COMPULSORY EDUCATION: Students who are between the ages of six and eighteen years, and not otherwise exempted, are subject to compulsory full-time education. Students who are at least sixteen years of age are allowed to attend school parttime through a continuation or other alternative education program. Parents are required by law to send their children to school. Failure to comply with these requirements may lead to a referral to a School Attendance Review Team (SART), a School Attendance Review Board (SARB), the District or City Attorney's Office, and/or the Juvenile Court. When necessary, legal action can be taken against the parent or the student, depending on who is responsible for failing to comply.
Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County have loitering ordinances. They prohibit any person under the age of eighteen and subject to compulsory school attendance from loitering in or upon the public streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds, or other public grounds during school hours on days when school is in session. Students who violate these ordinances may receive a citation, may have to appear in court with his/her parent/guardian, may have a fine imposed by the court, and risk having his/her driver's license held.