What are the dropout laws in Illinois?

Illinois is one of 11 states where students can drop out at age 17. The other 19 states allow students to drop out of school at age 16.

Can your parents legally stop you from dropping out?

California students may drop out legally once they turn 18. Students who are 16 or 17 may also leave school, but only if they: have their parents' permission, and. pass the California High School Proficiency Exam, which leads to a certificate that's equivalent to a diploma (more on that below).

How many excused absences are allowed in a school year in Illinois?

Vacation Absences: Family travel during the school year does interrupt a student's regular progress; however, we recognize the educational value of these trips. Therefore, five (5) vacation days per school year will be allowed as excused. Any days after five (5) school days will be unexcused.

What are the truancy rules in Illinois?

Absences that are excused are determined by the school board. A Chronic or Habitual Truant is a school-age child who is absent without valid causes for 5% out of 180 consecutive days. fine. - Children between 6 and 17 must attend school.

What is the youngest age you can drop out of school?

Although statistics show that dropping out is usually a bad idea, the motivation to leave school can be overwhelming. If students want to do it, however, state laws are an impediment until they reach a certain age — 16, 17 or 18, depending on the state.

New laws take effect in Illinois for 2024

What age can you drop out of high school in Illinois?

Illinois is one of 11 states where students can drop out at age 17. The other 19 states allow students to drop out of school at age 16.

What happens if your child drops out of school?

The legal sanctions for truancy vary from state to state, but they may include the loss of driving privileges. In some cases, you could get caught up in the juvenile justice system, and your parents could face fines or even criminal charges.

Can a parent go to jail for truancy in Illinois?

Did you know that if your child has too many unexcused absences, you could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a monetary fine?

Is truancy a crime in Illinois?

If you've been given notice that your child has been absent from school without a valid cause and knowingly and willfully permitted your child to continue to miss school, you can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor in Illinois, which can result in either 30 days in jail, a fine of up to $500 or both.

How many days of school can you miss in Illinois before truancy?

A "truant" is defined as a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause, as defined under this Section, from such attendance for more than 1% but less than 5% of the past 180 school days.

Can a student get in trouble for too many absences in Illinois?

105 ILCS 5/26-12. Punitive action. (a) No punitive action, including out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, or court action, shall be taken against truant minors for such truancy unless appropriate and available supportive services and other school resources have been provided to the student.

At what age is school mandatory in Illinois?

If your child is 6 or older by September 1, you must start obeying the compulsory attendance law. You are exempt from the law once your child turns 17, or graduates from his or her high school program.

How do I drop out of high school in Illinois?

Students in Illinois must stay in school until they turn 17, unless they've already graduated from high school. But 16-year-olds may also drop out if they give the school district proof that they: have a job that's both “necessary” and legal (including under child labor laws), or.

Can my parents stop me from dropping out at 16?

Truancy is a legal offense that may have many serious ramifications for you and your parents or legal guardian(s). Therefore, if you want to drop out of high school before your 18th birthday, you need to get your parent's permission. Then, your parents have to withdraw you from high school officially.

Who is the most successful high school dropout?

Carl Lindner, Jr dropped out of high school when he was only 14 to deliver milk for his family's dairy farm. He borrowed some money to start an ice cream shop with his siblings. He used his entrepreneurial skills to build a business empire and invest heavily to build his estimated $1.7 billion fortune.

Is dropping out of high school bad?

Over a lifetime, high school dropouts earn on average $200,000 less than those who graduate high school. In dropouts aged 16-24, the incarceration rates are 63 times higher than in college graduate groups. High school dropouts experience a poverty rate of 30.8 percent, more than twice that of college graduates.

Is skipping school illegal in Illinois?

More than 1 in 5 studentsin Illinois were chronically truant last year. That means they missed over 5% of the year without a valid excuse. It's illegal for Illinois school districts to refer students to local law enforcement to be punished with a fine for truancy.

How many days is truant in Illinois?

Unexcused absences are taken into consideration while determining if a student is considered chronically truant. In the state of Illinois, a Chronic Truant is any student subject to compulsory school attendance who is absent without valid cause for 5% of the previous 180 school days.

Can you live in one school district and go to another in IL?

In general, Illinois families cannot transfer to public schools outside their district. In the limited cases where a transfer to another district is possible, families may be charged fees.

Is kindergarten mandatory in Illinois?

In Illinois, children are not required to go to school until age 6. Working parents who cannot afford early education or child care must stay home to care for their kids. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, even more parents have left the workforce to care for their young children.

How many days of school are in Illinois?

The minimum legal length for an Illinois public school's year is 176 days. The number of actual calendar days varies from district to district.

What is chronic absenteeism?

A "chronic absentee" has been defined in Education Code Section 60901(c)(1) as "a pupil who is absent on 10 percent or more of the schooldays in the school year when the total number of days a pupil is absent is divided by the total number of days the pupil is enrolled and school was actually taught in the regular day ...

What to do if your child wants to quit school?

Investigate all options before a teen drops out of school. Once a teenager has made up his mind to drop out of school, be supportive— but don't support him financially! If he lives at home, insist that he pay for room and board as well as cover his car insurance and other personal expenses.

How do you deal with school dropouts?

Why is dropping out of school bad?

Dropping out of high school has long-term consequences, including reduced employment opportunities, lower earnings, and higher rates of poverty and crime. While many factors can contribute to high school dropout, research indicates that teens face unique challenges that can increase their risk of leaving school early.