School attendance: are you accidentally breaking Georgia law when your child stays home?
Georgia parents don’t have the final say when it comes to their children’s attendance at school and assume the responsibility when their students don’t go.
If a parent allows their child to miss school without “valid reasons,” they are subject to truancy laws and could face some serious repercussions.
Georgia has compulsory education laws which require children, ages 6 to 16, to attend school in some form for 180 days or 900 hours of instruction, and is considered truant after only five unexcused absences.
What happens after five absences?
When a student meets the threshold for unexcused absences, schools must take the following steps:
Make two reasonable attempts to contact the parents
Send a notice by certified mail or first-class mail if previous attempts fail
Deliver a letter by hand or certified mail notifying the family of the consequences of further absences
Hold a truancy intervention meeting
What are the penalties for excessive absences?
The consequences for truancy can be quite serious for both the parents and the students.
For parents/guardians:
Misdemeanor charges
Fines ranging from $25 to $100
Imprisonment for up to 30 days
Community service
Any combination of the above penalties
For students:
Loss of driver’s license
Inability to obtain a work permit
Potential involvement with the juvenile justice system
Possible assignment to a probation officer or legal advocate
What is the difference between excused and unexcused absences?
The criteria varies from state to state, but in Georgia excused absences are those set forth by the Georgia Department of Education and individual school boards. The following circumstances are usually considered excused absences:
Illness or symptoms that endanger the students’ health
Serious illness or death in the immediate family
Observance of religious holidays
Compliance with a court order or governmental agency mandate
Military-related absences (up to 5 days per school year)
Voting or registering to vote (limited to one day)
Conditions rendering attendance dangerous or impossible
There are some exceptions to the mandatory attendance laws.
Completion of high school requirements (even if under 16)
Home study programs that meet state requirements
Private school attendance (as long as it meets state requirements)
Qualifying physical or mental conditions
It is really important for parents to educate themselves about their rights and responsibilities when it comes to school attendance. Although parents have some discretion in excusing absences, there are limits to what the school or district can allow.
This story was originally published October 3, 2024 at 3:54 PM with the headline "School attendance: are you accidentally breaking Georgia law when your child stays home?."
