A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require the parent's consent before a child drops out of school.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑378 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑378.  Children required to attend.
(a)	Every parent, guardian or custodian in this State having charge or control of a child between the ages of seven and 18 years shall cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in  session, unless the child graduates from high school or the child drops out of school in accordance with subsection (a1) of this section. Every parent, guardian, or custodian in this State having charge or control of a child under age seven who is enrolled in a public school in grades kindergarten through two shall also cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in session unless the child has withdrawn from school.
(a1)	A child between the ages of 16 and 18 years of age may drop out of school only if (i) the child and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian attend a final counseling session at the school, (ii) during that session a statement to encourage the child to remain in school or to pursue educational alternatives is presented to the child and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian, and (iii) the child and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian sign the statement. The statement shall include information regarding the academic skills that the child has not yet achieved, the difference in future earning power between a high school graduate and a high school dropout, and a listing of educational alternatives that are available for the child.
…."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 115C‑238.66(3) reads as rewritten:
"(3)	School attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the regional school and who is less than 18 years of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time that the regional school shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school or the child drops out of school in accordance with G.S. 115C‑378(a1). No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the regional school. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the regional school shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The principal shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the board of directors, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 116‑235(b)(2) reads as rewritten:
"(2)	School Attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the School and who is less than 18 years of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the School shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school or the child drops out of school in accordance with G.S. 115C‑378(a1). No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the School. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the School shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Chancellor of the School shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the Board of Trustees, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 7B‑1501(27) reads as rewritten:
"(27)	Undisciplined juvenile. –
a.	A juvenile who, while less than 16 years of age but at least 6 years of age, is unlawfully absent from school; or is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours; 
a1.	A juvenile who is 16 or 17 years of age and who has not dropped out of school in accordance with G.S. 115C‑378(a1) is unlawfully absent from school; or is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours; or
b.	A juvenile who is 16 or 17 years of age who has dropped out of high school and who is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours."
SECTION 5.  G.S. 143B‑805(20) reads as rewritten:
"(20)	Undisciplined juvenile. –
a.	A juvenile who, while less than 16 years of age but at least 6 years of age, is unlawfully absent from school; or is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours;
a1.	A juvenile who is 16 or 17 years of age and who has not dropped out of school in accordance with G.S. 115C‑378(a1), is unlawfully absent from school; or is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours; or
b.	A juvenile who is 16 or 17 years of age who has dropped out of high school and who is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours."
SECTION 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2013‑2014 school year.