A 34-year-old south Canberra woman has been summonsed to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court today for allegedly failing to ensure the compulsory school attendance of her three children.
She will be charged with three counts under Section 11 (3) of the ACT Education Act 2004.
The summons followed an incident on April 6 when police found a seven-year-old boy riding his bike on a suburban street during school hours.
Subsequent inquiries at the school allegedly found the boy and his two siblings, aged six and 11, had attended less than a quarter of their possible maximum of 43 days of the previous term.
The most full days attended during the term by any of the children was 13.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of $500.
The ACT Department of Education said in a statement that it could not comment on individual cases but the Education Act 2004 mandates that children who are at least six years and under 15 must receive an education at either a government school, a registered non-government school, or by means of a registered home education program.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
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