Michigan Compulsory School Attendance Act

The Calhoun Intermediate School District Attendance Officer has the ultimate responsibility for enforcing the Compulsory Attendance Act and to inform parents/guardians of their responsibilities for the education of their child. The state law is briefly explained below:

P.A. 451 of 1977 (amended by P.A. 43 of 1977) MCL 380.1561 - 380.1599

Section 1561: (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, for a child who turned age 11 before December 1, 2009 or who entered grade 6 before 2009, the child's parent, guardian, or other person in this state having control and charge of the child shall send that child to a public school during the entire school year from the age of 6 to the child's sixteenth birthday. Except as otherwise provided in this section, for a child who turns age 11 on or after December 1, 2009 or a child who was age 11 before that date and enters grade 6 in 2009 or later, the child's parent, guardian, or other person in this state having control and charge of the child shall send the child to a public school during the entire school year from the age of 6 to the child's eighteenth birthday. The child's attendance shall be continuous and consecutive for the school year fixed by the school district in which the child is enrolled.

Section 1571: (1) The Intermediate School Board shall select 1 or more persons to act as attendance officers for the ISD.

(3) An attendance officer of an ISD or a local school district shall have the powers of a deputy sheriff within the district or ISD while performing official duties. An ISD Attendance Officer shall perform the duties of the officer in each constituent district in which the local board does not employ an attendance officer.

Section 1586: Requires the ISD Attendance Officer to investigate each case of non-attendance as referred by local school districts.

Section 1587: If a parent/guardian fails to comply with the Compulsory School Attendance Act, the ISD Attendance Officer shall give written notice by registered mail to parent/guardian requiring the child to appear in attendance on the next regular school day following receipt of the written notice. Failure to comply with this notice will be reported by appropriate local school official.

Section 1588: If the parent/guardian fails to comply with the above notice, the attendance officer shall make a complaint against parent/guardian in District court (educational neglect) or Probate Court/Juvenile Division (truancy) in the county of residence for refusal or neglect to send the child to school. Court action will follow the same manner as is provided for other cases under its jurisdiction.

Section 1599: A parent/guardian who fails to comply with the above is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $50 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.

Calhoun ISD Administrative Rules/Regulations

Attendance Officer

Statutory Authority: PA 451 of 1977 (am PA 43 of 1977)

380.1561 - 380.1599