Compulsory Attendance

Illinois law requires Regional Superintendents and their staff of truancy officials to enforce the Compulsory Attendance Law. This law, Section 26-1 of Illinois School Code, allows children to attend non-public schools where the required branches of education are taught, and the instruction occurs in the English Language. 

So the requirements of the law are:

• The child, between the ages of 6 and 17 years (unless they have already graduated) shall attend school.

• The school must teach the required branches of education. 

  • Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading, Language Arts, Fine Arts, Physical Education and Health)

• Instruction must occur in the English language

Specifically, as of the 2014-2015, the law is written as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 26 heading)

                       Article 26. PUPILS--COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE

  (105 ILCS 5/26-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 26-1)

   Sec. 26-1. Compulsory school age-Exemptions. Whoever has custody or control of any child (i) between the ages of 7 and 17 years (unless the child has already graduated from high school) for school years before the 2014-2015 school year or (ii) between the ages of 6 (on or before September 1) and 17 years (unless the child has already graduated from high school) beginning with the 2014-2015 school year shall cause such child to attend some public school in the district wherein the child resides the entire time it is in session during the regular school term, except as provided in Section 10-9.1, and during a required summer school program established under Section 10-22.33B; provided, that the following children shall not be required to attend the public schools:

       1. Any child attending a private or a parochial school where children are taught the branches of education taught to children of corresponding age and grade in the public schools, and where the instruction of the child in the branches of education is in the English Language;