§ 7-301. School attendance requirements
West's Annotated Code of MarylandEducationEffective: July 1, 2018
Effective: July 1, 2018
MD Code, Education, § 7-301
§ 7-301. School attendance requirements
(a) This section does not apply to a child under the age of 18 years who:
(a-1)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, each child who resides in this State and is 5 years old or older and under 18 shall attend a public school regularly during the entire school year.
(2) In accordance with regulations of the State Board of Education, a child who resides in this State and is 5 years old may be exempted from mandatory school attendance for 1 year if the child's parent or guardian files a written request with the local school system asking that the child's attendance be delayed due to the child's level of maturity.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section or in regulations of the State Board of Education, each child who resides in this State shall attend a kindergarten program regularly during the school year prior to entering the first grade unless the child is otherwise receiving regular, thorough instruction in the skills and studies usually taught in a kindergarten program of a public school.
(b) A county superintendent, school principal, or an individual authorized by the county superintendent or principal may excuse a student for a lawful absence.
(c) Each person who has legal custody or care and control of a child who is 5 years old or older and under 16 shall see that the child attends school or receives instruction as required by this section.
(d)(1) This section applies to any child who has a mental, emotional, or physical handicap.
(e)(1) Any person who induces or attempts to induce a child to be absent unlawfully from school or employs or harbors any child who is absent unlawfully from school while school is in session is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, or both.
(4)(i) For a person with legal custody or care and control of a child at the time of an alleged violation of this section, it is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that the person made reasonable and substantial efforts to see that the child attended school as required by law but was unable to cause the child to attend school.
(e-1)(1) This subsection applies only:
(f) A child may be exempted from attending kindergarten if a parent or guardian of the child files a written request with the local school system and verifies that the child is enrolled:
(g) Subject to data being available through the Maryland Longitudinal Data System established under § 24-702 of this article and except as otherwise provided in this section, a child under the age of 18 years shall return to attendance at a public school regularly during the school year as required by this section, if the child:
Credits
Added by Acts 1978, c. 22, § 2, eff. July 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1981, c. 236, § 2; Acts 1984, c. 524; Acts 1985, c. 205; Acts 1991, c. 463; Acts 1993, c. 321; Acts 1995, c. 3, § 1, eff. March 7, 1995; Acts 1995, c. 350, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1995; Acts 1996, c. 10, § 1, eff. April 9, 1996; Acts 1997, c. 155, § 1, eff. June 1, 1997; Acts 2001, c. 35, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2001; Acts 2002, c. 288, § 3, eff. July 1, 2007; Acts 2004, c. 551, § 1, eff. July 1, 2004; Acts 2007, c. 562, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2007; Acts 2007, c. 563, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2007; Acts 2007, c. 648, § 1, eff. July 1, 2007; Acts 2009, c. 60, § 5, eff. April 14, 2009; Acts 2009, c. 718, § 1, eff. June 1, 2009; Acts 2011, c. 564, § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2012; Acts 2012, c. 494, § 1, eff. July 1, 2015; Acts 2012, c. 494, § 2, eff. July 1, 2017; Acts 2018, c. 706, § 1, eff. July 1, 2018; Acts 2018, c. 707, § 1, eff. July 1, 2018.
Formerly Art. 77, § 92.
MD Code, Education, § 7-301, MD EDUC § 7-301
Current through legislation effective through April 25, 2024, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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