Policy 5112

Students

Ages of Attendance

In accordance with Connecticut General Statute 10-186, the Board of Education shall provide education for all persons five years of age and older, having attained age five on or before the first day of January of any school year, and under twenty-one years of age who is not a graduate of a high school or vocational school, except as provided in Connecticut General Statutes 10-233c and 10-233d.  Children who have not attained the age of five on or before the first day of January will not be admitted to kindergarten unless the student meets the requirements of Policy 5111.  Additionally, according to Connecticut General Statute 10-76d (b2), special education will be provided for children who have attained the age of three and who have been identified as being in need of special education, and whose educational potential will be irreparably diminished without special education.

Parents and those who have the control of children five years of age and over and under eighteen years of age, are obligated by Connecticut law to require their children to attend public day school or its equivalent in the district in which such child resides, unless such child is a high school graduate or the parent or person having control of such child is able to show that the child is elsewhere receiving equivalent instruction in the studies taught in the public schools.  The parent or person having control of a child sixteen or seventeen years of age must consent to such child’s withdrawal from school.  For the school year commencing July 1, 2011 and each school year thereafter, the parent or person having control of a child seventeen years of age may consent to such child’s withdrawal from school. The parent or person shall exercise this option by personally appearing at the school district office to sign a withdrawal form. Such withdrawal form shall include an attestation from a guidance counselor or school administrator of the school that this district has provided the parent or person with information on the educational opportunities options available in the school system and in the community.

The parent or person having control of a child five years of age shall have the option of not sending the child to school until the child is six years of age. The parent or person having control of a child six years of age shall have the option of not sending the child to school until the child is seven years of age.

The parent or person shall exercise such option by personally appearing at the school district office and signing an option form. The district shall provide the parent or person with information on the educational opportunities available in the school system.

A child who has attained the age of seventeen and who has voluntarily terminated enrollment with parental consent in the district's schools and subsequently seeks readmission may be denied readmission for up to ninety school days from the date of such termination, unless such child seeks readmission to the District not later than ten (10) schooldays after such termination in which case the Board shall provide school accommodations to such child not later than three school days after such child seeks readmission.

A child who has attained the age of nineteen or older may be placed in an alternative school program or other suitable educational program if he/she cannot acquire a sufficient number of credits for graduation by age twenty-one.

(cf. 5111 - Admission/Placement)
(cf. 6146 - Graduation Requirements)

Legal Reference:    Connecticut General Statutes
Policy adopted:  May 5, 2015                                                        
Policy revised: March 6, 2018                        
NEWTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Newtown, Connecticut