Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Employment Related Provisions in State Compulsory School Attendance Laws - January 1, 2008
State |
Age of Required School Attendance |
Exemptions 1/ Employed |
High School Graduate |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
from |
to |
Age |
Completion of Grade |
||
7
|
16
|
legally and regularly employed under child labor law. for special education students. |
--- |
X |
|
7 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
X |
|
6 |
16 |
14 with parental consent and gainfully employed. |
--- |
--- |
|
5 |
17 must complete school year |
--- |
--- |
X |
|
6 |
18 |
--- |
--- |
X |
|
7 |
16 |
has current age and school certificate or work permit. |
--- |
X |
|
5 |
18 |
16 with parental consent. |
--- |
--- |
|
5 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
5 |
18 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
6 |
17 |
may terminate attended at 16 with parental consent. |
--- |
--- |
|
6 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
X |
|
6 |
18 |
15 |
--- |
X |
|
7 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
7 |
17 |
employed and excused by school official. |
--- |
--- |
|
7 |
18 |
16 with consent of parent and principal 14 if a parent agrees and State Labor bureau issues a certificate. Must go back to school within 5 days of termination of employment for which certificate issued. |
--- |
X |
|
6 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
X |
|
7 |
18 |
17 or 16 with parental consent |
--- |
--- |
|
6 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
X |
|
7 |
18 or |
--- |
--- |
X |
|
7 |
17 |
15 or |
9 |
X |
|
5 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
6 |
16 |
14 |
--- |
--- |
|
6 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
7 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
X |
|
6 |
17 |
5 years of age if in public kindergarten. |
--- |
--- |
|
7 |
16 |
14 |
--- |
--- |
|
7 |
16 or |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
7 |
18 |
14 and 16 with parental consent; special legislation for home schooling. |
8
--- |
X |
|
7 |
17 |
14 and excused by board of trustees. |
8
--- |
X |
|
6 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
6 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
5, or 8 if parents and school board agree |
high school graduate or 17 if excused by school board and employed in a gainful trade or occupation or child is in alternative schooling with parental consent. |
--- |
--- |
X |
|
6 |
17 in cities with 4,500 or more population and union-free school districts, otherwise 16 if approved by local school board |
|
--- |
X |
|
7 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
7 |
16 |
necessary to support of family. |
--- |
X |
|
6 |
18 |
16 with parents' and superintendents permission. |
--- |
X |
|
5 |
18 or |
--- |
--- |
X |
|
7 |
18 or excused by district school board; 21 for a child with a disability |
16 |
--- |
X |
|
8 |
17 |
16 if regularly engaged in employment with a certificate. 15 in farm work or domestic service in private home with permit. |
--- |
X |
|
6 |
18 |
16 with written parental consent. |
--- |
--- |
|
5 |
17 |
16 |
8th grade completed and |
X |
|
6 |
16 or |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
6 |
18th birthday |
--- |
local exemptions at 17th birthday for discipline problems |
X |
|
6 |
18 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
6 |
18 |
16 and 8th grade completed. home schooled minors has exempt from attendance |
8th for employment purposes |
X |
|
6 |
16 |
15 and completed 6th grade and services needed for support of family. |
--- |
--- |
|
5 |
18 |
exempt any pupil with parent's consent along with that of principal or superintendent or a court which believes the minor cannot benefit from education at school. |
--- |
X |
|
8 |
18 |
16 |
--- |
X and age 16 |
|
6 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
X |
|
6 |
18 |
--- |
--- |
X |
|
7 |
16 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
1Nearly all States exempt those whose physical or mental condition precludes attendance. Other exemptions not directly related to employment include those because of distance from school or school transportation; expulsion, suspension or determined to be disruptive; marriage; excused by court or judge; and receiving religious education.
Prepared By:
Office of Performance, Budget, and Departmental Liaison
Wage and Hour Division
Employment Standards Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
This document was last revised in December 2007; unless otherwise stated, the information reflects requirements that were in effect, or would take effect, as of January 1, 2008.
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