With the body of research growing that links student achievement to good attendance habits, several states have expanded their age requirements for compulsory education at both ends of the academic spectrum, according to a new survey from the Education Commission of the States.
Oregon, for instance, has moved its entrance requirement from age 7 to age 6, while Rhode Island changed their admission mandate from age 6 to age 5. Meanwhile, Texas raised the other end of the compulsory attendance to age 19 unless already a high school graduate.
Ten states now require students to attend school for 13 years while a dozen require 12 years of public schooling and ten states have a mandate covering 11 years.
