The compulsory school attendance laws apply to all children between the ages of 6 and 16 years. More specifically, Florida Statute 1003.21 states that all children who have attained the age of 6 years or who will have attained the age of 6 years by February 1 of any school year or who are older than 6 years of age but who have not attained the age of 16 years are required to attend school regularly during the entire school term.

Children who will have attained the age of 5 years on or before September 1 of the school year are eligible for admission to public kindergartens during that school year under rules adopted by the district school board. Kindergarten at the age of 5 is not required, however district schools do require that children have satisfactorily completed the requirements for kindergarten before they will allow children to enter into a district school for first grade.

A student who attains the age of 16 years during the school year is not subject to compulsory school attendance beyond the date upon which he or she attains that age if the student files a formal declaration of intent to terminate school enrollment with the district school board.

Source: Florida Statute 1003.21