# D.C. Code § 38-202: Establishment of school attendance requirements

> District of Columbia · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-202

## Section

- **Citation:** D.C. Code § 38-202
- **Heading:** Establishment of school attendance requirements
- **Jurisdiction:** District of Columbia
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DC Code / Title 38 / Chapter 2 / § 38-202

## Text

(a) Every parent, guardian, or other person, who resides permanently or temporarily in the District during any school year and who has custody or control of a minor who has reached the age of 5 years or will become 5 years of age on or before September 30th of the current school year shall place the minor in regular attendance in an educational institution during the period of each year when the public schools of the District are in session. This obligation of the parent, guardian, or other person having custody extends until the minor reaches the age of 18 years. For the purpose of this section placement in summer school is not required.
(b) Any minor who has satisfactorily completed the senior high school course of study prescribed by the Board and has been granted a diploma that certifies his or her graduation from high school, or who holds a diploma or certificate of graduation from another course of study determined by the Board to be at least equivalent to that required by the Board for graduation from the public senior high schools, shall be excused from further attendance at school.
(c) Any minor who has reached the age of 17 years may be allowed flexible school hours by the head of the educational institution in which the minor is enrolled provided he or she is actually, lawfully, gainfully, and regularly employed, but in no case shall he or she be excused entirely from regular attendance or excused to the extent that his or her timely graduation would be jeopardized or prevented.
(d) The Board shall, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 , issue rules to establish requirements to govern acceptable credit for studies completed at independent or private schools and private instruction, to govern the selection and appointment of appropriate staff members to carry out the provisions of this chapter under the direction of the Superintendent of Schools, pursuant to Chapter 6 of Title 1 , and in respect to other matters within the scope of authority of the Board that relates to this subchapter.

## Nearby sections

- [D.C. Code § 38-201 § 38-201. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-201.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-202 § 38-202. Establishment of school attendance requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-202.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-203 § 38-203. Enforcement; penalties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-203.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-204 § 38-204. Census of minors.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-204.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-205 § 38-205. Report of enrollments and withdrawals.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-205.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-206 § 38-206. Penalty for failure to provide correct information.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-206.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-207 § 38-207. Authority of police over truant child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-207.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-208 § 38-208. Truancy procedures; inter-agency coordination.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-208.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-209 § 38-209. Reporting requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-209.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-211 § 38-211. Department of School Attendance and Work Permits — Creation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-211.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-212 § 38-212. Department of School Attendance and Work Permits — Director; appointments.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-212.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-213 § 38-213. Court jurisdiction.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-213.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-221 § 38-221. Attendance zone boundaries; establishment, modification, alteration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-221.md)
- [D.C. Code § 38-231 § 38-231. Expulsion of students who bring weapons into public schools.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-231.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T38_C2_S38-202. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.