HB260 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thad McClammy

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Mandatory school attendance age, maximum increased from seven to 18 years of age, Sec. 16-28-3 am'd

Summary

HB260 would raise the mandatory school attendance age from 17 to 18 and set rules for church schools, private tutoring, and how students enroll.

What This Bill Does

It requires children ages 7 through 18 to attend a public, private, or church school or be instructed by a private tutor, with an exemption for church-school attendance before age 16 if enrollment and reporting requirements are followed. Public-school admission would need to be applied for by a parent or guardian at the start of each school year. The change is designed to involve local funds but is treated as exempt from the usual local-funding approval rules because expenditures would be handled by local school boards.

Who It Affects

• Students ages 7-18 who must attend a school or be tutored (with church-school exemption before age 16).
• Parents or guardians who must apply for their child's admission to public school and ensure enrollment/reporting.
• Local school boards, which would administer enrollment, attendance reporting, and admission decisions, and oversee church/private school options.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 16-28-3 to raise the mandatory attendance age from 17 to 18.
• Maintains attendance options as public, private, or church school or private tutoring, with a church-school exemption prior to the child's 16th birthday if enrollment/reporting rules are met.
• Requires parental/guardian application to the local board for public school admission each school year.
• States that although local-fund expenditures may occur, the bill is excluded from Amendment 621's 2/3-vote requirement because expenditures would be made by the school board; the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education