TITLE 16
Education
CHAPTER 16-19
Compulsory Attendance
SECTION 16-19-6
§ 16-19-6 Proceedings against habitual truants and offenders. – Every habitual truant, that is, every child who is required under § 16-19-1 to attend school and who willfully and habitually absents himself or herself from attending school; and every habitual school offender, that is, every child who is required to attend school under the provision of § 16-19-1, but who persistently violates the rules and regulations of the school which he or she attends, or otherwise persistently misbehaves in the school which he or she attends, so as to render him or herself a fit subject for exclusion; shall be deemed a wayward child as provided in chapter 1 of title 14, and shall be subject to all the provisions of chapter 1 of title 14, and may be proceeded against and dealt with as a wayward child in accordance with the provisions of chapter 1 of title 14.

TITLE 16
Education
CHAPTER 16-67.1
Rhode Island High School Dropout Prevention Act of 2007
SECTION 16-67.1-3
§ 16-67.1-3  Defining the age and protocol for a student to leave school. – (a) Children who have completed sixteen (16) years of life and who have not yet attained eighteen (18) years of age may not withdraw from school before graduation unless:

   (1) The student, the student's parent(s)/guardian and an administrator agree to the withdrawal;

   (2) At the exit interview, the student and the student's parent(s)/guardian provide written acknowledgement of the withdrawal that meets the requirements of subsection (D);

   (3) The school principal provides written consent for the student to withdraw from school; and/or

   (4) The withdrawal is due to:

   (A) Documented financial hardship and the need of the individual to be employed to support the individual's family or a dependent;

   (B) Documented illness;

   (C) By order of a court that has jurisdiction over the student; and

   (D) Accompanied by a written acknowledgement of a withdrawal under subsection (b)(2) which must include a statement that the student and the student's parent(s)/guardian understand that withdrawal from school is likely to reduce the student's future earnings and increase the student's likelihood of being unemployed in the future;

   (b) If a child of the age described in (a) is habitually absent from school and the school is unable to contact the parent(s)/guardian. the school may withdraw the child from enrollment provided that its attempts to contact the parent(s)/guardian by telephone, regular and registered mail, and home visit are documented. If a child who has been withdrawn from enrollment under this subsection returns to school, or if the school mistakenly withdraws the child from enrollment, the child shall promptly be re-enrolled.

[12-5-2007 at 2:58PM]