SCS/SBs 363 & 332 - COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE - The act provides that the compulsory attendance age shall be 16 years except that the Board of St. Louis Public Schools may adopt a resolution establishing the compulsory attendance age at 17 years. The Board of St. Louis Public Schools may also adopt a resolution again lowering the compulsory attendance age to 16 years. Any resolution raising or lowering the compulsory attendance age for St. Louis Public Schools shall not take effect until the school year following the year the resolution is adopted.

Requirements pertaining to home school pupils are revised for affected pupils over 16 years of age (St. Louis City only):

(A) Existing requirements for maintenance of home school records and offering of specified hours of instruction shall not apply to home school students over 16 years of age.

(B) A parent may provide a written statement that a pupil over 16 years of age is attending home school as a defense to any prosecution for violation of compulsory attendance law or educational neglect, and production of a daily log shall not be required for such pupils.

The act also provides that a child who has a GED certificate or has completed all credits and other requirements for high school graduation shall be exempted from the compulsory attendance law, regardless of age.

This portion of the act is similar to SB 951 (2000).

STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN CERTAIN GROUP ACTIVITIES - This act allows students to participate in FFA, FHA and 4-H events and Missouri State Fair competitions while having such participation count as regular school attendance for the purpose of state school aid.
OTTO FAJEN