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Board discusses raising compulsory attendance from 16 to 17; sends wording to legal
Summary
Board members discussed policy 7130 and Education Law §3205 giving districts the power to require minors 16–17 to attend school until the end of the school year in which they turn 17. Members framed the change as an endorsement of keeping students in school longer and asked legal staff to draft precise policy language; no vote was taken tonight.
Board members discussed a potential change to policy 7130 (entitlement to attend: age and residency), prompted by Education Law section 3205, which allows boards to require minors ages 16–17 who are not employed to attend full‑time instruction until the end of the school year in which they turn 17.
Members asked technical questions about timing (whether the rule applies by school year) and about how employment would be verified, and several described the change as a philosophical statement that the board wants students to remain enrolled as long as possible. One board member summarized the intent: “it’s almost one of the ways I view it ... that we want our kids to be in school until they’re 17,” and others said the district already offers supports to keep students engaged.
The board decided not to act tonight. Administration will return to the policy committee with legal counsel to produce recommended wording and bring a first‑read of revised policy language at a later meeting.
