May a school refuse to enroll a child between the ages of 7 and 18, who has not been suspended or expelled if the child lives in the school corporation area?
No. If a child is presented for enrollment after the beginning of school the child must be enrolled. Children must be in school when the school is in session. Failure to be in school when the school is in session may be truancy. Some schools have a 10 or 15 day limit and if a child comes to school after that limit the school refuses to enroll them. That policy violates the Compulsory School Attendance Law and may not be legally enforced. See I.C. 20-33-2-5. Also, school officials who knowingly deny enrollment to a child required to be in school by the Compulsory School Attendance Law violate Indiana law requiring children’s attendance in schools. See I.C. 20-33-2-29. This violation of law is a Class B misdemeanor. Each day is a separate offense. See I.C. 20-33-2-29 and I.C. 20-33-2-44.
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