Education law is a set of rules and regulations that guide the workings of an education system. Many regions have detailed educational law systems, in order to create comprehensive educational policies for a specific nation. Education law may deal with the creation and funding of schools and school policy, teacher requirements, and the rights of students.
The pursuit of education is seen by many as key to creating a productive citizenry. By instilling basic knowledge such as reading, writing, science, and mathematics, schools help produce knowledgeable workers that are primed for work or for additional training in a specialized field. This, in turn, creates a more skilled workforce, which can benefit the economy and well-being of an entire nation. For these reasons, many governments consider education to be a priority.
Some types of educational law create a compulsory education system. Compulsory education requires that children attend school through a certain age or for a certain number of years. In the United States, education is compulsory through about age 18, although state law varies slightly. Germany is noted for a strict compulsory education system, which requires students to be in school for up to 12 years and forbids the use of alternative education systems such as home schooling.