Compulsory Education Student Enrolment and Attendance Policy

Purpose
1. The objective of this policy is to outline the compulsory education requirements in the Education Act 2004 (ACT) (the Act), including the responsibilities of parents/carers, home educators and ACT public schools, education providers other than schools relating to enrolment, attendance and participation.
2. It sets out the legislative requirements for ACT public schools in relation to enrolment, attendance, participation and the movement of students between schools in the ACT.
Policy Statement
1. Compulsory education requires children living in the ACT to be enrolled in and attend an education provider (i.e. a school) and/or registered training organisation under the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (Cwlth), (s 3) and/or be registered for home education.
2. Parents/carers have responsibilities under sections 10 and 10A of the Act to ensure that their child/ren of compulsory education age are enrolled in and attending an education provider or are registered for home education or both.
3. Section 9 of the Act stipulates compulsory education age as at least six (6) years old until the child completes year 12 or turns 17, whichever happens first.
4. If the child is enrolled at a school they must attend in the way and during the times that the school requires the child to attend, which includes attendance at every activity of the school (such as a school concert, sporting day or swimming carnival) and attendance at an approved educational course provided at a place other than the school. If they are enrolled in an education course other than a school, they must meet the fulltime participation requirements of the course under section 10D of the Act.
5. In accordance with Parts 2.4A and 2.5 of the Act, an Information Notice and/or a Compliance Notice may be issued by the ACT Education Directorate (the Directorate) if a parent has contravened or are contravening requirements relating to enrolment, attendance or participation.
6. Once a child has completed year 10, parents/carers can enrol their child with an education provider (see definition at the end of this policy) other than a school and/or their child can participate in work related training and/or employment until they turn 17 or complete their ACT Senior Secondary Certificate (year 12), whichever happens first (Refer to the Post Year 10 Alternatives (Work-related Training and Employment) procedure).
7. Parents/carers will meet the school attendance requirements of the Act, where a child’s non-attendance is approved by the school. This may include excursions, workplace learning, structured learning, suspensions, or any absence that is required under a territory law or law of the Commonwealth. This includes ACT Public Health Regulations 2000 which require that children with certain conditions are excluded for specified periods from school.
8. The enrolment and school attendance requirements do not apply to students registered for full-time home education.
9. The enrolment and school attendance requirements may not apply to students where an enrolment or full-time attendance exemption certificate or approval statement has been issued.
10. Where a child is enrolled with an education provider to participate in distance education, the parents/carers must ensure the child complies with the education provider’s requirements for the child’s attendance and/or participation (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s10A (4)).
11. Compulsory school aged dependants of temporary visitor visa holders are eligible for enrolment in an ACT public school for a minimum of five weeks and a maximum of 10 weeks. While enrolled they must fulfil the requirements of this policy and the associated procedures.
12. Principals are required to maintain enrolment and attendance registers in accordance with the requirements of the Education Act 2004 (ACT) sections 32 and 33.
13. All enrolment and attendance records must be recorded in the Student Administration System (SAS).
Scope
1. This policy applies to parents/carers of children seeking to enrol or who are enrolled in an ACT public school.
2. This policy applies to parents/carers of children of temporary residents living in the ACT, seeking to enrol or who are enrolled in an ACT public school.
3. Sections 2.1 - 2.9 of this policy may apply to parents/carers of children registered for home education.
4. This policy does not apply to enrolment and attendance requirements for non-compulsory education aged preschool children as they are subject to specific protocols under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2011 (National Law). Supporting ACT Public Schools Enrolment Procedures for Preschool and Early Childhood settings provide guidance on the procedures for prioritising the enrolment of children in their Priority Enrolment Area (PEA) school and determining eligibility criteria.
5. Parents/carers residing in NSW with compulsory education aged children are bound by the NSW Education Act 1990 in relation to compulsory education and enrolment.
6. Parents/carers residing in NSW with compulsory education aged children enrolled in an ACT public school are bound by the Education Act 2004 (ACT) in relation to school attendance.
Context
1. Chapter 2 of the Education Act 2004 (ACT) sets out the compulsory education age and enrolment requirements for children residing in the ACT and school attendance requirements of children enrolled in ACT schools.
2. This policy is consistent with ACT and Commonwealth human rights and anti-discrimination laws including the Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT) which protect individuals from unfavourable treatment on grounds including disability, race, sex, sexuality, and gender identity and supports every child’s right to education, equality, protection, and non-discrimination.
3. The Directorate seeks to ensure that all students can access and participate in education on the same basis as their peers as described in the Federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992 through the Disability Standards for Education 2005 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
4. The Directorate is committed to the ACT Child Safe Standards in relation to the provision of a service for children and young people, as listed in the Human Rights Commission Act 2005 and Human Rights Commission Regulation 2023 (Part 3). The Directorate ensures school staff understand their roles and meet their responsibilities in relation to the ACT Child Safe Standards.
5. Information gathered under this policy and associated implementation procedures will be kept in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2014, Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 and the Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997. These Acts protect individuals’ rights relating to the collection, use, storage and disclosure of personal information and personal health information held by government agencies.
Responsibilities
1. Under s10 of the Education Act 2004 (ACT) Parents/carers who reside in the ACT are responsible for:
  1. enrolling their child in an education provider:
    1. no later than 10 school term days after the child turns six years old and/or
    2. when their child of compulsory age begins to live in the ACT; and/or
    3. when enrolling their compulsory education age child in an education provider providing an education course, no later than 14 days after the course starts; and/or
    4. when applying to register their compulsory school aged child for home education, no later than 10 school term days after the start of the school year or the day the child begins to live in the ACT.
  2. Informing the Directorate if their child’s enrolment at an education provider or registration for home education ends within 28 days after the enrolment or registration ends (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s10AC).
2. Where a child’s enrolment or registration for home education is cancelled by the child’s parents/carers, they must do either or both of the following within 14 days:.
  1. enrol their child with another education provider; and/or
  2. re-apply to register their child for home education.
3. The requirements under Section 5.1 of this policy do not apply if:
  1. an exemption has been granted for the child; or
  2. the young person has completed year 10 and is participating in work-related training and/or employment (having sought an Approval Statement - refer to the Post Year 10 Alternatives (Work-related Training and Employment) procedure); or
  3. the Director-General is satisfied that the parents have a reasonable excuse for not complying with s10 of the Education Act 2004.
4. Parents/carers who have a child enrolled in an ACT school are responsible for
  1. providing complete and accurate information/documentation supporting their child’s enrolment and confirming with the school/education provider any changes to their child’s identity and contact details to ensure their enrolment details remain up to date;
  2. ensuring their child attends school in the way and during the times that the school requires the child to attend, which includes attendance at every activity of the school (such as a school concert, sporting day or swimming carnival) and attendance at an approved educational course provided at a place other than the school. (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s10A and 10D);
  3. providing a timely explanation/reasonable excuse for any absences to ensure compliance with the Act in relation to attendance (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s10A (3) and the Education Regulation 2005 s2AAA);
  4. working in partnership with the school and/or education provider to support their child’s enrolment, attendance and participation. This includes raising concerns about their child’s education, engagement, health and wellbeing and discussing barriers to attendance early with the school/education provider;
  5. applying to the Directorate for an exemption certificate where the child is unable to meet the enrolment or full or part time school attendance requirements of the Act (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s11H);
  6. applying to the Education Directorate for an approval statement for a young person who wishes to participate in workplace related training and/or employment alternatives after the completion of year 10 (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s13D); and
  7. complying with Information and/or a Compliance Notices to fulfil their legal responsibilities under the Act (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s16AA and 16B)
  8. complying with the Student Movement Register Policy, which requires parents to notify the Education Directorate’s Director-General of student movement events in writing within 28 school days following the student’s enrolment at a school or in a distance education program, or registration for home education ending (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s10AC).
5. ACT Public Schools and Education Providers are responsible for
  1. ensuring all eligible children are prioritised for enrolment at their local public school and that information about Priority Enrolment Areas (PEAs) is made available to the public (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s21(4) and 21A).
  2. ensuring that no child is disadvantaged or denied access to education, where individual circumstances prevent the applicant from meeting documentation requirements including proof of identity and place of residence requirements;
  3. ensuring children with disability are able to enrol at their local school on the same basis as other prospective students, in accordance with the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (Cwlth);
  4. maintaining an accurate enrolment register (Education Act 2004 (ACT)) s32 and s33) where enrolled students are recorded under their full name contained in the documents supporting their enrolment and, copies of sighted documents are kept confidential and managed in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2014;
  5. maintaining an accurate record of each enrolled student’s compliance with required school or course attendance (including any activity of the school or course) (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s32 and s33) and ensuring any absences are considered a reasonable excuse in line with s2AAA of the Education Regulation 2005;
  6. complying with requirements in the Act , whereby a principal of a school commits an offence if they fail to keep a register of enrolments and attendance and/or if they make an entry in the register of enrolments or attendance and they are reckless about whether the entry is correct (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s32 and s33);
  7. complying with requirements in the Act whereby a principal commits an offence if they fail to make an enrolment or attendance record available to an authorised person (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s34);
  8. developing and maintaining local school attendance procedures (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s35) that
    1. encourage students to attend school regularly, including preschool (when a child is enrolled in a preschool program); and
    2. help parents/carers to encourage their children to attend school regularly; and
    3. state that school attendance is compulsory (except for preschool attendance); and
    4. state the benefits of a student’s regular school attendance; and
    5. include steps that may be taken to support a student’s attendance (such as a referral to a support service).
  9. complying with the Student Movement Register Procedures for recording the movement of students to and from the ACT school (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s10AA).
6. Education Support Office is responsible for
  1. registering and maintaining an accurate register of children registered for Home Education on a full time or part time basis in accordance with the Act (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s139);
  2. issuing exemption certificates for children of compulsory education age deemed eligible (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s12A);
  3. issuing approval statements to students who have completed year 10 and are deemed eligible to participate in work-related training and/or employment alternatives (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s14A);
  4. issuing information and/or a compliance notices to parents/carers of compulsory education aged children when parents/carers do not fulfil their legal responsibilities under the Act (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s16AA and 16B).
  5. establishing Student Movement Register (SMR) procedures for ACT schools to record the movement of students between schools, including distance education and registration for home education (Education Act 2004 (ACT) s10AB); and
  6. determining the administrative and governance procedures related to enrolment for ACT public schools under the delegated authority of the Director-General through the provision of:
    1. ACT Public School Enrolment Procedure - Early Childhood
    2. ACT Public School Enrolment Procedure - Preschool
    3. ACT Public Enrolment Procedure - Kindergarten to Year 12
    4. Determining the administrative procedures relating to roll marking and attendance through the provision of:
    5. ACT Public School Student Attendance and Roll Marking Procedure
Monitoring and Review
1. The policy is co-owned by Enrolments and Planning Branch (Enrolments) and the Complex Behaviour Support and Work Health and Safety Branch (Attendance).
Contact
1. Queries regarding compulsory education, enrolment and attendance and non-compliance procedures should be raised with the Directorate.
2. For further information regarding enrolments, contact Enrolments and Planning Branch at education.enrolment@act.gov.au or (02) 6205 5429.
3. If your query is unresolved, please contact the Directorate via the online form which is available at Enquiries, compliments and complaints.
Feedback
1. Any feedback about this policy, should be raised with the policy owner. Refer to Contact information above.
References
1. Definitions
  - ACT Education Directorate refers to ACT public schools and the Education Support Office (ESO), which includes educational support services that do not reside in ACT public schools (e.g., system level/corporate support).
  - ACT public schools refers to all ACT government schools established under the Education Act 2004.
  - Approval Statement is a statement granted for a child, who has completed year 10, is under 17 years of age, and plans to undertake work-related training such as an apprenticeship or traineeship, employment or a combination of training and employment and no longer be enrolled and attend school.
  - Attendance refers to the requirement for children enrolled at a school to attend in the way and during the times that the school requires the child to attend to complete the education course for which they are enrolled. This includes attending every activity of the school that the child is required to attend, such as school concerts, sporting days or swimming carnivals as well as approved educational courses provided at a place other than the school. For children enrolled in distance education, this includes complying with their education provider’s requirements for attendance.
  - Child or children in the context of this policy, refers to a person who is under 18 years of age.
  - Compliance Notice is a written notice issued to a child’s parents/carers under section 16B of the Act, requiring the parent/carer to ensure that their child’s enrolment, registration for Home Education, attendance and participation in education, training and/or employment is in accordance with the Act. A compliance notice may also be issued to ensure a child’s parents/carers comply with the requirement to notify the Directorate if their child’s enrolment at an education provider or registration for home education ends.
  - Compulsory education age in the ACT and for the purpose of this policy refers to a child who is aged from six years until the child completes year 12 or turns 17, whichever happens first.
  - Distance education refers to the provision of an education course for a child that is delivered by a school, and which requires remote participation by the child for most of the education course at a level that is full-time under the requirements for the course.
  - Education course includes a course of study provided by an ACT school or a school under a law of a State or another territory (including distance education); a course of study leading to the completion of year 10 or year 12 delivered by a registered training organisation under National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (Cwlth); a VET course under the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011(Cwlth); or an accredited course under the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (Cwlth).
  - Education provider refers to a school under a law of the state or territory and as well as (a) Registered Training Organisations (RTO) who provide a course of study that leads to the completion of year 10 or year 12 or the completion of a vocational education and training course; (b) a higher education provider; and (c) a university (Education Act 2004 s9).
  - Enrolment is the term used for the administrative procedure by which a person becomes a student of an education provider (such as a school). Enrolment starts either on the day that the education provider’s education course begins, or if an enrolment application has been made after the education course has begun, on the day agreed between the child’s parents and the education provider.
  - Employment for purposes of an Approval Statement refers to paid work under a contract of service or for a contract of service (whether written or unwritten).
  - Exemption Certificates are an authorisation for parent/carers of children of compulsory school age exempting them from the enrolment and/or attendance in a school or approved education provider and/or registration for Home Education. A full-time or part-time certificate may be granted where a child is unable to participate in education due to their mental or physical health and/or other circumstances prescribed in the Act and where evidence confirms that it will be in the best interests of the child.
  - Full-time participation requirement refers to a child attending and participating in an approved education course provider’s requirement at a level that is full-time under the requirements of the course (or for at least 25 hours each week). Full-time participation includes part-time participation in two or more education courses to an extent that it is equivalent to full-time participation in one education course. Full-time participation is also defined by any combination of the following (that is equivalent to full-time participation in one education course): an education course, a training alternative, or an employment alternative.
  - Home Education refers to education conducted by one or both of a child’s parents/carers from a home base. A child must be registered with the ACT Education Directorate to be eligible for Home Education.
  - Information Notice is a written notice, issued to the parents/carers of a child under section 16AA of the Act, seeking further information about a child’s enrolment and/or attendance; registration for Home Education or participation in education, training and employment to determine if they are meeting compulsory education requirements. .
  - Parent/Carer for the purpose of this policy, is the person who has parental responsibility for the child under the Children and Young People Act 2008.
  - Participation in accordance with the Act refers to a child taking part and engaging in education by complying with:
    - the provider’s requirements about physically attending, at particular times, the provider’s premises or another place; or
    - for an education course that is completed by distance education (however described)—the provider’s requirements for distance education.
  - Priority Enrolment Area (PEA) The ACT is divided into Priority Enrolment Areas (PEAs) which are defined geographical areas. Every child residing within a school’s PEA is guaranteed a place at that school (kindergarten to year 12).
  - Reasonable excuse refers to an absence explanation provided by a parent/carer and the authority of a principal to determine if the explanation is deemed a reasonable explanation in accordance with the list of reasonable excuses provided under the Act (Education Regulation 2005 s2AAA).
  - Resides in the ACT refers to a person who lives at a physical street address located within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This includes temporary residents who, for the duration of their visa, are living in ACT and have compulsory education aged dependants eligible to enrol in a school.
  - Senior Secondary Certificate (Year 12) is achieved when a student is awarded or completes the requirements for a year 12 certificate when they are issued a certificate equivalent to a year 12 Senior Secondary Certificate that shows completion of a higher education pre-entry course or one issued under the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF); a certificate approved by the Director- General or delegate; the Director-General or delegate is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the student has completed the year 12 Senior Secondary Certificate or its equivalent.
  - Student refers to a person who is enrolled at an education provider for the purpose of the provider’s education course (for instance, enrolment at an ACT public school).
  - Student Administration System (SAS) is the ACT public schools database, used to record details of student enrolments, attendance and other related matters.
  - Student Movement Register (SMR) is a web application managed by the Directorate, and used by ACT schools and the Directorate for tracking the transfer and movement of students between schools and home education within the ACT.
  - Work-related training refers to nationally recognised, accredited training such as an apprenticeship or traineeship.
  - Year 10 is achieved when a student is awarded or completes the requirements for being awarded a year 10 certificate or the Director-General or delegate is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the child has completed year 10 or its equivalent.
2. Legislation
  The policy is informed by the following legislation:
3. Implementation Documents
  This policy should be read in conjunction with the following compulsory education, enrolment, and attendance related procedures:
  - ACT Public School Student Attendance and Roll Marking Procedures outlines the responsibilities of parents and ACT public schools in encouraging attendance, reporting and managing absenteeism. It also provides schools with school attendance record keeping procedures to ensure accurate attendance data.
  - ACT Public School Enrolment Procedure - Early Childhood outlines procedures for prioritising the enrolment of children in their Priority Enrolment Area (PEA) school and determining eligibility criteria for enrolment applications for early childhood settings.
  - ACT Public School Enrolment Procedure - Preschool outlines procedures for prioritising the enrolment of children in their Priority Enrolment Area (PEA) school and determining eligibility criteria for enrolment applications for preschool settings.
  - ACT Public School Enrolment Procedure - Kindergarten to Year 12 outlines procedures for prioritising the enrolment of children in their Priority Enrolment Area (PEA) school and determining eligibility criteria for enrolment applications for kindergarten to year 12 settings.
  - Child Protection and Reporting Abuse Policy and Procedure outline the responsibilities of school staff to act to protect students from child abuse and neglect in addition to mandatory statutory reporting obligation and provide guidance on the behavioural and physical indicators of abuse, neglect and grooming.
  - Education Options (other than school) Procedure outlines education providers (other than schools) that are approved for children to enrol in. These include universities, registered training organisations and higher education providers.
  - Exemption Certificate Procedure outlines the responsibilities of parents/carers to seek approval with the support of their school and the provision of medical documentation to the Education Support Office to be exempt from one or more: enrolment, attendance, registration for Home Education and/or the participation (attendance) requirements of the Act.
  - Infectious Diseases - Outbreak and Exclusions Period Policy outlines outbreak procedures and exclusion periods for infectious diseases in ACT public schools.
  - Non-compliance Procedure outlines the compulsory education requirements of the Act and details the roles and responsibilities of parents/carers, schools and the Directorate in ensuring that a child living in the ACT of compulsory education age is meeting the attendance (participation requirements) of the Act.
  - Post Year 10 Alternatives (Work-related Training and Employment) Procedure outlines the provisions of the Act which permit a child who has completed year 10 to engage in work-related training or employment rather than attend school. Parents/carers can apply for an Approval Statement from the Education Support Office.
  - Students with a Disability Meeting their Educational Needs confirms the Education Directorate’s commitment to supporting students with disability in ACT public schools and associated roles and responsibilities.
  - Safe and Supportive Schools Policy outlines the Directorate’s commitment to providing positive and engaging ACT public school environments where students feel connected and respected, achieve success, and are fully engaged in education. Student wellbeing impacts on student learning and is fundamental to a student’s enrolment, attendance, and successful engagement with education.

Compulsory Education Student Enrolment and Attendance Policy: P00047 is the unique identifier of this document. It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this is the current and complete version of the document, available on the Directorate’s website at http://www.education.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/school_and_corporate_policies/A-Z/.

Policy Identifier: 00047

Published: April 2025

Policy is current until: April 2030

Implementation Documents:

ACT Public Schools Student Attendance and Roll Marking Procedures ( Word 975.7 KB)