Under Arizona's “compulsory education” laws, children must attend public, private, or home school until their 16th birthday. Below is a summary of the state’s requirements for staying in school, dropping out, and getting high school equivalency diplomas.
Requirements for Dropping Out Legally
Arizona is one of a handful of states that still allow students to drop out of school as soon as they turn 16. And unlike some states in this group, Arizona doesn’t make teenagers get their parents’ permission or fulfill any other requirements for leaving school after their 16th birthday. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-803 (2019).)
Other Exemptions from Attendance Requirements
Some children younger than 16 also don’t have to attend school if they:
- have finished tenth grade
- are 15 years old and have a legal job with a custodial parent’s consent
- are enrolled in certain kinds of training or alternative education programs, such as work training or career and technical education
- have a physical or mental condition that makes education impractical
- have been suspended or expelled from school, or
- have shown another reason that’s satisfactory to the principal.
(Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 15-802 (2019).)
Costs of Truancy
Most people know that dropping out of school is likely to bring financial consequences down the road. But they might not realize that when students skip too much school before they’re eligible to drop out, there could be more immediate legal consequences for the truants (and their parents) in Arizona.
High School Equivalency Tests
Arizona dropouts who are at least 16 years old may receive a state-issued high school diploma if they pass an approved high school equivalency test (like the GED plus the Arizona Civics Test). If they’re under 18, however, they can’t take the test without their parents’ signed, notarized consent. (Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-307 (2019).)