Compulsory Education Laws and Their Impact on Public and Private Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This paper, the third in a series, explores some of the implications of compulsory education for public schools, private schools, and home instruction. Based on prior studies and on interviews with 120 education leaders in 15 states, the paper reviews compulsory education policies throughout the nation. It concludes with a recommendation that compulsory education requirements be kept at a minimum and that reforms be achieved through a public education program that is so enticing that students will want to take advantage of it. After a brief introduction, a series of tables compares compulsory education laws and policies in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the trust territories. Thereafter, compulsory education laws are discussed in relation to public and private schools, respectively. Another set of tables illustrates state regulation of private schools throughout the nation, followed by a brief survey of court challenges. The third section discusses compulsory education laws in relation to home instruction, and likewise presents comparative tables for the states and territories, along with a survey of litigation. Remaining sections discuss political considerations, examples of revised compulsory education in selected states, and conclusions. Suggested legislation based on this review is presented in the appendix. References and selected court cases are listed. (TE)