The Michigan Compulsory Attendance Law states that "a child who turned age 11 before December 1, 2009, or who entered grade 6 before 2009, the child's parent, guardian, or other person in this state having control and charge of the child will send that child to a public school during the entire school year from the age of 6 to the child's sixteenth birthday. Except as otherwise provided in this section, for a child who turns age 11 on or after December 1, 2009 or later, the child's parent, guardian, or other person in this state having control and charge of the child will send the child to a public school during the entire school year from the age of 6 to the child's eighteenth birthday." The child's attendance will be continuous and consecutive. The Board strongly supports a policy using every resource available to involve scholars in an ongoing educational program based on regular attendance in school.
Frequent absences from school disrupt the continuity of instruction, learning, and the benefit of regular classroom instruction. The entire process of education requires continuity of instruction, classroom participation, meaningful learning experiences, and study in order to reach the goal of maximum educational benefits for each individual scholar. This well-established principle of education underlies and gives purpose to the requirement of compulsory schooling in Michigan.
Absences will be either excused or unexcused. The Superintendent will develop rules that conform to this policy, applicable federal and state laws and administrative rules regarding attendance and absences. These rules will incorporate the following principles and be included in scholar handbooks: