Under Michigan law, the Dearborn Schools District is responsible to inform parents and guardians of of your responsibility for the education of your student. The state law is explained in the following sections:
Section 380.1561
Every parent, guardian, or other person in the State of Michigan having control and charge of any child between the ages of 6 and 18 years, shall be required to send such child, equipped with the proper textbooks necessary to pursue his or her schoolwork, to the public school during the entire school year, and such attendance shall be continuous and consecutive for the entire school year fixed by the school district in which such child is enrolled. There is a stipulation that the age requirement depends on when the student turned 11 or entered sixth grade:
- Age 6 through 18: Applies to students who turned 11 on or after December 1, 2009, or who entered sixth grade in 2009 or later.
- Age 6 through 16: Applies to the older, limited group of students who turned 11 before December 1, 2009, or entered sixth grade before 2009.
- Exception: For students covered by the 18-year requirement, a parent or legal guardian may provide written permission for the student to stop attending at age 16. These forms are available in the Student Services Office.
Section 380.1587
If a parent or other person in parental relation fails to send a child under his or her control to the public school or other school listed under Section 1561, the attendance officer, upon receiving notice in person or by registered mail to the parent or other person in parental relation requiring the child to appear at the public school or other school on the next regular school day following the receipt of notice, and to continue in regular and consecutive attendance in school.
Section 380.1599
In case any person, parent, or other person in parental relation shall fail to comply with the provision of this act, he or she shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall on conviction thereof be punished by a fine of not less than $5.00 nor more than $50.00 or imprisonment in the county or city jail for not less than 2 nor more than 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.
For more information, contact Student Services at (313) 827-3005.