Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 76 - School Attendance
Section 2 - Duties of Parents; Penalty

Section 2. Every person in control of a child described in section one shall cause him to attend school as therein required, and, if he fails so to do for seven day sessions or fourteen half day sessions within any period of six months, he shall, on complaint by a supervisor of attendance, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars. No physical or mental condition capable of correction, or rendering the child a fit subject for special instruction at public charge in institutions other than public day schools, shall avail as a defence unless it appears that the defendant has employed all reasonable measures for the correction of the condition and the suitable instruction of the child. The Boston juvenile court shall have jurisdiction within the territorial limits described in section fifty-seven of chapter two hundred and eighteen of complaints hereunder. The Worcester juvenile court shall have jurisdiction, concurrent with the central district court of Worcester, of complaints hereunder. The Springfield juvenile court shall have jurisdiction, concurrent with the district court of Springfield, of complaints hereunder. The Bristol county juvenile court shall have jurisdiction, concurrent with all of the district courts of Bristol county, of complaints hereunder, and the presiding judge of said court shall establish hearing dates on a circuit basis to be held in such respective courts. Complaints hereunder brought in other district courts shall be heard in the juvenile sessions thereof.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title XII - Education

Chapter 76 - School Attendance

Section 1 - Requirements and Exceptions

Section 1a - Pupil Absence Notification Programs

Section 1b - Pupil Absence Notification Program

Section 2 - Duties of Parents; Penalty

Section 2a - Attendance of Deaf Children; Penalty

Section 3 - Attendance of Illiterate Minors; Penalties

Section 4 - Inducing Absences; Penalty

Section 5 - Place of Attendance; Violations; Discrimination

Section 6 - Payment of Tuition for Non-Resident Children

Section 7 - Tuition; Children Under Control of Department of Children and Families; Foster Care; Reimbursement

Section 9 - High School Tuition of Children Under Control of Department of Public Welfare, Etc.

Section 10 - Settlements of Accounts Between Towns and Department of Public Welfare, Etc.

Section 11 - Tuition of Children in Institutions

Section 12 - Attendance Outside Place of Residence

Section 12a - Plan for Attendance in Public School to Eliminate Racial Imbalance; Adoption; Financial and Technical Assistance

Section 12b - Definitions; Attendance of School Other Than in City or Town of Residence of Child; Reports; Tuition; Parent Information System; Transportation Reimbursement Program; Funding

Section 12c - School Choice Tuition Trust Fund

Section 13 - Transfer Cards

Section 14 - Island Children; Transportation

Section 15 - Vaccination and Immunization

Section 15a - Sickle Cell Anemia; Blood Tests

Section 15b - Screening Programs, Testing, Treatment, Etc. for Sickle Cell Anemia and Related Genetically-Linked Diseases; Rules and Regulations; Records and Information, Disclosure Restricted

Section 15c - Immunization of College Health Science Students

Section 15d - Meningococcal Disease; College Students Immunization

Section 16 - Children Excluded From School; Remedies

Section 17 - Hearing Prerequisite to Exclusion

Section 18 - Notice to Parent or Guardian and Meeting With School Committee Prerequisite to Student Permanently Leaving School; Annual Report; Application of Section

Section 19 - Supervisors of Attendance; Employment

Section 20 - Powers and Duties of Supervisors of Attendance

Section 21 - Opportunity for Academic Progress for Suspended Students; Education Service Plans; Alternative Educational Services