Arizona HB2292 Seeks to increase compulsory schooling age to 18
The Arizona House has introduced a bill that would change the rules for school attendance. The bill affects home and charter schools, and erodes parental rights.
A new House Bill was introduced in the Arizona State House of Representatives this week which increases the compulsory schooling age from sixteen (16) to eighteen (18) years. The bill is essentially a re-introduction of a 2006 bill that was voted down. If passed, this new bill would arbitrarily increase the number of years a child would be required to remain in a school. The bill affects public, charter, private, and home schools.
Under Arizona's current law, children are required to be formally schooled between the ages of six (6) and sixteen (16), or until they have reached a tenth (10th) grade education level. Once those criteria are met, current law would allow the child to pursue an early career, personal study, or an early college education. House Bill 2292 would restrict those rights.
Joseph Lyman, owner and developer of an upcoming social networking site for political involvement, notes that: "compulsory school ages are the subject of constant attack. School administrators and special interests are consistently pushing to get children into schools earlier, and keep them there longer. They do this because they know that younger children are more impressionable, and they know that the longer the child is in school, the more funding they generate."
Under the bill, parents who fail to comply with these new regulations would be guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor. The bill takes away parental rights and controls, and endeavors to enforce the changes by law. If passed, the new bill would alter the way charter and home schools would have to operate in Arizona, increasing cost and complexity, while eroding educational freedom.
House Bill 2292 was introduced by Arizona Representatives David Schapira (D), Eric Meyer (D), Daniel Patterson (D), Rae Waters (D): Steve Court (R), Rich Crandall (R), and Nancy Young Wright (D). Members of the community are urged to contact these representatives to make their opinions known. Their email addresses, and phone numbers can be found on the Arizona State Legislature's website, http://www.azleg.state.az.us/MemberRoster.asp
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