Chap. 443 An  Act  relative  to  annual  returns  of school statistics.

Be it enacted, etc., as folloios:

Section 1. Section three of chapter forty-three of the Revised Laws is hereby amended by striking out the words "between five and fifteen years of age, and of all minors over fourteen years of age", in the fourth and fifth lines, and inserting in place thereof the words: - between five and seven years of age, of all children between seven and fourteen years of age, of all children between fourteen and sixteen years of age, and of all minors over sixteen years of age, - so as to read as follows: - Section 3. The school committee of each city and town shall annually ascertain and record the names, ages and such other information as may be required by the board of education, of all children between five and seven years of age, of all children between seven and fourteen years of age, of all children between fourteen and sixteen years of age, and of all minors over sixteen years of age who cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English language, residing in its city or town on the first day of September, and such record shall be completed on or before the fifteenth day of November. Whoever, having under his control a minor over five years of age, withholds information sought by a school committee or its agents under the provisions of this section or makes a false statement relative thereto, shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
Section 2. Section four of chapter forty-three of the Revised Laws, as amended by section three of chapter three hundred and sixty-eight of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and twelve, and by chapter three hundred and fifty-six of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and thirteen, is hereby further amended by striking out the words "of
five and fifteen years, and the number of persons between the ages of seven and fourteen years," in the sixth, seventh and eighth lines, and inserting in place thereof the words: - of five and seven years, the number of persons between the ages of seven and fourteen years, and the number of persons between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years, - so as to read as follows: - Section 4. The chairman of each school committee shall annually on or before the thirty-first day of July transmit to the commissioner of education a certificate filled out, signed and sworn to by him, containing the following statements: -
First. The number of persons between the ages of five and seven years, the number of persons between the ages of seven and fourteen years, and the number of persons between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years, residing in the town (or city), according to the school census taken on the first day of September, last preceding the date of this certificate.
Second. The number of persons in the average membership of the public schools of the town (or city), for the school year last preceding the date of the certificate, as determined by the rules of the state school register.
Third. The amount of money raised by taxation by the town (or city), and expended during the fiscal year last preceding the date of the certificate for the support of the public schools, including the wages of teachers, the transportation of school children, fuel, the care of fires, schoolrooms and school premises, repairs, supervision, text-books and supplies, and school sundries or incidentals, but excluding alterations of school buildings, other than repairs, and construction of schoolhouses and contributions for the support of public schools which may be received from the commonwealth or from other sources than local taxation, and also the total expenditures, classified, for the public schools during the school year last preceding the date of this certificate.
Fourth. That the town (or city) has maintained during the school year last preceding the date of this certificate each of the schools, as required by section one of chapter forty-two of the Revised Laws, as amended by chapter one hundred and eighty-one of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and eight, and by chapter five hundred and twenty-four of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and ten, for a period of not less than thirty-two weeks, or twenty-eight weeks, if such reduction has been allowed under the provisions of the aforesaid section.
Fifth That the town (or city) has maintained, during the school year last preceding the date of this certificate, a high school, as required by section two of said chapter forty-two, for a period of months,        days, as stated.
The board of education is authorized and directed to prepare and furnish to school committees suitable forms of the certificate required by this section.
Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved April 28, 1914-