Under Maryland’s compulsory education law, students must attend school from the time they’re five years old until they earn a high school diploma or turn 18. But the law has many exceptions that allow certain students to drop out early or attend alternative education or career training. Read on to learn about those exceptions and the requirements for taking the GED.
Early Dropouts and School Alternatives
Maryland students who are younger than 18 may legally drop out of school if they are:
- married
- in the military, or
- providing financial support for their families and have proper documentation of that support.
Also, certain under-18 students aren’t required to attend regular full-time school, including those who are:
- taking prep courses for the GED high school equivalency test
- attending an alternative educational program or receiving the same instruction offered in public schools (such as through homeschooling)
- pregnant and enrolled in an alternative education program
- attending public school part-time while going to a private career school, with their parents’ permission; or
- receiving home or hospital instruction because they’re seriously ill.
Finally, some special education students may stop going to school after completing Maryland’s high school certificate of completion if their disabilities prevent them from meeting the diploma requirements but they’ve developed the skills needed to move on to adult life. (Md. Code Ann., Educ. § 7-301, Md. Code Regs. § 13A.03.02.09(E) (2019).)
High School Equivalency Tests
Former students who are 17 or 18 may take the Maryland GED test if have documentation showing that they’re state residents and have officially withdrawn from school. Anyone who passes the test will receive the equivalent of a high school diploma.
When Maryland Students Stop Going to School Regularly
Besides the long-term financial consequences of dropping out, Maryland students may face more immediate consequences if they just stop attending classes while they’re still under the compulsory education requirements. Maryland requires public schools to refer truant students to active intervention programs. Also, students who are younger than 16 won’t be able to get a learner’s driving permit if they had more than 10 unexcused absences during the previous semester. (Md. Code Ann., Educ. § 7-302.2; Transportation, § 16-105 (2019).)