RELATING TO EDUCATION; RAISING THE AGE OF COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE TO SEVENTEEN.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 22-12-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 16, Section 170, as amended) is amended to read:

"22-12-2. COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE--RESPONSIBILITY.--

A. Any qualified student and any person who because of his age is eligible to become a qualified student as defined by the Public School Finance Act until attaining the age of majority shall attend a public school, a private school, a home school or a state institution. A person shall be excused from this requirement if:

(1) the person is specifically exempted by law from the provisions of this section;

(2) the person has graduated from a high school;

(3) the person is at least seventeen years of age and has been excused by the local school board or its authorized representative upon a finding that the person will be employed in a gainful trade or occupation or engaged in an alternative form of education sufficient for the person's educational needs and the parent, guardian or other person having custody and control consents; or

(4) with consent of the parent, guardian or person having custody and control of the person to be excused, the person is excused from the provisions of this section by the superintendent of schools of the school district in which the person is a resident and the person is under eight years of age.

B. A person subject to the provisions of the Compulsory School Attendance Law shall attend school for at least the length of time of the school year that is established in the school district in which the person is a resident.

C. Any parent, guardian or person having custody and control of a person subject to the provisions of the Compulsory School Attendance Law is responsible for the school attendance of that person."

HB 781

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