{"id":371759,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:27","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/california-law\/california-compulsory-education-laws.html"},"modified":"2026-04-27T16:00:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T21:00:10","slug":"california-compulsory-education-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/california-law\/california-compulsory-education-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"California Compulsory Education Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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California Compulsory Education Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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California<\/span> compulsory education laws<\/span> require children ages six to 18 to enroll in and attend school full-time. These regulations ensure student literacy by holding parents legally responsible for attendance in public, private, or home school<\/span> settings.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

California<\/span> has a strict education code<\/span> that requires nearly all students to attend school between the ages of six and 18. California<\/span>\u2019s public education laws make parents and guardians responsible for enrolling their children in school and ensuring attendance throughout the school year<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The California<\/span> Education Code<\/span> addresses students attending private and parochial schools and parents who wish to homeschool<\/span> their children. Attendance laws<\/span> still require all school-age students to attend some type of full-time education<\/span> until they reach adulthood.<\/p>\n

Compulsory <\/span>School <\/span>Attendance<\/span> Laws<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

California<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>Education Code<\/span><\/a> requires that:<\/p>\n

All states have compulsory education laws<\/a> to ensure all U.S. residents are literate and reasonably educated. Before the 20th Century, only towns and cities large enough to support a public school<\/span> system had graded schools for all students. Today, all children must get some type of basic education.<\/p>\n