Laws About Dropping Out of School in Tennessee
Tennessee enforces strict rules regarding attendance and dropping out of school. When a student decides he no longer wishes to attend school, both he and his parents face legal consequences. It is possible to legally drop out of school in Tennessee, but students must follow the rules outlined by the State Board of Education.
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Classification
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Tennessee defines a dropout as a student who was enrolled in school the previous year but is not enrolled this year. If the student notifies education authorities that she has enrolled in a different school or in an alternative education program, she may not be classified as a dropout. Schools record dropouts as under or over 18. Students who drop out of school and complete their GEDs in the same year are categorized as completers.
Ages
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Compulsory attendance in Tennessee requires students to attend school until they turn 18. The only exceptions are for students enrolled in a GED program or home school, and for students who cannot attend school for medical reasons. Students over 18 can drop out of school whenever they wish with no legal consequences regarding truancy. The local Board of Education can excuse a student from school for other reasons, but only on a temporary basis.
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Attendance
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Tennessee considers a student a dropout when he misses 10 consecutive days of school or incurs 15 unexcused absences in a single semester. For students over 18, the minimum drops to 10 unexcused absences. If students must stay home from school because of illness, injury or pregnancy, they can receive home bound instruction without penalty to grades or graduation. The Local Education Agency must approve such absences, and parents must keep the school informed.
GED
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A general educational development certificate presents one alternative to dropping out of school in Tennessee. When a student enrolls in a GED program and makes satisfactory progress, she is excused from attending public or private school. To obtain a GED, however, the student must obtain a recommendation from the director of schools prior to taking the test. The student must also enroll in a state-approved GED program to avoid being classified as a dropout.
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References
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