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An Act To Amend the Compulsory School Attendance Laws
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §5001-A, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 806, §49, is amended to read:
 
1. Requirement.   Persons 7 years of age or older and under 1718 years shall attend a public day school during the time it is in regular session. A person who enrolls in a school administrative unit in accordance with section 5201, subsection 2, paragraph B before the person is 7 years of age is required to remain in attendance at a public day school or at an alternative to attendance at a public day school in accordance with subsection 3.
Sec. 2. Commissioner of Education guidance to school officials on the enforcement of compulsory school attendance laws. The Commissioner of Education shall communicate with school boards of school administrative units, superintendents, principals and other school officials to clarify the law regarding their legal obligations to enforce the compulsory school attendance laws that require children to be enrolled from 7 years of age to 18 years of age in a public school or an equivalent instruction alternative pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 211, subchapter 1 and related education statutes. The enforcement guidance provided under this section must clarify that once a child who is under 7 years of age enrolls in school in accordance with Title 20-A, section 5201, subsection 2, paragraph B, the child is required to remain in attendance at a public day school or at an alternative to attendance at a public day school in accordance with Title 20-A, section 5001-A.
Sec. 3. Commissioner of Education guidance to school officials on the enforcement of laws related to student eligibility for certain federal and state welfare programs. The Commissioner of Education shall communicate with school boards of school administrative units, superintendents, principals and other school officials to clarify the law with regard to their obligations to document and maintain student enrollment, attendance and graduation information related to student eligibility for certain federal and state welfare benefits and student eligibility for supplemental security income for children with disabilities. The Commissioner of Education shall distribute a letter to the school officials listed above that provides nonregulatory guidance that clarifies the federal and state requirements for certifying school enrollment, attendance and graduation information provided by students who are seeking certain federal and state welfare benefits, including benefits under supplemental security income for children who are students.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws related to compulsory school attendance in order to improve the enforcement of federal and state requirements pertaining to compulsory school attendance in the State. The bill:
1. Changes the law regarding compulsory school age by:
A. Providing that a child who enrolls in a public day school before the child is 7 years of age is required to remain in attendance at a public day school or at an equivalent instruction alternative to attendance at a public day school in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 5001-A, subsection 3; and
B. Changing the age when a child may stop attending school from 17 to 18 years of age;
2. Directs the Commissioner of Education to provide guidance to school boards, superintendents, principals and other school officials pertaining to the enforcement of the compulsory school attendance laws that require children to be enrolled from 7 years of age to 18 years of age in a public school or an equivalent instruction alternative. The enforcement guidance provided must clarify that a child who enrolls in a school administrative unit before the child is 7 years of age as allowed under Title 20-A, section 5201, subsection 2, paragraph B is required to remain in attendance at a public school or at an equivalent instruction alternative in accordance with Title 20-A, section 5001-A; and
3. Directs the Commissioner of Education to provide guidance to school boards, superintendents, principals and other school officials regarding enforcement of federal and state laws related to student eligibility for certain federal and state welfare benefits and supplemental security income for children with disabilities.