{"data":{"id":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-16-67.1-3","jurisdiction":"us-ri","citation":"R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-67.1-3","heading":"Defining the protocol for a student to leave school.","body":"(a) Children who have not yet attained eighteen (18) years of age may not withdraw from school before graduation unless they have previously developed an alternative learning plan in accordance with § 16-19-1(b) and, after implementation of the plan:\n(1) The student, the student’s parent(s)/guardian, and an administrator agree to the withdrawal;\n(2) At the exit interview, the student and the student’s parent(s)/guardian provide written acknowledgement of the withdrawal that meets the requirements of subsection (a)(4)(iv) of this section;\n(3) The school principal provides written consent for the student to withdraw from school; and/or\n(4) The withdrawal is:\n(i) Due to documented financial hardship and the need of the individual to be employed to support the individual’s family or a dependent;\n(ii) Due to documented illness;\n(iii) By order of a court that has jurisdiction over the student; or\n(iv) Accompanied by a written acknowledgement of a withdrawal under subsection (a)(2) of this section which must include a statement that the student and the student’s parent(s)/guardian understand that withdrawal from school is likely to reduce the student’s future earnings and increase the student’s likelihood of being unemployed in the future.\n(b) If a child of the age described in subsection (a) is habitually absent from school and the school is unable to contact the parent(s)/guardian, the school may withdraw the child from enrollment provided that its attempts to contact the parent(s)/guardian by telephone, regular and registered mail, and home visit are documented. If a child who has been withdrawn from enrollment under this subsection returns to school, or if the school mistakenly withdraws the child from enrollment, the child shall immediately be re-enrolled.\n(c) An extended withdrawal pursuant to § 16-19-1 may be authorized that is not intended to be a permanent withdrawal but which is extended because of unique difficulties and interruptions that many students are experiencing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.","path":["Title 16 Education","Chapter 67.1 Rhode Island High School Dropout Prevention Act of 2007 [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]"],"source_url":"https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE16/16-67.1/16-67.1-3.htm","current_through":"site files published 2025-08-13","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T19:55:55Z","sha256":"1b760ff90e792a9833dc3ec4a3fc7395254e4d2f80d893c8d396631b7ec0d7cc","source_id":"us-ri","stale":true,"prev":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-16-67.1-2","next":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-16-67.1-4"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}