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Question: Can a 16 year old dropout?

Answer:

No. Arizona law (A.R.S. § 15-803) states that 'It is unlawful for any child between six and sixteen years of age to fail to attend school during the hours school is in session.' So, a kid must be over 16 years of age to legally drop out of school.

 

However, there are some exceptions to this rule (A.R.S. § 15-802). If a kids is 16 or under, he can legally not attend school only if he and his parents prove to the school's principal that:

1. The child is in such physical or mental condition that instruction is inexpedient or impracticable.

2. The child has completed high school studies necessary for completion of grade ten.

3. The child is over fourteen years of age and is, with the consent of the person who has custody of him, employed at some lawful wage earning occupation.

4. The child is enrolled in a work training, career education, vocational or manual training program which meets the approved standards.

5. The child is either: (a) Suspended and not directed to participate in an alternative education program. (b) Expelled from a public school.

7. The child is enrolled in an education program provided by a state institution.

Special Thanks to the Arizona Department of Education for assistance answering this question.


Comments
21 thru 25 of 35 comments
On 12/31/03
Dylan from NY said:
As a seventeen-year-old man, I am planning to drop out from high school. Why? School is destroying me, and I have no time to learn what I want to learn and study what I want to study. Oh, and reading (attempting to read) your comment has proven to me that you learned nothing about English in school. Your English skills are obviously nonexistent. You have been failed by your school. Your argument is flawed. Your school apparently never taught you critical evaluation. I have never been taught logic, rhetoric, or critical thinking; I have learned it on my own. I have learned everything I find
On 11/18/03
Kayla from WA said:
I think that kids should not have the right to dropout at 14 or 16 working at a gas station is not a good job to support a family and have a college fund for your kids if they don't choose to dropout!SO keep in school and get the education u need!
On 11/18/03
Tissy from WA said:
I strongly believe that kids shouldn't have the right to dropout no matter what age you are becasue if we did dropout then we would all be working in gas stations and fast food places and I would never want to do that I accutally want to do good and be smart instead of dropingout you could accually graduate and get a good job or at least a decant job. Be smart and don't drope out whats the point???
On 11/18/03
kayla from WA said:
Why drop out when u can get a ged that's a stupid idea and nobody should do that so stay in school DONT DROP OUT!
On 11/18/03
Tissy from WA said:
I think anyone that thinks it is ok for kids to dropout is CRAZY because kids shouldn't be aloud to dropout at all just because you think you know every thing doesn't mean you do. I think that we all have a lot more to learn. Learning is so not overrated so many people know so little and I think it is our job to teach them what we know or have learned. Even we ourselves don't know as much as we'd like to think.
21 thru 25 of 35 comments



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