How Long Can a Child Legally Be Out of School When Moving?

Moving with kids is a big job, and one of the top concerns for parents is making sure their children stay on track academically. Whether you’re moving across town or to a new state, knowing how long your child can legally be out of school is essential to avoid any disruptions in their education — or worse, issues with school attendance laws. Here’s everything you need to know about school absences for moving, including state-by-state guidelines and tips to make the transition as smooth as possible.

General Guidelines for School Absences Due to Moving

In the U.S., each state has its own compulsory attendance laws to ensure that children are enrolled in and attending school. While these laws vary, they generally share a few common principles:

Grace Periods: Many states allow a short grace period (typically 5 to 10 days) to enroll a child in a new school after a move.
Excused Absences: Some schools provide excused absences specifically for moving, often between 3 and 5 days.
Documentation Requirements: New schools may require proof of residency or other documents before a child can attend, which may influence enrollment timing.

While these are broad guidelines, specific requirements vary greatly across states, so we’ve compiled a breakdown of state-specific policies.

Special Considerations for Military Families

Many states participate in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which eases the transition for children of military families by allowing more time for enrollment and excusing absences related to relocation.

Alabama

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: 18 days. Students may miss up to 10% of the school year for excused and unexcused reasons.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 3-5 days. Children are expected to enroll as soon as possible, with truancy concerns if unexcused absences extend beyond the grace period.

Alaska

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Students can miss no more than 17 days per year.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days. Absences beyond this may be excused if families communicate with the new school and provide proof of residency.

Arizona

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Students absent for ten consecutive school days (except for excused absences) are withdrawn from school.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days. Schools allow up to 5 days for re-enrollment after moving.

Arkansas

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Students absent for more than ten consecutive school days may face intervention.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days. Requires re-enrollment within 10 days; additional time may need a temporary homeschooling arrangement.

California

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Truancy is defined as missing more than 30 minutes without an excuse three times per year.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days. Schools permit up to 10 days for enrollment, with up to 5 days of excused absences for moving.

Colorado

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Habitual truancy is defined as four unexcused absences in a month or 10 in a school year; chronic absenteeism at 10% of the year’s total days.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 7 days, with 3-5 excused absences allowed for moves.

Connecticut

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: A truant is defined as having four unexcused absences in a month or 10 in a school year. Schools must meet with parents/guardians within 10 days if truancy occurs.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5-7 days, with re-enrollment expected within this timeframe.

Delaware

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: A student is truant after more than three unexcused absences per year.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days, allowing up to 5 days of excused absences for moving.

Florida

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: A “habitual truant” has 15 or more unexcused absences within 90 days.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days, with flexibility for interstate moves.

Georgia

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Children ages 6-16 are required to attend school for 180 days. A child is truant after five unexcused absences.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days, with communication expected with the new school for additional flexibility.

Hawaii

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 15 or more days of school in a year.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5-10 days, with additional time possible on a case-by-case basis.

Idaho

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Students may lose credit if they miss more than ten days per semester.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days for school transitions.

Illinois

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Chronic truancy is defined as 5% absence of the school year without a valid cause.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5-10 days, depending on district policies.

Indiana

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Students are considered chronically absent if they miss 10%, or 18 days, including excused and unexcused absences.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days for re-enrollment after a move.

Iowa

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Requires student engagement meetings if non-exempt absences exceed 15% in a grading period.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 7-10 days for re-enrollment.

Kansas

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Truancy is defined as three unexcused absences in a row, five in a semester, or seven in a school year.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 7 days for school re-enrollment, especially in-state moves.

Kentucky

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Elementary parents face penalties if children miss over 15 days unexcused; older students enter a diversion period.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days for re-enrollment, with flexibility for moves across state lines.

Louisiana

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Up to three days per year are excused for mental or behavioral health.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days allowed for re-enrollment.

Maine

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Truancy is defined as 10 unexcused days or seven consecutive unexcused days for students in grade 6+.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days for re-enrollment, extendable for cross-state moves.

Maryland

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: A student is truant if unlawfully absent more than eight days in any quarter, 15 in a semester, or 20 in a school year.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days to re-enroll after moving.

Massachusetts

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools may excuse up to seven full-day absences in six months for students aged 6-16.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5-7 days, depending on the district.

Michigan

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must develop and implement an absenteeism plan, which could include notifying parents if a child misses 10% of the school year.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days for re-enrollment with proof of residence.

Minnesota

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools are required to monitor attendance and intervene when a student is absent for three days or more without a valid excuse.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 7 days for re-enrollment.

Mississippi

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: The state has a law requiring schools to notify parents when their child has excessive absences, typically defined as 10 or more unexcused absences in a school year.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 7 days after moving.

Missouri

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must track attendance and notify parents if a student is excessively absent, usually defined as missing 10% of the school year.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days for re-enrollment, though schools may allow extra time.

Montana

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must have a plan for reducing chronic absenteeism and provide interventions for students who are frequently absent.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days after moving.

Nebraska

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools are required to notify parents if their child misses more than 5 days in a semester without an excuse.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days for re-enrollment.

Nevada

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must identify students with chronic absenteeism and create plans to address the issue.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days for re-enrollment.

New Hampshire

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must monitor attendance and notify parents of excessive absences.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5-7 days for re-enrollment.

New Jersey

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: New Jersey requires schools to notify parents if a child is absent for 10 consecutive days without a valid excuse.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 7 days after moving.

New Mexico

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must implement a strategy to combat chronic absenteeism and notify parents of excessive absences.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days after moving.

New York

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must have a policy to address chronic absenteeism and notify parents of absences.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 3-5 days after moving.

North Carolina

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must inform parents when a student misses 10 or more days of school without a valid excuse.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5-10 days for re-enrollment.

North Dakota

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools are required to monitor attendance and intervene when students are excessively absent.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days after moving.

Ohio

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must notify parents of chronic absenteeism, which is defined as missing 10% of the school year.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days after moving.

Oklahoma

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must report excessive absences and work with families to address the issue.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days after moving.

Oregon

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must develop plans to address chronic absenteeism and notify parents.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5-10 days for re-enrollment.

Pennsylvania

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must monitor attendance and notify parents of excessive absences.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days after moving.

Rhode Island

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools are required to have a plan for monitoring and addressing absenteeism.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days for re-enrollment.

South Carolina

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must inform parents when students are excessively absent and work on interventions.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days after moving.

South Dakota

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must monitor attendance and notify parents of excessive absences.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5-10 days for re-enrollment.

Tennessee

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must develop attendance plans and notify parents of chronic absenteeism.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days after moving.

Texas

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must notify parents when a student has been absent for a certain number of days.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days after moving.

Utah

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must track attendance and work with families of chronically absent students.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days after moving.

Vermont

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must notify parents of excessive absences and have plans to improve attendance.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days for re-enrollment.

Virginia

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must notify parents when a child misses a certain number of days and develop intervention plans.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10-15 days after moving.

Washington

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must monitor attendance and have intervention plans for excessive absenteeism.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days after moving.

West Virginia

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools are required to notify parents of excessive absences and have a plan to address attendance issues.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days after moving.

Wisconsin

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools must notify parents when a student misses a specific number of days.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 5 days for re-enrollment.

Wyoming

Chronic Absenteeism Policy: Schools are required to have plans to address chronic absenteeism and notify parents.
Grace Period for Enrollment: 10 days after moving.

Let Professional Movers Do The Heavy Lifting

Moving to a new home can be exciting yet overwhelming. While you prioritize your family’s needs and settle into your new community, pick a professional moving company to handle the logistics.

Professional movers take care of the heavy lifting, allowing you to focus on what matters most: making your new house a home.

Q: Which state has the longest school year?

A: Kansas holds the distinction of having the longest required school year in the United States. The state mandates a school year of 186 days for kindergarten through 11th grade and 181 days for 12th grade. Other states with longer school years include:

Kansas – 186 days (K-11) and 181 days (12th grade)
Texas – 180 days
Alabama – 180 days
California – 180 days
Florida – 180 days

Q: Which state has the shortest school year?

A: The state with the shortest minimum required school year is Colorado, with only 160 days. Here’s a list of the top five states with the shortest school years:

Colorado – 160 days
Minnesota – 165 days
Kentucky – 170 days
Wyoming – 175 days
Vermont – 175 days

How Long Can a Child Legally Be Out of School When Moving?