Compulsory school attendance refers to the minimum and maximum age required by each state in which a student must be enrolled in and attending public school or some equivalent education program defined by the law. The vast majority of states include an added clause providing for pupils to be released from compulsory attendance requirements upon graduation of high school, regardless of their age. Arizona, Vermont, and Wyoming all exempt children from compulsory attendance requirements upon completion of the 10th grade. Five states--Virginia, South Dakota, Nevada, Maryland and Connecticut--allow the minimum compulsory age to be extended by at least one year if the parent(s) obtain a waiver from their assigned school. Nearly half of all states allow children ranging from age 14 to 18 to be exempt from the compulsory attendance requirement if they meet one or more of the following stipulations: are employed; have a physical or mental condition that makes the child's attendance infeasible; have passed the 8th-grade level; have their parents' permission; have the permission of the district court or the local school board; meet the requirements for an exit interview; or have arranged alternative education such as vocational or technical school. Endnotes are provided for Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Virginia as examples of such legislation. [Updated by Melodye Bush. Recent updates made by Melodye Bush, Kyle Zinith, and Michael Colasanti.]