School Attendance
R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-19-1 — every child from six until eighteen, and $50 a day for a parent's neglect
A child who is six years of life by September 1, or is in kindergarten, and has not completed eighteen years, regularly attends school whenever the public schools are in session.
Before referring a truant student to family court, the school consults the parent and coordinates with the student's support team.
The parent's duty. A person in charge of a child who neglects to send the child is fined not more than $50 for each day missed. If the days missed total more than thirty in a year, the penalty is up to six months, or up to $500, or both.
Approved private schooling and home instruction satisfy the law. A particular situation is a question for the school or a licensed Rhode Island attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-19-1 — Attendance required
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Rhode Island attorney.