Parents in the US state of Missouri may be put behind bars if their kids fail to attend school on a regular basis. A lawsuit was recently heard by the Supreme Court of the US state. Caitlyn Williams and Tamarae LaRue’s lawsuit was against the state’s obligatory school attendance law, which threatens parents with jail time if their children miss school.
After her six-year-old son missed 13 school days, Tamarae LaRue was jailed for 15 days. Probation was lowered to two years. Caitlyn Williams was jailed for seven days after her kid missed 16 days of school in 2021–2022.
Both women were arrested after claiming their child was missing due to an ear illness, a coughing episode, and a doctor’s appointment.
Shaun Mackelprang, an associate attorney general representing the state before the Missouri Supreme Court, claimed that attending school every day of the scheduled year is “a regular basis.” Must I attend class daily? He confirmed. Attend class daily.
The two’s public defender, Ellen Flottman, contended the statute was contradictory and unconstitutionally unclear. “The state opposes parents. Last Wednesday, Flottman said most school districts are not charging these parents.
To get kids to school, schools must work with parents and make rules. She claimed this is a kindergartener and first grader. Does missing one day in November and December truly hurt this kindergartener’s education?
Conclusion:
Caitlyn Williams and Tamarae LaRue, Missouri parents, sued the state’s obligatory school attendance legislation, which threatens parents with jail time if their children miss school. The Missouri Supreme Court sentenced LaRue to 15 days in jail for her son’s 13 school absences and Williams to seven days for her daughter’s 16 absences in 2021–2022. Both parents blamed an ear infection, coughing fit, and doctor’s appointment for their child’s absence.
Assistant attorney general Shaun Mackelprang supported the state, saying that attending school daily constitutes “a regular basis.” Public defender Ellen Flottman said the statute was contradictory and unconstitutionally unclear. She said most school districts don’t charge parents, but the situation of a kindergartener and first grader raises issues about the state’s approach to parents and their children’s education.
