07 LC 33
1811
House
Bill 359
By:
Representatives Walker of the
107th,
Reese of the
98th,
and Sheldon of the
105th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to other educational programs under the "Quality
Basic Education Act," so as to enact the "Georgia Home School Opportunity and
Enrichment Act"; to provide for legislative findings; to require a local school
system to allow home study students in grades nine through 12 to participate in
extracurricular activities; to provide for academic requirements; to provide for
ineligibility; to provide that the home study student is subject to all rules,
regulations, and codes of conduct as other students; to provide for rules and
regulations by the Department of Education; to provide for related matters; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
This
Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Home School Opportunity and
Enrichment Act."
SECTION
2.
The
General Assembly finds that extracurricular student activities are an important
complement to the academic curriculum and that participation in extracurricular
activities contributes to student development of the social and intellectual
skills necessary to become a well-rounded adult. Further, the General Assembly
finds that the state has an investment in every child in this state and his or
her education, regardless of where that child is being educated.
SECTION
3.
Part
14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic
Education Act," is amended by adding a new Code section to read as
follows:
"20-2-319.3.
(a)
A local school system shall allow a student in grades nine through 12 in a home
study program which meets the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section
20-2-690 to participate in any and all extracurricular activities offered or
conducted by the school in which such child would be enrolled by virtue of his
or her residence in the same manner as any student currently attending the
school as a public school student. A home study student shall register with the
principal of the school, or his or her designee, of the student´s intent to
participate in extracurricular activities of the school in accordance with rules
and regulations established by the department. A home study student shall be
required to complete any forms required by the school system or required
pursuant to department rules.
(b)
In order to be eligible to participate pursuant to this Code section, a home
study student shall:
(1)
Maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average; and
(2)
Achieve a passing score on a standardized, noncurriculum based, test as approved
by the department.
The
parent or guardian of the home study student shall submit a grade report to the
principal of the school, or his or her designee, at the end of each semester.
It shall be the responsibility of the home study student and his or her parent
or guardian to make all arrangements to take the test required pursuant to this
subsection and to provide the principal of the school, or his or her designee,
with the results of such test prior to participation in any extracurricular
activity.
(c)
A home study student who does not meet the academic requirements contained in
subsection (b) of this Code section shall be ineligible to participate on an
athletic team of the school for the remainder of the school year.
(d)
A home study student shall comply with the same rules and requirements for
participation that apply to any student´s participation in the same
activity and shall be subject to the same code of conduct as would apply to
other students participating in the same activity.
(e)
The department shall establish rules and regulations to implement the provisions
of this Code section."
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.