ABSTRACT
In every state, parents are required by law to enroll their children in a public school or a stateapproved alternative. State legislation typically specifies the period of mandatory attendance, the age at which a child must be enrolled in school, the age at which a student may withdraw or be withdrawn from school, residency and other eligibility criteria for attendance in particular districts or schools, and the types of schools or programs that satisfy compulsory school attendance requirements. In most states, local school officials are charged with enforcing compulsory schooling laws. School officials may also be responsible for monitoring or evaluating local alternatives to public or private schools, including homeschooling, cyber-schooling, and other forms of home-based education. In a handful of states, school officials are currently required to verify the immigration status of students, though the constitutionality of such requirements has been challenged.
