Indiana school laws require children to attend school from the year they turn seven until they turn eighteen or graduate, and they cover enrollment, immunizations, discipline, special education, school choice, safety drills, and homeschooling. The rules apply to public, private, and home-educated students, and parents carry the legal responsibility for making attendance happen.1IN.gov. Attendance FAQ
Who Must Attend School
Compulsory attendance runs from the fall of the year your child turns seven through age eighteen or graduation, whichever comes first. Most children start kindergarten at five, but the legal obligation begins at seven.1IN.gov. Attendance FAQ
There is one narrow way out before eighteen. A student who is at least sixteen can withdraw only if all four of these happen: the school conducts a formal exit interview with the student and parent; the parent consents in writing; the principal consents in writing; and the reason is financial hardship requiring the student to work, illness, or a court order. During the exit interview, the principal must share state statistics on the consequences of not finishing high school and warn that withdrawing may lead to revocation of the student’s driver’s license or learner’s permit.2Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 20-33-2-28.5 – Requirements for Exit Interview Wanting to quit is not enough. Without principal approval, the student stays enrolled.
Enrolling Your Child
For a first enrollment, you’ll need a birth certificate or other reliable proof of your child’s date of birth. If you don’t have one within 30 days of enrollment, the school must notify the Indiana Clearinghouse for Information on Missing Children.3Indiana Department of Education. Enrollment Restrictions and Denial of Enrollment
A common misconception: schools cannot deny enrollment simply because you lack a utility bill, lease, or other proof of address. Schools may ask for documents to help determine where a child lives, but a child cannot be turned away for lack of residency paperwork alone.3Indiana Department of Education. Enrollment Restrictions and Denial of Enrollment
Immunizations are required. Indiana mandates vaccinations for diseases including measles, mumps, rubella, and polio, among others.4IN.gov. Required and Recommended School Immunizations Indiana 2024-2025 A religious exemption is available by written statement, signed and delivered to the child’s teacher or the person who would otherwise order the immunization.5IN.gov. Vaccination Exemption Pursuant to Indiana Code 20-34-3-2 A medical exemption is available when a physician certifies that a vaccine would be harmful.
Special Enrollment Protections
Students experiencing homelessness have the right to enroll immediately, even without a birth certificate, proof of residence, previous school records, or immunization records. Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, they can also choose between the local school and their school of origin.6U.S. Department of Education. Identifying and Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness
Non-citizen students, including undocumented children, have a federal right to enroll in public schools. Schools cannot ask about immigration status or deny enrollment based on a child’s or parent’s citizenship.7U.S. Department of Education. Fact Sheet – Educational Services for Immigrant Children
For transfers, prior academic records must be provided, but a school cannot deny enrollment based on past academic performance. It may assess a student for appropriate grade placement.
Attendance and Truancy
Indiana defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10 percent or more of school days, counting both excused and unexcused absences. Schools track this and report it to the Indiana Department of Education, and when a student piles up absences, the school must notify parents and put interventions in place.8Indiana Department of Education. Chronic Absenteeism
Unexcused absences can classify a student as a habitual truant, which carries legal consequences for both student and parent. Referrals can pull in the juvenile justice system and produce court-ordered attendance plans.
Suspension and Expulsion
A principal can suspend a student for up to ten school days.9Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 20-33-8-18 – Maximum Term of Suspension Expulsion requires more. Before a hearing, the school must notify the student and parent of the right to appear by certified mail, personal delivery, or email if the parent previously provided one. The notice must state the reasons for the proposed expulsion and describe the process.10Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 20-33-8-19 – Expulsion Procedure and Appeals
At the hearing, students can present evidence and challenge the school’s allegations. The hearing examiner must be someone not involved in the underlying events. If expulsion is upheld, parents can appeal.10Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 20-33-8-19 – Expulsion Procedure and Appeals
Extra Protection for Students with Disabilities
Federal law adds a step for students with an IEP. When a school proposes removal for more than ten consecutive school days, or when shorter removals form a pattern totaling more than ten days in a year, the school must first hold a manifestation determination review. That meeting decides whether the behavior was caused by or directly related to the disability.11IN.gov. Manifestation Determination One Pager
If the behavior is a manifestation of the disability, the school cannot proceed with expulsion and must address the situation through the IEP process. If it isn’t, the school can apply the same consequences it would for any other student. Parents who disagree with the determination can challenge it through due process.
Special Education Evaluations and IEPs
Public schools must identify, evaluate, and serve students with disabilities under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. You can request an evaluation at any time if you suspect your child has a disability that affects learning.
Once you give written consent, the school has 50 instructional days to complete the evaluation. That timeline shortens to 20 instructional days when the student participated in a Response to Intervention process or when an expedited evaluation is required due to discipline procedures.12IN.gov. Indicator 11 Monitoring and Compliance Guide If the student qualifies, the school develops an Individualized Education Program.
Parents can attend every IEP meeting, request independent evaluations if they disagree with the school’s findings, and challenge decisions through mediation or a formal due process hearing. Students who don’t qualify for an IEP but still need support may be covered under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, which reaches a broader range of conditions.
School Choice Programs
Indiana funds two programs that give families alternatives to their assigned public school.
Choice Scholarships
The Choice Scholarship Program provides public funding for students to attend participating private schools. A student must live in Indiana, be at least five and under 22, and come from a household with income at or below 400 percent of the federal free or reduced-price lunch threshold. For a family of four in 2025–2026, that income cap is $237,910.13IN.gov. Choice Scholarship Eligibility Overview 2025-2026
Indiana Education Scholarship Accounts
The Indiana Education Scholarship Account program targets students with disabilities and, as of July 2024, their siblings. Eligible students with a disability can receive up to $20,000 per year, and siblings without a disability can receive up to $8,000. Approved expenses include tuition, tutoring, curriculum and supplies, therapies, transportation, testing fees, and educational camps.14IN.gov. Treasurer – INESA – Indiana Education Scholarship Account
Safety Drills and Bullying
Every public school must hold at least one tornado drill and one manmade-occurrence drill per semester. At least one manmade-occurrence drill each year must be an active shooter drill, conducted within 90 days of the school year’s start. These drills can substitute for up to two fire evacuation drills per semester, but not in consecutive months. Charter schools and accredited nonpublic schools must also conduct at least one active shooter drill per year.15Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 20 Education 20-34-3-20
Every district’s discipline rules must include an anti-bullying policy with specific components: provisions for education and parental involvement, an expedited investigation procedure, and options for both anonymous and personal reporting to teachers or staff.16Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 20-33-8-13.5 – Discipline Rules Prohibiting Bullying The statute requires appropriate responses to bullying wherever it occurs, which extends to online conduct that disrupts the school environment. If your child is being bullied, document the incidents and report them in writing so there’s a record the school was notified.
Student Records and Digital Privacy
The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act gives parents the right to inspect their child’s school records and limits when schools can share personally identifiable information. Schools must respond to records requests within 45 days and cannot charge excessive fees for copies. If you find inaccuracies, you can challenge them through a formal appeal. Schools can share information without your consent only in narrow situations, such as complying with a court order or responding to a health and safety emergency.17eCFR. 34 CFR Part 99 – Family Educational Rights and Privacy
When schools use apps and websites that collect data from children under 13, the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act applies. Schools can consent on behalf of parents when the data collection is strictly for educational purposes, but vendors cannot use student information for their own commercial purposes without separate parental consent.18Federal Trade Commission. Complying with COPPA – Frequently Asked Questions You can ask the school what digital tools are collecting your child’s data.
Transportation
Districts must provide transportation but can set minimum distance thresholds for bus eligibility. Many districts provide free busing for elementary students living more than one mile from school and secondary students living beyond a mile and a half, though distances vary by district.
School bus drivers must hold a Commercial Driver’s License with the school bus “S” endorsement, which requires passing written knowledge tests for both passenger transport and school bus operation, plus a skills test in an actual school bus, along with background checks.19IN.gov. How Do I Obtain a School Bus Driver Certification Students with disabilities whose IEPs require specialized transportation must receive it at no cost, which can include door-to-door service, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, or an aide on the bus.
Homeschooling
Indiana is one of the least restrictive states for homeschooling. Parents are not required to register with the state, notify their school district, or submit curriculum for approval. The Indiana Department of Education offers a voluntary enrollment form, but submitting it is optional.20Indiana Department of Education. DOE – Homeschool Information
Homeschooled students are still subject to compulsory education, meaning instruction must be provided during the same age span (seven to eighteen) that applies to all students. If a homeschooled child later enrolls in a public school, the school may assess for grade placement but cannot deny enrollment based on how the child was previously educated.
Rights for English Language Learners
If your child’s first language is not English, schools have a federal obligation to provide meaningful access to education. The U.S. Supreme Court held in Lau v. Nichols that placing a non-English-speaking student in a regular classroom with the same textbooks and teachers isn’t enough; schools must take active steps to overcome the language barrier.21Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center. Lau v. Nichols
In practice, schools must identify English learners, provide language assistance services such as English as a Second Language instruction or bilingual education, and communicate with parents in a language they can understand when possible. Schools receiving federal Title III funding have additional reporting obligations and must track English learners’ progress toward proficiency and academic achievement.