08/07/2026
We made a previous post about School Attendance, but it is important enough that we wanted to send out a second one now that schools are fully back in session. School attendance is NOT OPTIONAL. Students MUST BE IN SCHOOL. Every year the schools send information to the Prosecutor’s Office reporting chronic absenteeism with students that miss over the limit. The Prosecutor’s Office will prosecute these cases that are sent by the school systems. The schools are required by law to report.
The schools in Grant County are in direct communication with the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office Investigators regarding School Attendance issues. Under Indiana Law, parents and guardians are responsible for seeing that children attend school. Below are some things to be mindful of:
1. It is unlawful for a parent to fail to ensure that his/her child attends school as required under our Compulsory Attendance Statute (Indiana Code 20-33-2-27).
2. It is unlawful for a parent to fail, neglect, or refuse to send his/her child to school for a full term as required under our Compulsory Attendance Statute (Indiana Code 20-33-2-28).
3. It is unlawful for a parent to fail or refuse to produce a certificate of the incapacity of a child signed by an Indiana physician. When a parent does not send the child to school because of the child’s illness or physical / mental capacity, the certificate must be provided within six (6) days (Indiana Code 20-33-2-18).
4. It is unlawful for a person having the care of a dependent, whether assumed voluntarily or because of a legal obligation, to knowingly or intentionally deprive the dependent of education as required by law (Indiana Code 35-46-1-4).
5. It is unlawful for a student to be “chronically absent” which is defined as missing 10% or more of a school year (Indiana Code 20-18-2-2.4)
If you have questions regarding school attendance laws, please contact Prosecutor Investigator’s John Kauffman or Justin Faw at 765-664-0739.
