{"id":375758,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:23","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/oklahoma-law\/oklahoma-compulsory-education-laws.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:50:10","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:50:10","slug":"oklahoma-compulsory-education-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/oklahoma-law\/oklahoma-compulsory-education-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Oklahoma Compulsory Education Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Oklahoma Compulsory Education Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\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

States want their residents to have at least a basic education. Under state compulsory education<\/a> laws, children are required to attend school at certain ages.
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Sometimes kids, especially teenagers, don\u2019t want to go to school. Skipping school, even if to sleep-in or have a crazy Ferris Bueller-like adventure, is still considered truancy<\/a>. If this is happening with your student, it\u2019s important to understand why. Your student may be hesitant to go to school because of bullying<\/a>, a learning disability, or something else. Bullying is a problem across the country, but school districts are required to keep students safe<\/a> while in their care. Your school district also has to test students, as needed, for learning disabilities<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The chart below describes the main compulsory education laws in Oklahoma.<\/p>\n\n
Code Section<\/b><\/td>\nOklahoma Statutes Title 70 Section 10-105 \u2013 Neglect or Refusal to Compel Child to Attend School<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>
Age at Which School Attendance is Required<\/b><\/td>\nChildren between the ages of 5 and 18 years old must attend school.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Exceptions to Attendance Requirements<\/b><\/td>\nThere are several reasons that compulsory attendance may not be required, including:
Homeschool Provisions<\/b><\/td>\nParents have the option and right to homeschool their children<\/a>. However, the state does regulate the instruction. The educational instruction must be in good faith and equivalent to that provided by the state, according to an Opinion by the Oklahoma Attorney General<\/a>, Number 73-129 from February 13, 1973.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Penalties for Non-complying Parents<\/b><\/td>\nIf a parent, guardian, or other custodian fails to enroll or bring their child to school, they will be guilty of a misdemeanor. The penalty depends on the number of offenses:
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Penalties for Non-complying Students<\/b><\/td>\nIf an attendance officer or cop finds a truant child during school hours, he or she can temporarily detain the child until delivering the child to his or her parents, guardians, or the school he or she attends.<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

If you\u2019re having difficulty with your school district related to compulsory education, homeschooling, or attendance, you should consult with an experienced Oklahoma education lawyer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/i><\/b> State laws are revised all the time. It\u2019s important to contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify these laws.<\/i><\/p>\n

Research the Law<\/h2>\n