the State attendance officeare:

V. a COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 55

A. Central8tiaeoffice: el 1. Directs schoolcensusand attendanceprocedure inthe school districts comprisingthe State. 2. Providescensusforms andreports, school registers,andother material for schooldistricts. 3. Receives monthly'attendancereports from schooldistricts.Ì 4. Receives monthlyreports from attendanceofficers andchecks onthe employmentof thesameby town boardsand boards of educationasrequired bystatute. 5. Cooperates inthe managementof the Stateassociationof attendance and childadjustment workers.ArrangesaLso for regional andcounty conferences ofattendanceworkers. 6. Proyides pamphletsonattendance and childaccount ingmat ters; i.e.,schoolcensus(compulsory law,attendancedigest, pupil records, schoolrecords, qualificationsof attendanceofficers, responsibility of schoolauthorities inconnection withchildro exempted fromattendance, and others). 7. Directsthe procedureof superintendentsof schoolswhoare4)-. designated bystatuteascertificating officersto issueemploy- ment certificates,vacation work permits,andage certificAtes. 8. Cooperates withother Statedepartments incasesof combined responsibility. B. State fieldworkers: 1. Each supetvisoris assigned 15counties. 2. He supervisesprocedures thereinthrough contactswithsuper- intendents and 'districtsuperintendents incharge andthrough visits to schools. Heattends teachers'and other coriferences. 3. He analyzesthe reports fromhis territory. 4. He assistsschooladministrators in-difficultattendancecases which warrantspecial attention. 40. 5. He assists with schoolcensusplanning whereneeded. The attendancedivision andother State depaitmenti cooperate cloiely.The labor andeducationdepartments have mutualresponsibility inconnection withemployment of children which is meebyconsultation andinterchangeof reports.In particular,the labordepartmentreportscasesof violations found.Health,education, andmentalhygiene departments havefrequentcommonintèrest in Casesof crippledorotherwise handicappedeililaren,epidemics, special healthneeds, and the-like. The child guidanceclinics ofthe mentalhygiene department held in nearly all sectionsof theState eachmonth advise theattendance divisionand localschoolauthorities concerningschool-childrenexamined.-"This serviceispar- ticularly importantwhere smallschoolsystemsor'districts

ol 56 COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS havenopsychiatric service.Need of special class, special course, orinstitutionalcareis oftendiscovered.. The child welfare councilappointtd at the suggestion of the Goverfior includesarepresentative from each department particularly concerned withchildren: Correction, education, labor, mental hygiene, andsocial welfare.Itserves as aclear- ing house. The State attendanceoffice supervises attendance in cities and in villages havingsuperintendents of schools through monthly reports. ofattendance and attendance officers, by correspondence and byvisitation by the directoror a super-

, visor In the rural di§tricts contactis made with the district superintendent.Specialcases aretakenup aswarrant is

found therefor. . The following reportsarerequired from local schoolattendance officersorboards of education: 1. Monthly reportof attendance.

. 2. Monthly report ofattendance officers.These reports include informationontransfers, tardiness, andother items. 3. Annual report on censusand enrollmezt comparison. )4.Annual reportoncompulsory education. r PENNSYLVANIA In 1919 theattendance bureauwasorganized in the Penn- sylvania Department ofPublic Instruction.In 1925 the name waschangediochild helping and accounting bureau and in1933 tochild accounting and statistics division. Originally the bureauwasorganized to standardize attend- anceregulations and to supervise the observanceof theattendance and child labor laws. The office staff comprises 4staff members and i 1 clerical employees. The officeischarged with the duty of 1. Cooperating with schooldistricts in (a)Utilizing child helping agencies in the study and solution of problems of childeare,treatment, and retardation. (b)Local coordination of contacts between the sitol and the home. . - (c) Securingcompliances'with the laws regulating the employment of Minors. 2. Compiling and preparing . (a) Statistical data andrep.orts. s (b) Answers to questionnaires. COMPULSORY SCHOOL ArTEla*NCELAWS 57'1. at. 3. Making available statisticaldata for graduatestudents,taxpayers, associations, and other organizations. 4. Conducting research studies. This divisioncooperates inanumber ofwayswith the division of medical inspectionand the bureauof vitalsta- tistics in the Statedepartment ofhealth, the divisionof family and jchildren's.,work in the Statedepartment ofwel- fare, the bureau ofwomenand children inthe departmentof labormidindustry, and theStateemergencyrelief board.It provides blanks forand supervisesthe issuance ofemploy- ment certificates, farm and domesticservice permits,andage certificates. Attendanceofficers,tiledepartment of laborand industr:* and 19cal policearecharged withthe enforcement of the provisions ofthe child laborlaw. Whenerriployment certificatesareissued foroccupatioxis thatarenot prohibited, minors 14to.16yearsofage areexamined byschoolphysi- ciansto determine their physicalcondition.In district4 havingatotal populationof less than5,000 these physicians areappointed by the Statedepartment ofhealth. Indistricts havingatotal population of5,000or moreboards ofschool directors select the physicianswho examinesuch pupils.

Representatives of thedivision vi'sit . school dis-trictsas oftenaspossible. Eachdistrict submitsattendancereports tothe countyordistrict superintendentmonthly andto the State department three timesa year,through theoffice of the districtorcounty superintendent ofschools.Asummaryof enumeration issent to the State officeannually byeach district andanemploymentcertificatereport semiannually.

SUMMARY ANDIMPLICATIONSOFCOMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE.LAWS One -of-ifilitmoriginalaims of compulsoryschoolattendance lawswasto abolish illiter4cy.While thisaim continues, there isanincreasingawarenessthtitit isnolongerenough that themassesknow merelyhowto read.Education for Modernlife requiresmuchmorethan literacy;it requires someknowledge andunderstanding ofthe fundamentaland unavoidable socialproblems whichsooner orli1teyconfront thegreat majority of your*people.In orderto chieve the practical knowledgeand understanding'exacteby modern 127382° 3.5--5 .1 58 COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS civic obligations it is essentialthat theeducation of youth( should bearegular and continuous processfree from inter- ruptions resulting from irrégultirschool attendance. The extent to, whith-children attend school and theregu- larity of their attendancearedetermined bymany.factors, and for 40hisreasonit is difficult toestimate the relative importance of various featuresof school attendancelaws. Social, economic, racial, andgeographical conditionsinfluence school attendance.Also the type ofschool buildings, equip- ment,roads,transportation,health, teac*g metds,

t. personality ofteachers, and themaintenance/6f kindergtens and part-time schoolsareall influencing factors.Moreover, popular recognition by parentsand children of the valcieof aneducation isnowapparently the strongestfactor inpro- ,- moting school attendance.If inanycommunity the public generallyorthe school authoritiesareindifferent with respect toschool attendance, thebest attendance law willfail to proauce adequate regults. Educational history showsthat nonattendance Andillit4 eracykeêp rpther closecompany.A study of thecompulsory . education laws, nonattendance,and illiteracy stronglyindi-.t. catesintérestingrelationships. A °study 4°ofCornpulsCiry education laws in effectin 1928, together. with the 1930 census,revealed that: ". (1) The 10 States whichranked lowest in the percent of literacyof personsbetween 10 and 20 ygarsofagehad, apparently, less rigid and les8 definitecompulsory school'attendance laws. (2) These 10 States alsoranked far below the average percentin school attendance. (3) The 2 Stateswhich ranked lowest in percentOfliteracy ofpersons also thesame2 States which had,ap- within the stated ages were . - parently, the weakestlaws. (4)Illiteracy and nonattendance Werelargely affected by racial

differences. , (5) Niné of the 10States having apparently lessrigid and definite lawsald manifestedaril'unusually high rate ofnonattendanv and illiteracy among thenative white populationbetween 10 and 20years ofage. Table 6 has beenprepared for thepurposeof summarizing inacomparative/ the main features of Statecom- ,. pulsory schoolattendance lawsas arefound to exist at the .3 Can Better LawsReduce Illiteracy,School Life, vol. XVI, np..7, March 1932. COMPULSORY SeilOOLATTENDANCELAWS 59 4 beginning of1935.The20 featuresheresummarizedaro listed precedingthe table.The totalnumberof States having eachof thefeatures listedis showninparentheses(5, respectively. Ift Provisions Retatingto Attendance,Age,Exemptions, Termof Attendance 1. Minimumcompulkory attendanceageless than 8______(32) 2. Maximumcompu !,y attendanceage16or more------_ - -(42) 3. No exemptionsallowed forpoverty (29) 4. Noexemptions allowedfor distance (26) 5. No exemptionsallowed forindefinitereasons (431) 6. Eighth gradeor more required forwork permit (20) 7. Attendance . 4 required forfullterm (39) . 8-. Nineyears or more attendancerequired (33) i 9. Schoolterm of 8or more months (25) , 10. Attendanceofficers certificated_ 84 , ______...... ______(8)

Provisions for.Enforcement

11. Annualorcontinuous schoolcensus (36) 12. Truancy defined (21) 13. Provideswhen,truancy shallcease.._ ...... ,______(29) 14. Penaltyonprincipalsor teachers for failureto reporttruancy_(16) 15. Penaltyon attendance officers for neglect ofduty OPP (19) 16. Requirestruancy to be _M reportedimmediately___ _ .P .____ _ (11) 17. Requires attendance officersto act immediately_ _.______,...(16) 18. Provides whoshall grant .. exemptions ...... , MO .WI1,... gm e/M. Om (38) 19. Provideswho shallreport truancy_ _ _ . .' II (37) 20. Regularattendance officerrequired (45) The Stateswhich haveanyof thefeaturesabove listedare indicatod in*le6 by X marksplaced inthe columns numberedto correspond withthe order inwhich thefeatures arelisted.For example,the X marksin column2 indicr the Stateshavingamaximumcompulsoryattendanceage of 16or more,whichcorrespoudsto featareno.2 above. 4 .1°

'No

lbw

-46

.6 .

- 60 AiCOMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS TABLE 6.Principal features of school attendance laws

[The features indicated by the numbers in columns 1 to 20 areshownon page59]

ProvLsions relating to attendance ' gge, exemptions, termof attend-Provisions relating to enforcement ance, etc. t State

. .

1 1 1I 4 .5 6 I 7 8 910111 121314I1516; 171 1819 20 [-I I 1 41."...M. .. .1_1_1 aIme.=im

Ala__-,1 xI x___1'x x : x___x______I , x I______i______x x . 12 Ariz ______.___x x l x______I ,___I x.______:______.....1___ x 7 Ark______x x....x x:______' I... _ I!___x I x x___I___x 12 I /I Calif ..... , x i x_,_x 1 x xL.;x x ___!x______x___I___I ix I 12 . Colo...... _ x '...x ..._.._x.._ .__ ___x,___ XI___X.....i.__x I_ I 8

: X ¡ ; x : __i I x.._I : xa XL.______I___xI._x 12 .Conn I,...:I I . Del .x*x.x'61 ....Ixix:xx!_____-_:___x:._ xI....x 11 Fla I xI._ .__ .... ___x 1 x....._.._x i x x....1 x....,___x x x 11

. . _ _ Ga _. x .. _ _ _.._ ___. __ _._____..:___x x 1 x x 5 Idaho I.._x:______xlx.__,___Ix,___ xxi___ ...I x x 10 111____...... xx.xx..._ xxix x___x___Ix:.... x x z 13 Ind______.xxixx'... xxix I x___x.__ __ x x x x 14 Iowa...... :Xx;x___x'._____.x.x______x___xix x 1 I 14 Kans .....x l'I x:x x xlx!x:.__,;x x x xi...... x__x x 16 Ky...... 7,v__i)(Ixxix'xIx'x'.._ixix x__.x x....Iz x x 17 La- __. x.___,....___Ix__,...... __±...x ...... , .._ ...... _ 3 Maine_ ___.__..¡x ; Xix,x.._: xix x'.___Ix. x ___ _ _ix ...... x---1 x 12 Md x:x x1Ix..._x;x ___x sx _ x x I 14 III . .. Mass.._ . _ _ _ _ . . _x x x 1 x . _ ._Ix I x kj,..x x 1 -. x___x 11 1 . Mich x x... __x i___I x x___1___ X x I x...... ,...._...... xx xI 12 Minn______.. ...__ x x.__xixIx...... _.._I.._ ._.x I x..... X x x x 12 Miss - ...... ,,_x x x______....___x x Ix ___I_ _ _ x ___x ., 8 Mo x x x x I xi..»x x 1. i_._x....I_I__....,x xIx 14 1 Mont______x...x xix X ..._x___x x--..-. e...... , x x x 11 Nebr...,.,_..x x _ ... x xIx x x 1.11______x X X 13 Nev 1 x ._ ____x x x X.___._ X x__.__....._-- -....,x x x 11 N.H x x x z..:.I _I x--,...--. --- --.. x...x 8 N. J x x Ixlxix x x ! x ...,.._z x___ _...... _...__x ....._I i 13 N. Mex x x x xL._x 1___ __x _ ..... ___ ..._...._...._x___'8 N. Y . x xix xIxix xziz,__z x___x i 12 N. C. _ x....x .. ._ _ __ _ x x - -,- x X x 8 N. Dak ____.x x . x xIx2..,:.:: ._ ... 3tA I.....x x x 10 Ohio.._____ ._x x x x i x x 1 x.. _x X X x - x x X x 16 Okla X X X X .....I I. . . X ,__ X X x x x 11 Oreg -. X X I...X X X X X X X X x ... X __ X x 17 1, Pa., _ x rx ._ x.._x... . x ilx 1 x x x.._x X x 150. R. I.__ _ ...... x x x X ..X1Xxix x x X_._x 12 .--. S C.._ _ _ . x __,x X X x 5 !-S. Dak_____ - -I. x x.x x...x x ...X x x 13 eTenn _ _ x x x... 3( x x _x ..._ X x...x X x 12 irex , x.._ x x0__ x - - X x 6 TItah ______x...... x x ...x x ...., X X x x 9 Vt x x ...x 1. x ___x x x x X x x 12 Va x. _. _ x . x.._x X z x . _ _ x X X x 11 Wash x x x.I x x ._ _ x x x - X X xx 13

W. Va...... _ _ x x 1 _._x I X x x x x X X x x 13 ri xx.....xx X x 1 X x x 17 Wyo X X X X xi . _ x x x x X X xx 16 10=1 ./111 .. Total._ 324229 26All21 3913325: 8381 212911.4_1911 16381 371 45_

Home and school visitor. A

From a' study of. principalprovisions of compulsory schöcil Attendance laws, together with considerable various Problemsof nonatteadance,onemightexpectsomedefinite conc1usi6nsasto whatlexal provisions give the best results or arethe most desirable.However,anyonewho-is familiar with the varying circumstances which affect sthe. degree of

$à - 4k k.

s -1 anYZI... .41. 1;

11. .. - - - -"-....00- - COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 61 success orfailure ofschool attendanceprovisions willunder- stand thehazardsaccompanyingattempts to formulateany

definite conclusions. , Notwithstahdingthe difficultyof determiningwhat provisions should beincluded inanefficient compulsoryeducation law, the taskoughtnot tc be regardedinsurmountable.It isiobvious thatsomeattendance lawsarein themselves better than others;and it isalso obviousthat nonattendance problemsare morecomplex anddifficult insomecommunities than in others.Thegreatest neect for an.. attendancelaw is wheononattendance ismost difficult toovercome. It is apparentlyaxiomatic thatcertain features tendto raise while otherstendto lowerkhe efficiencyof such lawsa the standard ofeducation whichthey embody.Forexa41*, it is logicalto expect that: (1) A compulsoryschoolattendancesystem which begins with children6yearsofageis likelytosecure moreschool attendancethana systemwhich beginswith children8years ofage. (2) A lawwhich requiresattendance until17or18yRarsof age maybe expectedto produce more.attendaneethanone which requiresattendance onlyuntil14or15. (3) A law_whichrequiresaneighth-gradeeducationfor laborpermits mhy beexpectedto producemoreattendanceor at leastmoreeducationthanalaw whichauthorizesthe issu-P anceof labor permitsuponcompletion ofthe fifthorsixthgrade (4) Moreattaidttace isexpected fromaminimumschool term of 9 monthsthan fromaminimumterm of 7 months. (5) A lawwhich definestruancy and prescribesprompt anddefiniteprocedureonthepart of teachersandtruancy officers indealing withindifferentparents whose children aredelinquent ipschoolattendance is likelyto promote moreschoolattendance thanalaw whichisvagueconcerning truancy and theprocedurefor enforcement. (6) A law whichallows fewexemptions andonly for definite reasons may bezexpectedto producemoreattendance than onewhichexempts fornumerous,vague, orindefinitereasons. (7) A lawwhichprovides foracontinualorat leastan annual school cg.nsuswill enablebetterenforcement of school attendancethanonewtaich providesforabiennial school census. 62 COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS

'(8)A law whichrequires thatall attendanceofficersshall be certified, the State andqualifiedto deal sociologically with indivraualnonattendanceproblemsmaybe expectedto promote better relationship 1;etweenthe homeand theschool thanalaw whichpermits localschool boardsthe freedomto select unsuitableand unqualifiedattendanceofficers. (9) A lawwhichprovides for Statesupervision ofthe enforeement ofschool attendancerequirementsmayberea- sonablyexpectedto promote better schoolattendancethan onewhich leavesthematter exclusively inthe hands oflocal school officials. t- If certainprovisions incompulsoryeducation lawsare regardedasembodyinghighorfairlyhigh standards,it follows thatcertain otherprovisionsmaybe regardedas embodying loworfairly lowstandards;if certainones are regardedassatisfactoryothersmaybe regardedasunsatis- factory.It is indeedinterestingto contrast the varying standardsfound incompulsoryattendance laws.In30 States thecompulsoryschoolattendance lawsapplyto children under8yearsofage,but in only2 of theseto children under7yearsofage. Compulsoryschool attendancelaws which require,ttnd- anceuntil '17.or18 (exemptionsunder certainconditions) have beenoperatingapparentlysatisfactorilyin approximately dozesnStates, and31 States requireattendance until16yearsofage.On theotherhand,5 States still require attendanceonlyuntil14yearsofage.Children who' arepermitted tMedschtol.at 14or15are as arule deprived Ofthe benefitsofahigh-schooleducation andmuch. of the training in thesocial sciences.Thirty-twoStates require9or more yearsof compulsoryschoolattendance (11States require 10 órmoreyears).This insuresto those normallypromoted one,gradea yearsomehigh-schooltraining.Incontrast, 5 States stillrequire only7yearsof schoolattendanceorless. Nine Statesrequirefull-timeattendance for9 months eachyear,andas manyStatesprovide foronly 6 monthsor less compulsoryschool attendanceannually.Most States require fullorconsecutiveschoolattendance whilesome States require80or100 days' attendanceannually. In 8 Statesitappearsthat childrenmay notbe eNempted at'4. from schoolattendanceonaecoulit ofeducationunless they

, COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 63 have completed thetwelfth grade; whilein 6 States itappears that childrenmay. be exempted undercertain conditions uponcompletion ofthe se'venth grade. . In 23 States thecompletion of the eighthgrade is required for labor permits,while in14 States itappearsthat the laws stipulateno morethanafifth grade educationortheyare silentonthe subject. InsomeStates itappearsthat the State schoolsuperin- tendentorthe State board ofeducation is expresslyempow- ered_to supervise and enforce the administratioscf school attendance laws.Among such StatesareAla a) Con- necticut, Delaware,Indiana, Kentucky,Maryland, New Hampshire, andNew York.Under the laws inmanyother States it is reasonabletosupposethat school officialsmay cxQrcise supervisoryoradministrative authorityoverschool attendance.For example,manyState lawsvest State boards of educationorState superintendents ofpublic instruction withauthorityto enforce the general laws relating to education, and inafew States itappearsthat State school officialsmaywithhold the distributionorapportionment of State school fundsfor failureonthepart of local school officialstocarry outthe provisions of theState school law. Inamajority of the Statesthere is littleor noStateor county supervisionoverschool attendanceorthe administration of school attendance laws. Some implications.Beforecompulsory attendance laws wereenactedorstrictly enforcedaparentw ehtirelyat libertyto keep his child out of school forase ng atimeashe mightchoose without its beingnecess:-for himto givea reasonfor the child's absence. IN ntherewereriocom- pulsory attendance lawsaparentuld keep his childat home if he thought the schoolbuilngWasunsafeorunsanitary, orthe teacher poorlyprep:ed for her work,ortourse of studynot ada ted to th& needs of his child.Today, such excuses'arenot accepted.The child is requiredtoahend the school provided,nomatter how inferior itmaybe. Parents, however, havethe option of sending their' childtoa private school, butcomparatively few parents'are financially ableto enroll their children in such schools.Moreover, it shouldneverbe necèssary for themto dosobecause ofa . lack of public-school facilities. 64 COMPULSORYSCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS

e Theenactment of compulsoryattendance lawsimmedi- ately placedaresponsibilityuponthe State andupon every school districtwithin theStateto provide theverybest of school facilities.The upwardextension ofthe compulsory attendanceagesfrom14 to 16or18 has also placed additional responsibilitiesuponthe schools.Many ofthe children between14 and 16yearsofagewho havenot met the requirements of thecourseof study and whoare overagefor their grades wouldnot be in school if theywerenoteompeiftdto be.The schoolsarethus faced withthe problemof caring innewerand betterwaysfor such children. It is obviousthat the State shouldnot compelachildto attend school inabuilding that isunsafeorunsanitary,or a school taughtbyanunqualified teacher,or aschool that doesnot make provision for caringfor the childwho varies seriously fromthe normaltype but who isnotanin- stitutionalcase.Among such childrenpaybe mentioned the hard-of-hearing,the partially seeing,the crippled,the speech defective,the mentallyretarded, the mentallygifted, those of loweredvitality, andthe sociallymaladjusted. For such, specialtypes of instruction should beprovided. In brief, theschoolsystem should accommodateitselfto those compelledto attend school.As forciblystated by Dr. Charles H.Judd:" The schoolsystem which is unableorunwilling toaccommodate itself to theyoungpeople whoarecompelled by law toattend schoolis out of harmouy with thegeneral social order.I daresayothers in this country have heard,asIhave, secondary schoolteachers and principals complaining aboutcertain pupils whomthey describe inthe most opprobrious termspupilswhocomeinto their institutionsas aresult of compulsory schoolattendance laws butareunable to dothe work requiréd.I haveheard these pupilsdescribedas"impossible.?I have heard it said thattheyareuninterested, that theydisruptthe school, and that they renderimpossible the maintenanceof standards .L_ofscholarship.What impressetime,when I hear suchcomme ts, is Thecomplacence with whichmembers of the facultiesofsecndary \schools throw off all responsibilityof these pupils.Itseemsturious \thatany onewho acceptsaposition,as a _ servant of the publkjonthe taff ofasecondary school, shouldoverlook the factthat hisem-

Judd, Charles H., Education and the GeneralSocial Order, The NorthCentriJAssocia- a tioQuarterly, vol. IX, July 1934,pp. 31-32.

- ,

141' COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 65 ployed by societyto solve theproblemwhichcopfrontedthe State when it passedthe compulsoryschoolattendancelaw. Another problemthat hasarisenbecauseof thecompul- ; soryattendance lawsis *whatshall bedoneto keep children of indigentparents in school.Obviouslychildrencannotgo to school withoutclothes,or evenwithout.textbooks."The problem has,however,beenmet to theextent ofauthorizing boards ofeducationto providetextbooksandclothingfor children ofindigentparentssothat theirchildrenmayattend school.Oneor twoStatesprovidethat suchfinancialassist- anceshall be givenaswill equalabout whatthe childmight earnif hewereworking.Michigan,forexample, proMes thatifthe servicesofachild,who isunderdutyto attend school,areabsolutelyrequiredforsupport of himselfor .parents the school districtisauthorized,in itsdiscretion,to grant such reliefaswill enablethe childto Dttendschool. Another implicationof thecompulsoryattendancelaw thatmaybe noted isthat ifall childrenare toattendschool, provision shouldbe madefor thetransportationof thosewho livebeyoridareasonablewalkijngdistancefromschool. Inzeneral, theproblemsthat havearisenas aresult ofthe compulsoryattendancelawscannot besatisfactorilysolved until the schoolsmake betterprovisionsthantheynowdoto carefor each andevery type of child,compelledto attend school.Itmaybe thatwhensuch provisionis madethere will be lessneed forcompulsoryattendancelawsor atleast for fewerattenAanceofficers, sincethe attractivepowerof the schoolmaybe sich thateverychild willwant to be iu atterid- anceat least 200 daysa year. COMPULAORYSCHOOLATTENDANCE PIVVISIONSBYSTATES s. The followingdigest showsfor eachStateimportantlegis- lative proVi8ionsrelatingto attendancein tileregularday and continuationschools inforceJanuary1, 1935: ALABAMA

f. 1. Compulsoryattendance age.Betweenages7 and 16. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.Noniinimumterm fixed bylaw. 3. Minimum attendancerequired.Fullterm. 66 COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LAWS

t Exemptions (a) Aciatiwhose physicalormental condition is suchasto preveRt orrender inadvisable attendance at schoolorapplication to study.Before issuing such certificate of exemption, thesuper- intendent shall requireacertificate from the county health officer in coUnties which haveahealth unit, and fromaregularly licensed, practicing physician in coinities which donot havea health unit, that such'child is physicallyormentally incapacitated for school work. . (b) A child 14yearsofageand upward, who ha4 completed the courseof study of the public schools of the State through the eighth gradeas nowconstituted. (c) Where because of the distanceachild resides from school and the lack of public transportation such child would be compelled to walkmorethan 2miles to attendapublic school. (d) Wherethe child is legally and regularly employed under the provisions of the law relating to child labor, and who holdsa permit to work granted under the terms of said child labor law. 5. Age for admission.Over 6yearsofagebefore July 1 of that scholas-

ticyear. . 6. Age for labor permit.Fourteen to sixteen. 7. Minimum education required for labor permit:Eighth gtade. 8. Continuation school attendance.42No provision.

ARIZONA 1. Compulmory attendance age.Eight to sixteen. 2. Minimum school term required.Eight months. 3. Minimum attendance required.Full term. 4. Exemptions. (a) Completed grammar-schoolcourse. (b)Instruction at home by competent teacher in branches taught incommonschools;orattendance at privateorparochial school taught by competent teachers for full time public schools of the districtarein session. (c) Because physicalormental condition renders attendance inexpedientorimpracticable. (d) For 'reasons satisfactory to board, consisting of president of loCalboard of trusteep, teacher of the child, and probation officer. (e) Children 14 to 16lawfully employed and Attending continuation school.(Attendance at continuationorpart-time school is required for exemption only where such schoolsareprovided.) (f) Sixteenyearsof-ageand employed with the consent of its parents at somelawful wage-earning occupation. 5. Agefor admission.Six to twenty-one. 6. Age forlabor permit.Fourteen to sixteen.

43 Provisions forcontinuation school attendance taken from State Compulsory Attendance Oa. StaildardsAffecting the Employment ofMinors, U. S. Department of the Interior,Office of Education, VocationalEducation, Washington, D..C.,11035: - rt COMPULSORYSCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS 67

7. Minimumeducation farlabor permit.Fifthgrade. 8. Continuationschoolattendance. uired of childbetween 14and 16 regularlyemployed, for5 hoursperweek, 150-hoursper year, and between8a. m.and 6p. m. Part-timeschuolsmust beestablished bydistricts inwhich there shall havebeen issued15 employmentcertificates,unless districtis exempted. Nair ARKANSAS 1. Compulsoryattendanceage.Sevento sixteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.Sixmonths. 3. Minimumattendancerequrred.Onehundredconsecutivedays;full time if insession lessthan 100days.Requiredto enternot later than 2 weeksafter openingof session. 4. Exemptions. 4 (a) Childrenwho havecompleted thecommon-schoolcourse of study, includingthe eighthgradeasolitlined bythecommissioner of education. (b) Instructionin approved"privateorparochialschool." (c) Childrenmentallyor physicallyincapacitatedto perform school duties. (d) Childrenwhoseservicesare needed tosupportwidowed mothers. 5. Age foradmission.Six totwenty-one. 6. Age forlaborpermit.Fourteento sixteen. 7. Minimumeducationrequired forlaborpermit.Fourthgrade. 8. Continuationschoolattendance.Noprovision.

CALIFORNIA 1. Compulsoryattendanceage.Eightto sixteen. 2. Minimumsthoolterm required.Onehundredandseventy days. 3. Minimumattendancerequired.Fullterm. 4. Exemptiou. (a) Instructionin privatefull-time dayschool bycapableteachers; providedthat suchschoolsteach inthe Englishlanguagearid offerinstruction inthe branchesof studyrequiredto betaught in publicschools andprovided .41 that recordofatteridancef pupils be kept. (b)Instructionby privatetutor, in studyandrecitation,foraeast 3 hoursaday for160 dayseach calendaryear,inbranchvof study requiredto be taughtin publicschools;providedthat such instruction begiven in theEnglishlanguageand byperson hold- *, ingavalid Statecredentialfor thegradetaught andthat the instruction shallbe givenbetween8a. m. and 4p. m. 8 (c)Children(certified bylicensedphysician)whose physicalor mentalconditionpreventsor renders inadvisableschool attendance or application ofstudy. (d) Childrenresidingmore than 2 miles fromschool housebynear- est traveledroad; providedthat such children shallbe exempted.

Aril 68 COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS

onlyuponwritten approval ofthe superintendentof schools of the county; noticewhereof shall be filed withthe board of Vir education of the school district. (e) Children between14 and 16 who hold laborpermits. 5. Age for admission.Sixto twenty-one. 6. Agefor laborpermit.Fourteen to sicteen if childis graduate ofele- mentary school.. . Minimum o. education requircd for labor permit.Seventh grade,if child is 15yearsofage;eight h grade if child is 14. 8. Continuation schoolattendance.Requiredof child under 18not subject to day-schoolattendance law, and of childexcused from regular school attendanceonwork certificate for 4hours eac,h week between 8a. m.and 5 P.m.,during regularschoolterm, except: Child who has been graduatedfrom 4-year high school;child physicallyor mentally incapacitated; childwho must renderpersonal service to his dependents;anyminor who wouldslitter if hewerecompelled to attend. Schoolsmust be established in high-schooldistrict having high- school enrollmentof 50personsand ol 2 minorssubject to continuation school attendance. COLORADO 1. Compulsory attendance age.Eightto sixteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.Six months. 3. Minimum attendancerequired.Fullterm; from 8 to 14yearsofage maybe 12 weeks(sec. 266). 4. Exemptions. (a) Childrenover14, if completed eighthgradeoreligible to enter high school in district. (b) Instruction in privateorparochial school for entireschoolyear during which public schoolsarein session indistrict.Sufficient instruction in public-schoolbranches at home bypersonqualified to teach; childsoinstructed shall be subjecttosameexamination asother pupils in district. (c) Children whose "bodilyormental conditiondoes not permit" 1 attendance at school,ascertified by reputablephygician. (d) Fourteenyearsofageand where child's" help isnecessaryfor itsown orits parents' support." (e) Fourteenyearsofageand "where forgoodoauseshown it

»..% would be for the best interests ofsuch child to be relievedfrom the provisions of this act." (f) Compulsory attendancerequirements do notapply in districts where therearenot sufficient accommodationsin public schools to seat children. -5. Age of admiasion.Sixto twenty-one. 6. Age for kbor permit.Fourteen to sixteen. 7. Minimum education required for laborifer mit. Read and write (or attend day school one-half dayperdayor anevening-school). a 8. Continuation school attendance.No provision. 4

a. COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 69 CONNECTICUT 1. Compulsory attendanceage.Sevento sixteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm rcquired.Onehundredand eighty daysof actual schoolsessions. 3. *Minimum attendancerequired.Fullterm. Exemptions. (a)If 14 andlawfully employedand if schoolauthorities (lawn' education sufficientto warrant leavingschoolto work. (b) Where childreceives approvedinstruction elseivhere(hiring hours and term ofpublic pchool. (e) " Mentalorphysical conditionis suchasto rend( roitsinstruc- tion inexpedientor impracticable." (d) Wliere"child is deMituteof clothingsuitable forattending school, and theparentor person having control of suchchild is unable to providesuch clothing." 5. Age for admission.Opento allover6; school officialsmayadn'iit, toanyschosol,childrenover5yearsofage. 6. Age for labor permit.Fourteento sixteen. 7.Minimulieducation required forlabor permit.Completionof sixth gradeorequivalent.(Schoolauthoritiesmay requirehigher qualification.) 8. Continuation schoolattendance.Required of childbetween 14and 16 having employmentfor 4 hoursweekly duringschoolyear between 8a. m.anti 5p. m.,unless he hascompleted theeighth grade orriasbeen excused bysecretaryoragent of the Stateboardof education. DELAWAR e 1. Compulsory attendance age.Sevento seventeen(7 to 16 inWilming- toncity). 2. Minimum schoolterm required.One hundred'and sixty days. 3. Minimun attendancerequired.Fullterm.Children 7to 14must attend .160 days; childrenover14 and nothavingcompleteVeighth grade must attendnot less than 100days. 4: Exemptions. (a) Where satisfactoryevidence isfurnishedto thepróperpublic- school authorities"that suchchild iselsewherereceiving regular and thoroughinstructionduring saidminimum school year" in iubjectsprescribed forthe elementaryschools, and "ina mannersuitable to childrenof thesame age and stage of advancement." (b) Fourteenyearsofageand completedeighth gradeand "legally employed." (c) Where mentalorphysical conditionis suchasto render instruction inexpedientor impracticable. (d) "Cases ofnecessity and legalabsence." 5. Age for admission.Sixtbtwenty-vne. 6. Age for laborpermit.Fourteen tosixteen.

'ROY= .6.. 70 COMPULSORYSCHPOÒLATTENDANCE LAWS

7. Minimum educationrequired for labor permit.Completionof eighth grade. 8. Continuationschoolattendance,Establishzhent ofcontinuation schools not compulsory.(Applicable only to Wilmington.)Re- quired for 4 hoursaweek for 36 weeks (20 hoursweekly while temporarily unemployed) ofchild between 12 and 16 whohas been granted employmentcertificate.Attendance requi'redbetween 8 a. rn.and 5p. m.(8a. m.to 12noon onSaturday).Schools main- tattledduring full periodwhen public schoolsarein session.District having 15or morechildren between 12 and16yearsofageto whom employment certificateshave been issued,must establish continuation school, unlessreleased by the State boardof vpcational education. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 1. Compulsory attendance age.Sevento sixteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.NineMonths(approximately). 3.Minirmumattendance required.Fullterm. 4. Exemptions. (a) Where instructionin privateorparochial school,orprivate* instruction is deemedequivalent by board of educationto the instruction given in the public schools. (b) Any child14yearsofagewho has completedsatisfactorily the eighth gradeorequivalentmaybe excused bysuperintendent, provided such child is actually,lawfully, and regulatlyemployed. c) Excused if it is founduponexamination thatanychild is "unable mentallsor physicallyto profit fromattendance at school: Provided, Nowever, that if suchexamination showsthat such childmaybenefit from specialized instructionadapted to his -t 4needs, he shall attenduponsuch instructions" (d) May be excused forreasonsdefinedasvalid by board ofeducation. . 5. Age for admission. Six.If 6by*November15,mayen'terfirst grade; if 5 bysamedatetmayenter kindergarten. 6. Age for labor pèrmit.Fourteen to eighteen. 7. Minimum education required for labor permit.Eighth gradeif under 16. 8. Continuation school attendanere.No provision.

0 FLORIDA

1. Compulsoryattendance age.Seven to sixteen. 4:1 2. Minimum school term required.Four months; "fewschools inthe State have'so shortaterm." 3. Minimum attendance required."Substantially " fullterm. 4. Exemptions. (a) Any child who has satisfactorily completedthe eifhthgradeor the equivalent acceptable lithe county superintendent. COMPULSORY SOHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 71,

(b) Residencemorethan 2 miles for children7 to 9 andmore than 3 miles for children 10 to 16from'school andnofreetransportation. (c)Instruction inanapproved private schoolwhere recordof attendance is kept. (d) Provided that childmaybe taught by parentorguardianorpri- vate tutoruponwritten authority fromcountysuperintenient. (The county superintendent is authoriZedto grant suchper- mission only incasesof necessity.)Personreceiving suchin- struction must report to county schoolauthoritiesfor examina- tiontwiceeachyear;if such child failsto makesatisfactory progress,Authority for privateinstructionmayhe revoked. (e) Mentallyorphysically incapacitated toperform schoolduties, proof .of such to be shownattendance officer. (f) Any child whose servicesare necessaryforsupportorassistance of widowed motherorother dependeiit shown byaffidavitand other proof to satisfaction of attendance officer. (g) Any child whose parentorguardiancanmakesatisfactory proof that heorshe is unable to providenecessary books and E., clothing,unlessnecessarybooks and clothingshall befurnished by othermeans. (h) "Any unusualcase acceptable to the attendance officer." (i) "Occasional nonattendance * * * amountingto notmore than 4 days, unexcused absence inanyschool monthshallnot renderanyparentorguardian" liableto penalty. (j) Any child 14 properly employedand enrolledina part-time schoolmayat the discretion of boardof educationbe exempted from regular school attendance.(Boards mustexemptwhere . Federal funds and corresponding Statefundsare available for salaries of teachers of part-time schools.) 5. *Age for admission.Six to twenty-one. 6. AO for labor permit.Fourteen to sixteen. 7. Minimum education required for labor permit.Read andwrite,pro- ficiency in certain subjects required. . 8. Continuation school attendance.Required duringregularemploy- 'ment hours for 144 hours pei schoolyearofany child under 1.6 exempted from regular school attendance forany cause exceptphysi- calormental disabilityorcompletion of eighthgrade (attendance at public night school giving equivalentinstructionaccepted). Schools must be established whereverthereare 15 such children exempted from regular school attendanceatauschooior schools

. 3 milesorless apart, and who resideor are employed withinthe at- tendanceareaof such schoolorschools.

GEORGIA 1. Compulsory attendance age.Eight tofourtean. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.Six months. 3. Millimum attendance required.Sixmonths..,-- ..

gear

a .72 COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS 4. Exemptions.4 (a) Completion ofseventh grade. (b) Temporarilyexcused where, "forgOodasons, the sufficiency 1 r of which shallbe determined by localboaril of education." (BoFds, in grantingexcusesto children in -twiningdistrict, q areauthorized to ,consider theseasOns for agriculturallabor awl need of .such labor.) (c) Attendvnceat "some otherschool givinginstruction . ordinary branches of Englisheducation." (d) May betemporarily excused by principalorteacher in cha-rgr "because of badweather, vickness, death inthe child's famil.,

orother reasonable cause." ors (e) Prouided, ThatnoOardianshall he compelledto send such childorchi,ldr6nto school out ofanyother than thefund.; *., belonging to the wardorwards."

. 5. Age for adlniision.Sixto eighteen.'-s*,. , 4, , 6. Age for laborpermit.Fourteento sixteen. .,, 7. Minimum edricaTionrequired for laborpermit.Ability toread and .w,rike simplesentences. 8. Continuationschool attendance.Noprovision.

- IDAHO 1. Compulsoryattendance age.Eightto eighteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.Seven months." 3. Minimum attendancerequired. Fullterni. 4. Ezemptions. (a), Any child 1:;"having completedeighth gradeoreligible toentcr high school in district. (b) Attendancefor similar periodatanapproved privateor

. .parochial school. ?. (c) Any child15- whose help Isnecessaryfor itsown orparents' supportor" where forgoodcauseshown it would befor the best interestof such childto be relieved fromthe provision of this article." (d) Where it isshown that "child'sbodilyormental condition -does riot permitits attendance at'school." 5. Age for admission.Sixto twenty-onib. ..6. Age for laborpermit.Fourteen tosixtéen. 7. Minimumeducation required for laborPermit. in certain subjects,nograde specified. 8. Continuationschool attendance.No provision. r111

ILLINOIS 1. Compulsory attendanceage.--Seven tosixteen.

2. Minimum-schoolterm required.:Eightmonths. . 3. Minimum attendancerequired.Fullterm.

41. s

F db. .16

-,4441 COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 4. Exemptions. (a) Instruction foralike periodin theelementarybranchesina privateorparochialschool. (b) Where child's physicalormentalconditionrendshisor her attendanceimpracticableor inexpedient., (c) Excused fortemporaryabsence forcause by theprincipalor teacher of schoolwhich childattends. (d) Childrenover14yearsofagewhoare necessarilyand lawfully employed during hourswhen publicsehohl isinsessionmaybe excused fromattendanceat schoolby counfy4r.c.itysuperin- tendentontherecommendationof boardof educat:onof district in whichsuch childrenreside. (e) Any child from12to.14 whileattendingconfirmationclasses conductednot less thanmonths inyear. 5.. Age foradmission.Sixto twenty-one. 6. Age forlaborpermit.Fourteentosixteen. 7. Minimum educatioArequired forlaborpermih---TCompletionyr7ghth grade. 8. Continuationschoolattendance.Required,w;hereschoolsare estab- liNhed, of childbetween 14and 18regularly and lawfuqemployed (employmentincludesserviceor assistance at home)for 8hours weeklybetween 8a. m. and 5p. m. on regularbusinessdays (e'wept Saturday afternoons) for36weeks (or for300 hoursif attendanceis confinedto 3months)except kninorwho hascompleteda 4-year secondarycourse.'EfAablishmeMof continuationschools isoptional, not compulsory. INDIANA 1. Compulsoryattendanceage.Sevento sixteen. 2. Minimumschoolterm required.Sixaionths."The practiceis 8 months." 3. Minimumattendancerequired. terkn.

4: Exemptions. _ . (a) Anychild 14 , yearsof fige foldemployedon employment certificate,*whichcannot beobtaineduntilcompletionof eighth grade. Any childso exempted mustreturn to schoolwilitin5 daysafierthe termination. , of theemploymentfor whichemploy- ment certificatewasissued. .. (b)Attendancefor Aimilartimeat "otherschooltaught inthe Englishlanguage whichisopen to the inspectionof localand Stateattendance andschoolofficers." (c) "Anychild found mentallyor physically unfitfor8 ch 001, attendance." , (d) Uponrequest of parent,employmentcertificate issuing(officer mayissuetemporary permitsforcauses other than employment. 5. Agefor admission.Sixtotwenty-one. e 0 6. Agefor laborpermit.Fourttento sixteen;granted onlywhen the laborof the childisnecessaryfor thesuppozt of himselforhis immediate family'. , . -...... 4. 127382 *-35----6 \....,.....

- 12sL1""adaggalliffaimit 5. 74 0 COMPULSORY SCHOOL 'ATTENDANCE LAWS

7. Minimum education requiredfor labor permit.Complttion ofeighth grade.\ 87Continuation schoolattehdance.Local boards of educationor township trusteesmayrequire attendance at continuationschool of child between 14 and 17orbetween 14 and 18 not less than4 hours orTnore than 8 hoursa\eck between 8a. m.and 5p. m.during the saool term.No piovision requiring establishmentof continuation school. .-IOWA 1. Compulsory attendance ag. e.--Sevento sixteen. 2. Minimuni school term required.Thirty-twoNyeeks. 3. Minimum attendome required.Twenty-fourconsecutive school weeks each schoolyear. The boardmayrequire attendancefor full-time when school is in session. 4. Exemptions. 11, (a) Those who have completed theeighth grade9rwhose education qualificationsareequivalent. (b) Those whoare over14 andareregularly employed. (c) " Anyone who is excused for sufficientreasonby judge.otany

a court of record." - (d) " While attendingreligious servicesorreceiving religious .0 instruction." . (e) Reoeiving instruction 4napproved privateschool for like period,orinstruction byacompetent teacher elsewherethan at school. (f) Any child physicallyormentally unabletoAttendschool.,Deaf _ and,blind must attend State institutionfor suchpersons. . . (g)lf school is mbre than2miles from child'shome, unless free ; transportation is furoished. 5. Agefoiradmission.Five totwenty-one. 6.Age° foi.labor permit.Fourteen tc/Oixteen. 7. Minimum education requiredfor Libor permit." Completed IIP a course - of study- equivalentto 6 yearly grades in readiv,spelling, English language, geography, andarithmetic." 8. Continuation 8cho91 attendance.Required,where schoolsareestab- ,) lished, of minasbetween 14 and 16not regularly attendingfull- %time dayskoolornot graduated frog'anapproved 4-yearhigh school,i6r8h'oursweekly betweehla. m.and 6p. m.Eatat;lish- I ment of-confin.uationsch.00jrequired in inclepetidentschool districts situated in wholeorip part inanyCity havingapopulation of 12,000or overirwhhh theremadeor areethployed 15 suChchildren. .i .Establishmentin districts in cities of lessthan 12,000population OptiV *.4 4s. 9 Jia .i KANSAS *): 0 1:11-C5 _ p attendanceage.Seven tosixteen. 2. MinimumAchooltervi required.Eight months.

.Minimum *attendancerequired.-rFull'term. .

a ; ga

t. P. COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS J 75 4: Exemptions. .*4 (a) Child physicallyormentallyhandicapped. (b) Completionof eighth grade.. 5. Age of admission.Sixto twenty-one. O 6. Age of labor pernuit.Fouiteento sixteen. 7. Minimumeducation requiredfor labor permit..Eighthgrade. 8. ContinuatiOn schoolattendance.--Noprovision.

or KENTUCKY 1. Compulsory attendance age.SeN!'ento sixteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm requi7ed.---12Sevenmonths. 3. Minimumattendance requireckFull term. 4. Exemptions. ed . I (a) Graduationfromanaccreditedorapproved highschool. (b) Attendapce regu1ar1N:at privateorparochialschoolapproved by State lioardof educationforaperiod eachyear equal to the term of tlk publicschool andwhen reportsof attendanceof all childrenin such schoolsaresubmitted in themanneriequiredof commonschools. (c) Any childwho is physicallyormentally unfitfor schoolattendance ascertified by publichealth officet. (d) Any child 14and lawfullyemplued. b. Age for admission.Sixto eighteen. 6. Age for laborpirmit.Fou;teento sixteen. 7. Minimumeducation requiredfor labor permit.Completionofseventh grade if 15yearsofage,eighth grade if14years ofage. 8.Continuation.schoolattendance.Requiredof childbetween14 and 16 lawfully andsteadily employedon employment certificatefor not less than 4ormolt6than 8 hoursperweek, between8a, m. and 5p. m. (but not SaturdayafternoonorSunday), duringpublic-schoolterm, .exbept childwho has completedelementary schoolcourse. Estab- lishment ofcontinuation schoolsis notcompulsory. LOUISIANA 1. Compulsoryattendance age.Sevento fourteen. 2. Minimum Ichool(erm required.Sev'enmonths. 3. Minimum attendancerequired.Onehundred andforty days;entire session if less than fit()days. 4. Exemptions.(Theparish schoolboard.to besole judgein allcases.) (a) Completionof sifmentarycourseof study. (b) "Children meniEllyor'Physicallyincapacitatedto perform VIP .school duties. " (c)' Childrenlivingmorethan 234 milesfromaschool ofsuitable grade and for whomfreetransportation isnot furnishedby the a *schoolboard." (d) "Childrenfor whomadequate schoolfacilities havenot been Provided." ., (e) "Children'whose servicesareneeded tosuppOrt widowed mothers."

111

"*** t . r *v- Z.:V:7: 76 COMPULSORY SCHOOLMENDANCE LAWS

-r 5. Age for admission.Six to eighteen. %kb 6. Age for laborpermit.Fourteento sixteen. 7. Minimumeduction requiredfor labor 'permit.Orleans Parishre- quires sixth gradeor8yearsschool attendance;no amount Stalk wide minimum educationexpressly required. 8. Continuation schoblattendance.Attendancemaybe required hy ordinance ofcity, town,orvillage of boys between14 and 16and girls between14 and 18 whoareemployed andwho havenotcom- pleted higiNcbool.Instruction shall hegiven for 144hoursper year. _ Establishmentof continuationschools notktompulory. . Incorpo- rated cities, town§,and villagesmayestablasuch schools. MAINE 1. Compulsoryattendance agoe.Sevento seventeen. 2. Minimumschoolterm required.Sevenarid one-halfmonths. 3. 21frinimumattendance required.Fullterm. 4. Exemptions.-- (a) Sixteenyearsofageandcanread and writelegibly simple sentences in English language. (b) Fifteenyearsofageand hascompleted the eighthgrade. (c) Attendance atprivate ,school foralike period oftime the public school is insessionanCiwhosecourseof study andmethods of instructionhave been approvedby the Statesuperintendent of schools. WI* C. (d) Anychild whosephysicalormental condition akesit 4 "inexpedient"for himto attend. (e)Fifteenyearsofageand ha.s permitto work ingschool hours. (f) May beexcused fornecessary absente." . 5. Age fvradmission.Fiveto twenty-one. 6. Age for laborpermit.Fifteen,unless mentallyunable tomake reasonableprogressin school, inwhichcasework permitmay be granted at 14for nonhazardousoccupations. 7. Minimumedualtion required forlabor permit.Completion'ofeighth gradeorequivalent. 8. Continuationschool . attendance.Attendance iAnotcompulsory faut sZhodismaybe e8tabli8he4for minors between14 and 18engaged in industrialoccupations who 'havenot coinpletti theelementary schoolcourse.Instruction shallcover144 hoursperye'ar.Law defines "continuation" schoolassuch schoolorclassapisOnductesd

during regularworking hours ofperson employed. .No provision requiring establishmentof such schools.° MARYLAND

1. Compulsoryattendance age.-L-Sevento sixteen. - 2. .Minimumschoolterm required.One hundredand eightyactual days. .t. 3..Milkimum_attendance required.Fullterm.

OW.

=-"1-2- COMPULSORY SCHOOLAT,XENDANCELAWS 77 4. Exemptions. (a) Fourteenand fifteenyearsofage, comyleted the elementary schoolcourse(6 grades) andregularly andlawfullyemployed (Baltimore city). Fourteen andfifteenyearsand regularly and lawfullyemployed (23counties).Sincean employment certificate is issuedto t hose only whohave completedt he elementary schoolcourse(7 grades int he counties),those 14 and 15yearsold whohave not completedthecourse maybe* excused for regularand lawfulemployment inagricultureor at home in the 23counties. (b) Where physicalormental conditionrendersinstruction inexpedientorimpractical. (c) May beexcused for "necessaryand legal absence." (d) Where weatheris dangeroustosafelyof child whenin trafisit to and from school. (e) Specialemployment permitsmaybe issuedto children 14 years orolder whoareincapable ofcompleting theelementary schoolcoursewhosecure employment.Suchchildrenare under supervisionof the Stateboard of laborand statistics until 18 yetirs ofage. 5. Age foradmission.Sixto twenty for colored;6 to 21 forwhite. 6. Age for laborpermit.Fourteento sixteen. 7. Minimumeducation requiredfor 'laborpermit.Completionof elementary schools, whichmeansin Baltimorethe sixth gradeand in the counties theseventh grade. 8. Continuation schoolattendance.No provision.

MASSACHUSETTS 1. Compulsory attendanceage.Sevento sixteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.-7-Onehundred andsixtr days of elementary; 180 dayshigh school actuallyin session. 3. Minimum attendancerequired. Fullterm. 4. Exemptions. (a) Fourteenyearsofageand meetsrequirements for_completion of sixth gradeand is lawfullyaul regultrrlyemployed. (b) townsuperintendentmay excuse child 14yearsofagefor profitable employmentat home. (c) Where physicalormental conditionissaltasto renderat- tendance inexpedientorimpracticable. (d) Otherwiseinstructed inamanner approved in advance bythe superintendentorthe school committee;instructionmaybe in private schoolsoapproved. (e) Superintendent,or-teachers apthorizedby himorby the school committee,may excusecasesofnecessary absence for other causesnot èxceeding 7 daysessionsor14 half-day sessions in.any period of 6months.

5. y4ge for admission.ADy age. a °rAge for laborpermit.Fourteen,to sixteen.

p. it78 COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS

7. Minimum education requiredfor labor permit.Completion, ofsixth grade. 8. Continuation schoolattiendance. Required of childbetween 14and 16 regularlso- employedoncertificate,ortemporarily unemployed,or excused for employmentat homeonhome permit.Attendance required 4 hoursaweek for employed children(20 hoursaweek if unemployed) between 8a. rn.and 5p. m. on school days.Con-° tinuation schoolsmust be established whereverthereare200or more minors under 16whowould be required to attend.Schoolsmaybe established elsewhere and, ifso,attendance becomes coinpulsory. MICHIGAN 1. Compulsory attendance age.Sevento sixteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.Seven months. 3. Minimum attendance required.Fullterm; three-fourthsof termif schod1 is maintaineientireyear. 4. Exemptions. (a) Children in non-high-schooldistricts whohave completedthe eighth gradeorWhoareentitled to eighth-gradediploma; if in high-school district,they must attend sChooluntil 16, unless authorized to leave by localauthorities. (b) Receiving regularinstruction in privateorparochial schoolin branchq taught in public school., (c) Children under 9yearsofagearilwho' donot live within 24 miles by nearest traveledroad ofsomepublic school,unless free transportation is furnished. ((I) Any child who isregularly employedas a page ormessenger in either branch of 'the legislature. - (e) Anych'il.c1who is physicallyunable toatteneschcol. (f) Any childover14yearsofagewho hascompleted thesixth grade and whose services'areessential to thesupport of his parentsmay'be excused bylocal schoolauthorities,providing the work themhild is to dodoes not requirea.labor permit;orif ,child is.15yearsofageand is grantedafaborpermit. (g) Children 12 to 14while attendingat confirmationclasses, which attendance isnot to eiceed 5.monthsinany year. 5. Age for admission.Fiveto twenty. 6. Age for labor permit.Fifteento eighteen. 7. Minimum education requiredfor laborpermit.Completionof sixth t' grade. 8. Continuation schoolattendance.Requiredof unmarriedminors under 17 not attending full-timeschool, 8 hoursaweek, exceptchild who has completed 2yearsof high school;child, who wouldbe deprived ofwagesessential forown or family support and .child physically incapacitatedormentally unabletopursupthe school work.Schools must beestablished iridistrictswithaPopulationof 5,000'ormorehaving 50 childreneligible for attendance.Schools maybe established in otherdistricts.

Os. a '41IP 4 '

V A

411 COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 79

so MINNESOTA 1. Compulsory attendanceage.Eiihtto sixteen. 2,. Minimum school term required.--Sevenmonths. 3. Minimum attendancerequired.--rFullterm; providedthatnochild shall be required to attendmorethan 10months. 4. Exemptions. (a) Any child who hascompleted theeighth grademaybe excuaed by the local schodl board. (b) Child attendingprivateorother schoolfor similarperiod, provided all thecommonbranchesare taught in the English langua0by teacherorteachers qualified. (c)District board ofeducationmay excuseanychild whosebqdily armental condition is suchasto preventattendanceat school with profit. (d) May be excusednotmorethan 3 hoursper week to attend religious instruction. (e) "Thtit there isnopublic school withinreasongbledistance of his [child's] residence,orthat conditionsof weatherand travel make.it impossible forthe child to attend;provided,first, that anychild 14 yeitrs ofage or over, whose hejpmaybe required inanypermitted occupation inorabout the homeof hisparent orguardian.maybe excused fromattendancebetween.April 1 and November 1 in afiyyear;but this provisoshall not applyto anycity of the first and secondclass; provided,second, that nothing in this act shall beconstruedto preventachild from being absent from schoolonsuch daysassaid child attelids 'uponinstruction accordingto the ordinancesof somé church." 5. Age for admission.Fi'veto twénty-onc, schoolboardsmayexclude children under 6. 6. Age for labor permit. ento sixteen. 7. Minimum educationrequired for:. laborpermit.Completionof common-schoorcourseorits equivalent inprivate school. 8.. Contiltuation school attendance.Noprovision. MISSSIPPI

6. 4 1.Compulsoryattendance age.Seyento seventeen. 2.. Minimum school term required.Fourmonths. 3. Minimum attendance required. days; fullterm in city districis. . . 4. Exemptions. J s I (a) Completion of grammar:school course or. equivaldnt. . . (b) Instruction in "private, denominational,orparochial day schoorby competentinstruceorfor like period."

% (c) Where the*are"no schools of suitablegrade within 2%miles, ...by theneäresttraveled road, * ** unless free,transportation is furnished." (d) That "the trustees ofanyschool, with theapproval ofthd county superintendent ofedutatiofi,shall have theauthority in

.16

4 80 COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS

the exercise of theirdiscretion to permit thetemporary absence of '6 children from school * -* *in extremecasesof emergency." (e) All children whoarementally and physicallyincapacitatedfor school work. Os, (f) " All countiesthat have heretoforevoted from underthe provisions of thecompulsory school' law shallbe exempt from the provisions of this chapter."These countiesareFranklin, Jefferson, Claiborne, andWilkinson. 5. Age foradmission.Five totwenty-one. 6. Age for laborpermit. Not specificallymentioned. .; 7.1,11inirnum educationrequired for labor permit.None mentioned. 8. Continuation schoolattendance.No provision. 3

MISSOUR I 1. Compulsory attendanceage.Sevento-sixteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.Eightmonths. 3. Minimum attendancerequired.Fullterm. 4. Exemptions. (a) Completionof comMon-schoolcourse or equivalent and has receiveda.certificate of graduationtherefrom. (b) Receiving instructioninaprivate, parochial,orparish school for like period;orregular daily instructionat homeasapproved byacourt of competentjurisdiction. (c) Any child whois mentallyorphysically incapacitatedto attend school. ," (d) Any childwho iF 14yearsofageand isregularly)and lawfully engaged for atfeast6 hours each dayinsomeuseful employment 4 orservice. 5. Age for admission.Sixto twenty. 6. Age for laborpermit.Fourteento sixteen. 7. Minimumeducation requiredfor labor permit.COmpletion ofsixth grade. 8. Continuation,school attendance.Requiredof child under16 lawfully engaged.in 'regular employmentand of minorsunder 18 who have not completedthe elementary schbolcourseand whoAre not attending regularday school, fornot less than 4 hoursperweek between 84.m.and 5p. in.foraperiod not lessthan the regtilar school term.Schools mustbe established indistricts whereinthere arein force. 25employment certificatesfor children-Ainder16,Es- tablishment of schoolmaybe waived bySate boardof vocati9nal education. .. MONTANA 4 1. Compulsory attendance . age.Eight tosixteen. . 2. Minimum schoolterm required.Ninémonths in first-and second- .. class districts; 4months in third-classdistricts.(The cOnstitution requires 6 months ofschool inanydistrict beforethat districtcab qualify for§share in the apportionmenttaieschool funds.)

s 6

I1 111.411k A o

14 COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 81 . 3. Minimum attendancerequired.Fullterm. 4. Exemptions. 21' . (a) Children14yearsofage orover who havecompletedthe eighth grade. (b) Children14yearsofage whosewages arenecessary to the support of thefamily. (c)Attending foralike periodata privateor parochial school,or receivinginstruction athome inrequiredbrancliesbycompetent teacher. (d) Anychild whosebodilyor mental conditiondoesnot permit attendance. (e)If in thejudgment of thtcountysuperintendentthe distance of theschool makesattendance anunduehardship. e 5. Age foradmission.Sixtotwenty-one. 6. Age forlaborpermit.Fourteento sixteen. 7. Minimumeducationrequired forlaborpermit.Completionof eighth grade; butif itieshown thatthewagesof suchchildarenecessary to thesupport ofthe familyof such child,theprincipalor superintendent ofschoolsmay, upon productionofsatisfactoryevidenceof suchnecessity,issuea certificatepermittingemploymentof such childeven though the childmay not have completedtheeighth grade. 8. Continuation schoolattendance.Attendanceis notcompulsory' butcontinuationschoolsmay be establishedinany high-school district forpupilsbetween 14and 21years who have leftregular full-time dayschool for#work. Establishmentofcontinuation school notcompulsory, butboard oftrustees ofanyhighschoolmay establish suchschool. NEBRASKA

"lb 1. Compulsory attindanceage.Sevento sixteen. 2. Minimum whomterm required.Sixmonths indistrictswithless than 10 pupils;9 monthsin districtswith 10or more pupils. 3. Minimumattendancerequired.Sixmonths;in.cityschooldistricts full-termattendanceis required. 4. Exemptions. . - (a) Any childwho has graduatedfrom highschool,4-0 no high school ismaintainedin thedistrict,hasgraduatedfromthe schoolmaintained inthe districtorfromashool ofequalgrade. .(b) Regularattendanceatan approved pri'vate,denomintttional, orparochialday schoolforalikeperiod. (c) Any child.physicallyormentallyincapacitatedfor thework -.done inschool. .(d) Anychild 14yearsofage whose servicesape necessary for his ownstipportorthesupportofothers actually deependentonhim, providedsuch childhascomeetedthe eighthgrade. 5. Ageforadmissfon.Fivetotwenty-one. 6. Agefor taborpermit.Fourteento sixteen.

4. AOP a

g 82 COMPULSOR/ SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LAWS

7. Minimum education required for labor permit.;Completion of eighth gradeorliteracy in English plus attendance at eveningorpart-tiine school. 8. Continuation school attendance.Required of child between 14and 16, in districts where continuation school is maintained, who isregularly and legally employed, fin- not less than 8 hoursaweek, except child who is mentallyorphysically incapacitated and child who has graduated from high school.Continuation schoolmust be established in district having 15 children between 14 and 16 whoare employed. NEVADA 1. Compulsory attendance age.Seven to eighteen. 2. Minimum school term required.Six months; 8 months if funds permit. 3.Vinimum attendance required.Fullterm. 4. Exemptions.

(a) .Completed the elementary and high-schoolcourses. by (b) Any .child whose, bodilyormental conditionorattitude is such asto preventorrender inadvisable attendance at school. (c) Any child who is receivipg under, privateorpublic tutelage, at homeorin schOol, equivalent instruction approved by school trustees. (d) Any child 14 years ofage or morewho must labor for itsown orits parents' support. (eWhere the deputy superintendent shalldeierminethatachild's residence is located fibt such distance from public sOioolasto render attendance impracticableorunsafe. \ . (f) Any "student " betwqrn 14 and 18yearsofageWhohascorn- pleted the *hth grademaybe excused from full-time school attendance and be permitted to enterproperemploymentor Atio apprenticeship, by authority of the board of trustees.

5. Age for admission. Anyage. . 6. Age for labor permit.Fourtee4 to eighteen. 7 Minimum education required for labor permit.None mentioned. 8. Continuation school attendance.Required of employed childre,u between 14 and 18 for 4 hoursaweekbetween8a. m.'and 6 f.).m. 41 during tsublic-school term, except child who has completed 12grades of the grade and high-schoolcourse,child who has completedthe eighth grade and attendance would endfInger the security of employment inahighly desirable and respectable position; child whohas completedeighth grade and is bound toanapprenticeship undera satisfactorycontract; 'child who works at such distance fromschool asto make attendance impossibleorimpracticable; and childphysi- callyormentally incapacitated.Establishmentof continuationschool ;4 isitequifedby districts in which 15 children between 14and 18are employedorreside unless district is released by Stateboard for vocational education. a 4

/lb COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 83 NEWHAMPSHIRE SI 1. Comr?stiryattendanceage.Eightto sixteen. 2. Minimumschoolterm required.Ninemonths. 3. Minimumattendancerequired.Fullterm. 4. Exemptions. .(a) Any-childmore than 14yearsofage who has completedOw elementary schoolcourse. (b) Anychild who hasattendedan approved privateschool for period equalto that of publicschool. (c) Where"physicalormental conditionis suchas to prevent 11i; attendanceorto make itundesirable.." ((1) Maybe excusedfor partof. sessionon stated daysto receive instruction inmusic. I (e) Fourteenyearsofageand excusedbycommi4sionerof education "forsuchperiod:asseems best for the ihterestof thechild" onground thathis"4.velfare"will be bestserved bywithdrawal from school. 5. Age foradmission.Fiveto twenty-one. , k 6i Age for laborpermit.I4ourteento.sixteen. 7. MinNumeducation requiredfor laborpermit.Readand writesimple sentences in English. 8. Continuation school-attendeoce. No provision. I''/EW JERSEY 1.Compulsory attendanceage.Sevento sixteen. . 2. Minimum schooltermréquired.Nine months. 3. Mi7iimumattendance required.Full term.: e 4. Exemptions. (a) Whereachild receivesequivalentinstructionelsewherethan at school. (b) Anty child whois above 14and has completeda course of study equivalent to 5 yearlygrades, andhas beengrantedan age and schooling certificateand is regularlyand lawfully e4mployedin someuseful occupation. t(c) Where itis shown that thementalorbodily 'conditionof the child is suchasto preventattendanceat school. 5. Age/or admission.Fiveto twenty. 6. Age for laborapermit..Fourt44nto sixteen. 7. Minimum educationrequired for laborpermit.-iEighthgrade if14 yearsold,orsixth grade if 15yearsold. 8. Continuation schoolattendance.Requirgdof childbetween 14and 16rAularlyand lawfully employedoncertificate, for6 hoursaweek for 36 weeksa year;and of cr?ildbetween 14 and16 temporarily unemployed, for 20 hoursperweek.Hours ofattendance yustbe regularonschool days between8a. m.gnd 5p. m.Establishment of continuation schoolrequired inanyschool districthaving 20 employed children between14 and 16 towhbm certificateshave been issued.

0-11' 84 COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS

NEW M EX ICO 1. Compulsoryattendanceage.Sixto seventeen. 2. Minimumschoolterm, required.Sevenmonths. 3. Minimumattendancerequired.Full term.' 4.Exemptions. 1 b. (a) Childattendingapproved privatkor denominationalschool foralike period. (b) Anychild residingmorethan 3 milesfrom publicschool and nofreetransportation furnished'. (c) Anychild physicallyormentally unfit. (d)Any child14 andexcused byissuance ofemploymentcertifi- cate. '5. Age foradmission.Fivetotwenty-one. 6. Age for laborpermit.Fourteento sixteen., 7. Minimumeducation requiredfor labvpermits.Nonementioned. 8. Continuationschool attendance.Requiriqlof childbetween 14and . 16 towhombmployment c;rtificatehas beenissued for5 hoursa weekándnotless than150 hoursper year between 8a. m. and 6.p. in. Continuationschools musthe establishedby districtsin whichthere have beenissued 15employmentcertificaesto childrenbetween 14 and 16 unless. districtis releasedfroineitat91ishmentby Statesuper- intendent ofpublic instruction. I t t -.1 N YORK 0").0. 1. Compulsoryattendanceage.Seven tosixteen in alldistricts.;until 17 wherecontinuationschoolsare provided. 2. Minimumschoolterm required.Onehundred andninety days,in- , eluding legalholidays. sit 3. Minimumattendancerequired.Fullterm. 4. Exemptions. " (a) Any childwho isnot inproper physicalor mental condition to attendschool. 4 (b) Childreceivinginstruction inthe Englishlanguage inpublic- va schoolsubjects inapprovedprivateor parochial school forlike period;orreeeivinginstructionelsewhere,equivalenttoth.at given in thepublicschool. (c) Fourteenyearsof ageN,ndregularly andlawfullyemployed. 5. Age foradmission.Fivetolwenty-one. 6. Age for laborpermit.Fourteento seventeen. 7. Minimumeducationrequiredfor taikr perrnit.Coiiipletionof eighth grade if childis 14yearsofage; completion of sixthgrade if childis 15yearsofage. 8. Continuationschoolattendance.Requiredof childbetween 14and 17 notatteliding dayschoolorwho isregularly andlawfullyemployed incities of20,000o'rmoreand inschoaisdistrictshaving 200 .or more employed minorsutcler 17,except high-schoolgraduate; minorphysicallyor mentally incapacitated.Attendance required for_ notless than 4or more than 8 hoursperweek (20if temporarily unemployed)betsreen 8a. m. and 5p. m. (on Saturdaysbetween 8 .0' s

all a

, COMPULSORY SCHOOLATINENTIANCELAWS 85

a. m.and 12 noon).Continuationschool must beestablished in cities and school districtsin which attendanceis requiredasabove specified.dtherplacesmayestablish suchschools andmay require attendance.. NORTHCARtINA

1. Compulsory attendanceage.7Between theagesof 7 and14. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.Length ofterm not stated. 3. Mir iniumattendance requircd.Fullterm. 4. Exemptions. (a) Attendauce at approveciprivate schoolforlike period .is acceptable in lieu of public-schoolattendance.(This isnota statutory provisiCn, butaState boar(lruling.) (b) The principal,superintendent,orteacher in chargeshall have the right toexcuse any child from temporaryattendanceon account of sicknessordistance ofresidence fromschool,or other unavoidablecause which does Dot constitutetruancyas defined by the State ,boardof education. a (c) "The hoard shallprescribe whatshall constitutetruancy, whatcauses may constitute legitimateexcusesfor temporafy nonattendance dueto physicalormental inabilityto attend, and under whatcircumstances teachers,principals,orsuperin- tendentsmay excuse pupils for nonattendance dueto immediate demands of the farmorthe home in certainseasonsof theyear in the several sectionsof the State." 5. Age for admission.Sixto twenty-one. 6. Age for labor permit.Fourteento fifteen, inclusive. I. 7. Minimumeducation requiredfor labor permit.Noeducationalre- quirementsmentioned, hut itunder employment certificate isto be issued 4- such conditions"aschild welfare commission ,r mayprescribe. TheThours of laboraresubject to thefollowing educationrestrictions: Under fourthgrade, 8 hoursperday; above fourth grade,10 hours pqnday. 8. Continuation schoolaltendance.No provision. . r I NORTH DAKOTA 1.,rompuls'oryattendanceage.Seven10seventeen. 2.kinimumschooltermrequirelSevenmonths. 3. Minimum attendancerequired.Full term. 4. Exemptions. (a) Completion of eighthgrade. (b) Instruction in privateorparochial school approvedby the minty superintendent. (c) If child is in suchphysicalormental conditionasto render

attendance inexpedientorimpracticable. d° (d) If child is actuallynecessaryto the'support of the familyas determined by the State'sattorney, iubject to appeal. (e) May be excused under certain conditions. onacCount of distance from school. "*"*

4 ot

edfr -. '4.0- I. 86 COMPULSORY. SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS .16 5. Age for admission.Sixto twenty-one. 6. Age for labor permit.Fourteento sixteen. 7. Minimum educationrequired. for labor permit.ivShallhavecom- pleted eighthgradeorattended school for 9years,excluding kindergarten. J. 8. Continuation schoolattendance.No provision.

01110 1. Compulsory attendance age.-6---8ixto eighteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm requifed:Eight months. 3.MinimUin-iiitendance required.Vullterm.(Not lessthan 32 weeks perschool year.) 4. Exemptions. (a) Graduate of first-classhigh school. (b) Receiving similar instructionfor like period'at-homebyperson qualified to teach subjectstaught in public schoolorin approved private,orparochial school. ructions elsewherethan in públicschool must beequivalent to thatgiven to childrenof likeageand advancement,and for èquivalent numberof hovs

asgiven in publicschool. f. (c) " Uponsatisfactory showingthat the bodily,ormentalcon- dition of the childdoes not permit of itsattendanceat school." (d) Any minor16yearsofageabd employedon ageand, sckooling 11. certificate.(Must continue inemploymentorattend school, unless high-schoolgraduate.) (e) Loralboards of educationmayby resolutionchangeage limits to 7to 18years. (f) A childmay not be required to atten1 high schoolmorethan 4 milesfrom hisorher residence unlesstransportation is furnished.(Attorney general's opinion.) 5. Age foradmission.Sixto twenty-one. 6. Age for laborpermit.Sixteento eithteen. 7. Minimumeducation requiredfor labor permit.Completion ofseventhk. grade. 8. Continugtion schoolattendance.Required .of employedminor between 16 and18 for not leqChan4 hou'rsperweek while insession and notless than 144hours ipryearbetween 7a. nand 6p. onschool days,except child whó would beexempt fromfull-timè'- schoolattendance forcausesother than employment.,Establish- ment of continuationschool not inandatory,but if established minor must attend. OKLAHOMA 1. Compulsoryattendance age.,Eightto eighteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.Three months. 4 3. Minimum attendancerequired'.Two-thirds ofterm.

)4)

Olt

t. COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 87 e 4. Exemptions. (a) If preventedby mentaLorphysical disability. e (b) Any child16yearsofage or more and regularlyandlawfully employed and havingcompleted theeighthgradeorequivalent. (c) Any childift reAri3 ofage or more and havingcom4letedthe fullcourseof instrAtionprovided bythe publicschools ofthe district *here heresides. (d) Attendance atapprovvd"privateorother sclwols"foralike period. 5. Age for admission.Sixto twenty-one.

6. Age for laborpermit.Fourteento sixteeh. ). 7. Minimum educationrequired for laborpermit.Canread andwrite, br child shallhave attendedsomeschool duringtheyear preceding employment for timeattendance isrequiiedunder the law. 8.Continuation school attendance.-j-Requiredof eníployedminor between 16 and'18 ,wheneverpart-timeorconthivatiuntichool ises- tablished indistrict inwhichminor is employed,for 144hoursper year, except minorwhohascoinpletedcommon-schoolcourse plus 2 yearsof high school. Continuation_'schoolmust beestablishedin district where 20minors between16 -and 18areemployed..

OREGON- , -

1."snpul8oryattendance age.--.BetWeentheagesof ,8 and16.43 2.. Minimum schoolterm required.Onehtincife0, andsixty days, exclusive ofholidays, unlessspecificpermission ofthe couritydis-

trict bòundaryboard is givenforalestrruliuberof days.* : 3. Minimum attendantrtquired.--7Fu11term. ., , 4. Exemptions. (a) Childrenja6ingtaught foralike peri9d of time Ina A privateorparochial scho31,suefi briinches as areus.uallytaught"- , in the publicschools...... (b) Childrenwhoarereceiving instru$iop foralike periodof tithe . by the,parentorprivate teacherupori wi¡ttlen permiqsiCm Via couniysuperintendent ofschools insubjects usually ugl'it in .. ..1;" oi- : ... . the Rublic schools. :. . (c) Childrenwho have..a1res4-acciuiledtheordinarybranthes : of learningoffered in the firtat, 8trii'desf." (d) Children-whoare"physicallyunable to aitendschool." (e) Childrénunder 10 ye.arsOwe who residemorethan 1% miles from schooland childrenover lOyears ofagewho residemore than 3miles frompublic school,unlesstransportation isfür- 4 nished. (f) Fourteenyearsold, completedgrammar grades and lawfully employed, andnopart-time schoolprovided.

tipact authorizingthe creation ofparental schoplsin districts with20,000 (Portland44. school distrlitonl y)or more children of schoolage (acts of 1917, ch. 242), by defininganhabitual truant to be "Achild between7 and 16years of age who wilfullyanAabituallirabsents himself 'fromschool "apparently lowers thisage from 8 to 7years.4.

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1* ." IN 88 COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS

a (g) May be excused,onapplication of parentsorguardian, fora period not to exceed120 minutesperweek " to attend lkeek-day schools giving instruction in religion." 5. Age for admission.Sixto twenty-one. ,. 6. Age for labor permit.Fourteento eighteen. 7. Minimumeducation required for labor board permit.Can readand write simplesentences; is familiar with the fundamentaloperations of arithmetic to andincluding fractions; and attended schoolnot less than 160 days 'duringschoolyearprevious to arrivingat theageof 14years. 8. Continuation schoolattendance.Required of employedchild.between 16 and 18 fornot less than s hoursaweekor180 hoursa year belween

6L' 8a. m.and 6p. m., exceptchild who has completed theeighth grade; child who isattendinganevening school foranequivalent time. Continuationschool to he established by schooldistrict in which Ogre resideor areemployed,orbotli,15 employed childrenbetween 14 and 18, unlessdistrict is excused by the Statesuperintendent of public instruction. PENNSVLVANIA

10.

so. 1. Compulsory :17 attendance age.Eight to sixteen. 2. Minimumschool term required.One hundred andsixty. daye; dis- 44. tricts havingatotal population of 5,000or more, 180 days; all high schools,180 days. 3. Minimumattendance required.Full term.. 4. Exemplions. (a) Any child whois 14or more,"has completeda course of study equivalent to 6 yearly grades ófpublic school", isregularly employed, and whose employerholdsanemploymentcertificate for him. (b) Attendsfor like timeanapproved private schooland receives instruction equivalentto that given inPublicschools.Iristruc- a tion in the requiredsubjects must be givenin the English languáge. (c) Receives regulardaily instruction giyenin the Englishlanguage for like time byaproperly qualified privatetutor, if satisfactory to local superintendent'. (d) Has been excused"on aceount ofanymental, physical',orother' urgent reasons" by board ofschool directors. (e) Lives 2milesor morefrom the nearestpublic school,by the nearest traveled road,unless freetransportation isfurnished. (f) Is 14or more . and is engaged infarm work,ordomesticservice inaprivate homeonpermit issuedby school boardordesignated school official.The Statedepartmentrequires thatsuch child must have "completeda courseof study equivalentto 6 yearly grades of the publicschools." 5. Age for admission.Sixto twenty-one. 43. Age for labor permit.Fourteento sixteen. COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 89

7. Minimum educationrequired for laborpermit.Completionofa courseof study equivalentto 6 yearly grádes ofthe public school. 8. Continuation schoolattendance.Requiredof employedchild between 14anewfor the equivalentof not lessThan 8 hoursaweek between '8a. m.and 5p. m. on school days. RHODE ISLAND 1. CompUlsoryattendance age.Sevento -sixteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm required .Onehundred and eighty#ctua1 days. 3. Minimum attendancerequired.FulIterm. 4. Exemption. (a) Fiftenyearsofageand lawfullyandregulailyemployed. (b) Those excluded' by virtuecifsomegeneral lawor regulation." (c) Any childwhose physicalormental conditionis suchasto render attendanceinexpedientorimpracticable. (d) Attendingprivate day school,orprivate instruction,approved bithe schoolcommitteeof the'cityortown. 5. Age for admission.Nonestated. 6. Age for labor permit.Fifteento sixteen. 7. Minimumeducation required forlabon permit.Completionof eighth gradeorattendance at school8years. 8. Continuation schoolattendance.Noprovision. SOUTH CAROLINA a 1. Compulsory attendanceage.Eightto fourteen. 2. Minimum schooltermrequiredSevenmonths, exceptindisericts where school tax isless than 8 millsand monthlyattendanceis less than 15, in whichcase3 monthsare required.

3. Minimumattendance required.Eighty days.(Districtmay require, attendance fe i term.) 4. Exemptions. (a) Any childttendinganapprovedprivateor parochial school torlike peri (b) Any childho receives similarinstruction foralike period fromacod;dtent tutor, subjectto theapproval ofthe county superintendent. (c) Any " child whosephysical, mental,ormoralconditionunfits it for attendance." (d) For " providentialcause or causes,orto suchcauseor causes aswould seriouslyendanger thehealth ofchild."Attendance officermay,in his discretion,grantexcuses. (e) "Incaseofawidowed motherorofa crippled fatheranychild above 12yearsofagewhose labormay benecessary for the support, in wh.oleorin part, ofany person,may be excused." (f) Any childlivingmorethan 24 miles(2 milesif under12years of age) fromanypublic, private,orparochial school;provided, thatanypupil living within1 mile ofanyregularroute ofa schoolwagon may not claim exemption. 127382°-46-7 90 COMPULSORYSCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS

5. Age for admission.Six totwenty-one. 6. Age for laborpermit.Fourteento sixteen. 7. Minimumeducation requiredfor labor permit.None stated. 8. Continuationschool attendance.Noprovision.

SOUTH DAKOTA 1. Compulsoryattendance age.Eightto seventeen. 2. Minimum schoolterm raquired.Eight months. 3. Minimumattendance required.Yullterm. 4. Exemptions. (a) Completionof eighth gradeorequivalent. (b) Physicalormental conditionsuchasto render attendance unsafe, impracticable,orhitripfdl tohimselforothers. (c) Serious illnessin immediate family,making child'spresence at homeanactual necessityorhispresencein schoola menace to the health ofother pupils. (d) Attendanceatanapproved privateschool foralike period. (e) Otherwiseinstructed bycompetentpersonforalike period in public-sclioolbranches; provided,that such instructionbe given entirely in theEnglish language. (f) BetweenApril *1 andNovember 1, shouldthere existan ex- treme need forchild's assistanceat home, hemaybe excused from attendanceforatime notto exceed 40 schooldays;provided thatsuch child hascompleted the sixthgradeorits equivalent. (g) Maybe excusedfor1 hourperweek io attendreligious in- \ struction conductedbysomechurchorchurches. (h) Allapplications forexcusefrom school attendancemust be in writing. 5. Age foradmission.Sixto twenty-one. 43. Age for laborpermit.Fourteentosiiteen. 7. Minimumeducation requiredfor labor permit.Read andwrite. 8. Continuationschoolattendance.Noprovision.

TENNESSEE 1. Compulsoryattendanceage.Sevento sixteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.Eightmonths. 3. Minimum attendancerequired.Fullterm. 4. Exemptions. (a) Completionof eighthgrade and holdsacertificate ofpromotion to high school. (b) Mentallyor physically incapacitatedto attend school. (c) Whereschool ismorethan 3 miles fromchild's residence,unless freetransportation isprovided. (d) Attendancefor like periodat approvedprivateorparochial school. COMPULSORYSCHOOLATTENDANCELAWS 91

(e) Whereparentor guardian Ps not able,throughextreme desti- tution, toprovide clothingfor childto attendschool. (f) Fourteenyears old,lite.rateand regularlyand lawfullyemployed. 5. Age foradmission.Sixor over. 6. Age forlaborpermit.Fourteento sixteen. 7. Minimumeducationrequired forlaborpermit.Notstated.(To read andwrite implied.) 8. Continuationschoolattendance.Requiredof- childbetween14 arid 16 towhomemploymentcertificate hasbeen issued.Continuation schoolorclassesto be in sessionfor 15hoursaweek between8a. m. and 6p.miduring theweeks inwhich otherpublicschoolsaremain- tained.Establishmentof continuationschoolnot compulsory. . TEXA:S a 1. Compulsoryattendance age.Eightto fourteen.(Sevento sixteen, inclusive, afterMay 6,1935.) 2. Minimumschoolterm required.Constitutionrequires thatthe 'legislatureprovide 6months, butthis requirementhas notbeen met by thelegislature. 3. Minimumattendancerequired.One-hundreddars. 4. Exemptions. (a) Attehdanceforalike periodat approvedprivateor parochial school whichgives -instructionin allsubjects in theEnglish language andwhich shallinclude in itscourse a study of good citizenship. (b) Physicallyormentallyincapacitated. (c) Wherechild livesmore than 24 miles bydirect andtraveled road fromnearest publicschool andnofreetransportation provided. (d) Twelveyears old, completedseventh pErade,and services necessary to supportparentorothers:anding inparental relation tothe child. 5. Age foradmission.Sixto twenty-one.(Schooltrusteesmayadmit pupils underor over scholasticage.Wherekindergartenschools are provided, childrenmaybe admittedat theageof 5.) 6. Age for laborpermit.Twelveto fourteen. 7. Minimumeducationrequired forlaborpermit.Completionof fifth grades. S. Continuationschoolattendance.Noprovision.

UTAH a 1. Compulsoryattendanceage.Eightto eighteen. 2. Minimumschoolterm required.Fivemonths. 3. Minimumattendancerequired.Twentyweeks, 10 of whichshall be consecutive; 30weeks infirst- andsecond-class -cities,10 of which must beconsecutive;30 weeksforparVime schoolstudents, and all between 16 and18yearsofagewho havenot been excusedto enter employment. 42 COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LAWS > 4. Exemptions. (a) Where child receives instruction at home in requiredbranches forsamelength of timeasyequired to be taught indistrict school. (b) Any child who "has already acquired thebratchesof learning taught in the district schools." (c) Where physicalormental conditionis suchasto render attendance inexpedientorimpracticable. (d) Wherenoschool is thght within2'4miles of child'sresidence oremployment by nearest 'road, unless free transportationis furnished. (e) " That the services of such childarenecess'aryto thesupport of amotheror aninvalid father." (f) Instruction for like period in approved private school. 5. Afte for' admission.Six to eighteen. 6. Agsror labor permit. Fourteen to eighteen, ifeighth-g;adegraduate, otherwise 16 to 18. . 7. Minimum education required for labor permit Nonementioned. 8. Continuation schoolattendance.--:-Attendancerequiredof mipor under 18 legally employed, for at least 144 hoursa year(classetto be in session 4 hoursaweek between 8a. m.and 6p.m.), except child for whom adequate opportunities for educationareprovided in 'Connection with his employment; child who istatight at homefor required number of hours; arid child who would beexempted from regular day school attendance forcausesother than employment. Board of education inanydistrict in which there shallresideorbe . employdd not less than 15 employed minors isrequired toestablish acontinuation school unless excused by the Statldepartment of vocational education. VERMONT 1. Compulsory attendance age.Eight to sixteen. 2. Minimum school term required.Thirty-fourweeks for elementary schools; 36 weeks for high schools. 3. Minimum attendance required.Full term, if sessionismorethan 170 days; local school esuperintendentmay excuse auy child from attendingmorethan that period. 4. Exemptions. (a) Any child who has èptnpleted the elementary schoolcourse or the rural schoolcoursaand the first 2yearsof juniororsenior high-schoolcourse. (b)If 15yearsold, havgcomple.tedthe work requiredin the rural schoolCourse, AM whose"servicesareneeded for the support of those dependentuponhim,orforanyother sufficient reason",maybe excused by superintendent. (c) Mentallyorphysically unable toattend school. (d) Any child who "is otherwise beingfurnished withthesame education." COMPULSORY SCHOOLATTENDANCE LAWS 93

(e) May be excusedfora"definite timenot to exceed 10consecu- tive school days incasesof "emergenciesorfor absencefrom

town." .4' 5. Age for admission.Sixto eighteen.However, "apersonwho has become 18yearsofageshall not bedeprived of 'public-school advántageson accountof age." 6. Age for labor permit.Fourteen tosixteen. 7. Minimum educationrequired forlaborpermit.Completionof elementary schoolcourse.(Maynot be employed inhotel, billiard or'poetroom, orbowling alley,orin delivering messages,orin rail- roadingormanufacturing,except during vacationorbefore and after school, unless havingcompleted eleLnentaryschool andthe first 2yearsof junior high-schoolcourse.) 8. Corainuation schoolattendance.Noprovision. VIRGINIA 1.Compulsoryattendanceage.Sevento fifteen. 2. Minimum schoolterm required.Eight months. 3. Minimum attendancerequired. Fullierm. 4. Exemptions. (a) Any child whohas completedt4 elementaryschoolcpurse I and who is regularlyand lawfullyemployed. (b) Any child wholives mórethan 2miles bythenearest traveled road fromapublic sqllool,unless publictransportationispro- vided within 1mile ofwanking distancefrom theplacewhere such child lives. (c) Child receivinginstruction foralike periodinaprivate t denom- inationalorparochial school,orinahomebya tutoror other teacher. (d) Any child whois physicallyor mentally incapacitatedfor the work of the schools. 5. Age for admission.Sixto twenty. 6. Age for laborpermit.Fourteento sixteen. 7. Minimumeducation requiredfor laborpermit.Nonementioned. 8. Continuation schoolattendance.Noprovision. WASHINGTON-

1.ComPulsoryattendance age.Eightto sixteen. 2. Minimumschoolterm required.Six montha;8 monthsin first-Ous districts. . 3. Minimumattendance required.Full term. 4. Exemptions. (a) Attendanceatan approved privateorparochialsChoolfor the samelength oftime. (b) Any child *whosephysicalormental conditionis suChasto render childunable toattend. (c) AnY childwho "hasalready attainedareasonableproficiency in thebranchesrequired by lawto be taughtin thefirst eight grades.ofthe publicschools." 94 COMPULSORYSC110014ATTENDANCELAWS

(d) For"someother'sufficient reason." (e) Fifteenyearsofageand "the needsof thefamily or\thewelfare of suchminorrequire" thathe be regularlyemployed. (f) Fourteenyearsofage, completed the eighthgrade,orin the judgment ofthe superintendentcannot profitablypursue further regularschoolwork,maybe excusedto enteremployment. (g) " Thisoffice [attorneygeneral's] hasheld thatthat sectionvests in thecountysuperintendentpower toexcuse a child for'con- attendancéoniaccount ofextraordinaryconditions.Itmay be that thecountysuperintendentwould havethe righttoexcuse childrenwho livewhere thereare no transportationfacilities and thechild is unableto walk thedistance.However,the law itselfmakesno exception for distances,the lack ofability ofa child towalk tothe sc)loolhouse,orthe lack ofmeansof transportation." b. Ageforadrnission.Sixto twenty-one;5 to 24 incertaindistricts, 6. Agefor laborpermit.Fourteento eighteen. 7. Minimurteducationrequired forlabor permit.Completion ofeighth grade ifunder 15yearsofage; no special requirement if15yearsofage. 8. Continuationschoolattendance.Requiredof minorbetween14 and 18 not attendingfull-timeday school,for 4 hoursaweek between8 a. m. and 5p. m. on school daysand between8a. m.and12:30p. m. onSaturday,during thepublic-schoolterm, exceptchild whocannot profitablypursue further schoolwork; childwho is high-school graduate; childexcusedbecauseattendancewould beinjurious.Estab- lishment ofcontinuationschool isnotcompulsory.Board ofschool directors inorganizeddistrict having15 minorswho wouldbe requiredto attendmay, on request of 25adultresidents,establish such school. WESTVIRGINIA 1. Compulsoryattendanceage.Sevento sixteen. 2. Minimumschoolterm required.Eightmonths. 3. Minimumattendancerequired. Fullterm. 4.* Exemptions. (a) Instructionfor equaltime "inaprivate, . parochial,orother school approvedby the districtboard ofeducation." (b) Instructionfor equaltime "inthe homeof suchchildorchildren or elsewhere bya personor persons" judgedby thedistrict board ofeducation tobe qualifiedto givethe instructionre- quired. I (c) "Physicalormentalincapacity forschoolattendanceand the performance of I;cho rk." (d) "Deathorserious illnessin theimmediatefamily ofthe pupil." (e) "Extremedestitutionof parents"or guardian.(Ifdestitution is 'relievedby publicor privatemeans, exemption isnot allowed.) (f)"Conditionsrendering schoolattendanceimpossibleor render- ing ithazardousto thepupil's life,health,or safety." (g) Residencemore than 2 miles fromschool byshortestpracti- cable roador path, unless freetransportationis provided.

1/4 COMPULSORYSCHOOL ATTENDANCELAWS _ 95

(h) For"observance ofregular churchordinances." (i) "Othercauges thatare acceptedasvalid bythecountysuper- intendent"orby the distric.t. (j) Fourteenyearsold andengaged inregularemploymentfor at least 6 hoursperdayor excused by localsuperintendentto enter employment athome. (k) Fourteenyearsofage, completed theeighthgrade,no junior orsenior highschool within2 miles,andno free transportation furnished. 5. Age foradmission.Six totwenty-one. 6. Age for laborpermit.Fourteen tosixteen. 7. Minimumeducation requiredfor laborpermit.Completionof sixth grade. 8. Continuationschoolattendance.Requiredof childbetween 14and 16, who is not attendingfull-time schoolorwho isregularly andlawfully employed, forfrom 4 to8 hoursaweek between8a. m.and 5p.rn./ until attendanceamounts to 144hours forthe schoolyear, except child whohas conipletedthe eighthgrade, 'orwho hasbeenexempted from dayschool attendarice.Continuationschools shallbe established inanycity havinga population ofmore than 10,000and in anycity, town,or subdistrict wherethereare50or more minors between 14and 16yearsofage not in regularattendanceupon approvedinstruction. WISCONSIN 1. Compulsoryattendanceage.Sevento sixteen. 2. Minimumschoolterm required.Eightmonths.\ 3. Minimumattendancerequired.Fullterm in,cities of 'firstclass;8 months in allother cities;6 monthsin townsand villages. 4. Exemptions. (a) Completionof mostadvancedcoursein district. (b)Attendanceduring therequiredperioq inapprovedparochial orprivate school. (c) Equivalentinstructionduring therequiredperiod elseivhere than at school,byateacher selectedby theperson havingcontrol of such child. (d) " Anychild notinproper physicalor mental conditionto attnd school. " (e) Childrenwho live incountry districtsmorethan 2 milesby the nearest traveledroad fromtheschoolhouse,unless freetransportation isoffered; provided,that childrenbetwien9 and 14 who livebetween 2 and3 miles fromschoolmust attend60 days. (f)Fourteenyearsofageand regularlyandlawfullyemployed. 5. Age foradmission.Fourto twenty;school boardmayadmitto school free oftuitionpersons 20 to 30yearsofage. 6. Agefor laborpermit.Fourteentoseventeen. 7. Minimumeducation requiredfor laborpermit.Completionofmot;t adiancedcoursein district.

Alire .40 0 96 COMPULSORy SCHOOLATTENDANdELAWS

8. Continuation school attendanee.Required of *child between 14 and 16 not attending regular school, for one-half dayetch school day, ahd 'of minor between 16 and 18 at least 8 hours each week, for8 monthsa year(or entire terry if longer), eAcept aild who hascompleted high school and child physicallyormentally incapacitated. Continuation schoolmut.itbe established in places ofover5,000 population whenever 25personsOalifiedto attend request such establishment; schoolsmaybe'estaialished elsewhere. WYOMING 1. Compulsory attendance age.Seven to seventeen. 2. Minimum school term required.--Three months; 6 months to receive share of Government royalty funds. 3. -Minimum al(en,dance required.Full term. 4. Exemptions. (a) Attendance foralike period ataprivateorparochial school. (b) Any child who has "completed the work of the eighthgráde." (c) Mentally incapable of doing the work of theschool. (d) " Inviidsorothers to whom the schoolfoom might be injurious" maybe excused by district board. (e) POils to whom attendance might workahardshipmaybe excused by district board. (f) " Pupils *ho for legalreasonshave been excluded frbmthe regular schools andnoprovisions made for the* schoolingof such children." 5. Age for admission.Six to twenty-one. 6. Age for labor permit.Fourteen to sixteen. 7. Minimum education required for labor permit.Completionof first 8yearsof the public schoolorthe equivalent.

8. Continuation school attendance.No provision. a o o

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