The bill proposes to repeal and replace section 167.031 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, which pertains to school attendance requirements. The new section mandates that every parent, guardian, or person responsible for a child must enroll the child in an academic program once they reach at least five years of age, but not older than the compulsory attendance age set by the district. The bill clarifies that nonattendance will result in a violation of existing laws, and it specifies that children who are at least five years old but not older than the compulsory attendance age must attend school regularly. Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for excusing children from attendance due to mental or physical incapacitation, and it removes previous language that allowed for exemptions based on age or employment status. It also establishes that the compulsory attendance age can be set at seventeen for metropolitan districts, with the option to lower it to sixteen. Furthermore, the bill grants enforcement authority to the board of education in cities not within a county to ensure compliance with compulsory attendance for children aged five and older.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (6005H.01): 167.031