(A) TRUANCY means the unexcused absence of any child age 6 to 16 from any school. The occurrence of 5 unexcused absences of any child age 6 to 16 during a school year shall raise a presumption that the child was truant and in violation of this section.
(B) TRUANT is an unexcused absence for at least 1 class period during the day.
(C) UNEXCUSED ABSENCE is an absence that within 24 hours after it has occurred has not been authorized by the parents, guardian or any person having legal custody of any pupil age 6 to 16 enrolled in a school. It shall be presumed that an absence is an unexcused absence for purposes of this section upon the failure of the parents, guardian or any person having legal custody of any pupil age 6 to 16 enrolled in a school to contact the school and authorize the absence within 24 hours after the absence.
(D) Every parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of a minor child between the ages of 6 and 16 years shall send the child to school for the full time that school is in session within the school district in which the minor resides, except that if a school is operated on a year-round basis the minor shall attend school sessions which total not less than 175 days, or the equivalent as approved by the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction during the school year.
(E) It is unlawful for any person under the age of 16 years to fail to attend school during regularly scheduled school sessions unless authorized not to attend school by their parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the minor. This division shall not apply to any minor who has been excused by either the Pinal County School Superintendent or the Maricopa County School Superintendent pursuant to A.R.S. § 15-802(D)(1) through (7) or as hereafter may be amended.
(F) A person is excused from the duty imposed by division (A) above if any of the requirements of A.R.S. § 15-802(D)(1) through (7), or as hereafter may be amended, are met.
(G) The school attendance officer or school district employees who have knowledge of a child between the ages of 6 and 16 years and/or a parent and/or guardian and/or other person having legal custody of a minor child who is in violation of this section or A.R.S. § 15-802 by having 5 unexcused absences during a semester or a cumulative of 7 or more unexcused absences during the school year have a duty to report the violation to the local law enforcement agency or prosecutor and request that it investigate and/or prosecute the violation. The local law enforcement agency or prosecutor shall annually notify the School Superintendent of each school district within the city of the school district under this section.
(H) Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter, shall be guilty of a Class 1 Misdemeanor, and shall be subject to the penalty and multiple charging provisions set forth in Vol. I, § 1-1-11.
(Prior Code, § 10-1-29) Penalty, see Vol. I, § 1-1-11