School Attendance
14 Del. C. § 2702 — enrolled from 5 to 16, truant after more than 3 unexcused days, and fines for the parent
Every parent, guardian or caregiver of a child between 5 and 16 years of age enrolls the child in the public school of their district, unless the child attends a private school or other approved instruction.
A student absent without a valid excuse for more than 3 school days in a school year is truant.
| Parent's offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Parent's offenseFirst | Penalty$25 to $300, up to 10 days, or both |
| Parent's offenseSecond | Penalty$50 to $500, up to 20 days, or both |
| Parent's offenseThird or more | Penalty$230 to $1,150, up to 30 days, or both |
The fine is meant to track the number of days missed. A particular case is a question for the school district or a licensed Delaware attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- 14 Del. C. § 2702 — Compulsory attendance requirements; evaluation of readiness; exit interview
- 14 Del. C. § 2721 — Definitions
- 14 Del. C. § 2729 — Failure to send; affirmative defense; penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Delaware attorney.