What are the basic provisions of the
compulsory attendance law? |
Every
parent, guardian or other person residing within this state having control or
charge of any child(ren) between their sixth and sixteenth birthdays must enroll
and send such child(ren) to a public school, a private school or a home study
program that meets requirements. |
Who can operate a home study
program? |
Parents
or guardians may operate a home study program for their child(ren) only,
provided the parents or guardians meet specific requirements of the
law. |
Who is responsible for the enforcement
of the law? |
It is
the duty of the local board of education and each local school superintendent to
contact juvenile authorities if the forms are not sent to the superintendent as
required by law. |
According to the law, what is the first
step in establishing a home study program? |
Within
30 days after a program is established and by September 1 annually thereafter,
the parents or guardians must file a Declaration of Intent with the local school
superintendent. This Declaration must include the names and ages of the
students, the address where the program is located and the dates of the school
year. Upon request, the local school superintendent should provide the parent
with the proper form |
Are there any qualifications required
for the parent who teaches the child? |
Yes. If
the teacher is a parent or guardian, s/he must have a high school diploma or
general equivalency diploma (G.E.D.). |
Can the parents or guardians employ
someone else to teach in a home school program? |
Yes,
any employed tutor must have a high school diploma or general equivalency
diploma (GED). |
Does the law address curriculum
requirements for home study programs? |
Yes.
The program must provide a basic academic educational program which includes
(but is not limited to) instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics,
social studies and science. |
Is a home study program to be operated
within specified hours? |
No. The
law only requires the program to operate the equivalent of 180 days or at least
4.5 (four and one-half) hours of instruction per day unless the child is
physically unable to comply with this requirement. |
Does the law specify any promotion
requirements, testing or record keeping by the home study program? |
The law
does not specify any promotion requirements. However, it does stipulate that an
"appropriate" nationally standardized testing program be administered in
consultation with a person trained in the administration and interpretation of
norm-referenced tests. The law further states that the student must be evaluated
at least every three years, beginning at the end of third grade.
Nationally-normed assessments must be given at the end of grades 3, 6, 9, and
12. Additionally, the records of such tests must be retained for three
years. |
Are progress reports or report cards
required of home study programs? |
The law
states that the instructor must write an annual progress assessment report in
each required subject area for each student and that the reports must be
retained for at least three years. |
Are home study programs required to keep
attendance records? |
Yes.
The law requires that monthly attendance reports be submitted to the local
school superintendent at the end of each month. Forms are available from your
local school superintendent. |
Should officials of the local
public school system attempt to monitor the curriculum, the test program,
student assessment process, student records or instruction time of home study
programs? |
No. |
Are there any requirements in the law
pertaining to facilities or health and safety standards? |
No. |
Are public school systems required by
law to furnish for home study programs instructional materials, textbooks or
services such as testing? |
No. |
Are there any state rules, regulations
or guidelines concerning the grade placement of students or validation of
credits earned by students in home study programs who are entering or returning
to the public schools? |
Local
boards of education are required to adopt policies and procedures for validating
credit for courses taken in a home study program. The procedures at a minimum
must include the following:
- probationary placement and
satisfactory performance for one or more grading periods or
- acceptable scores on tests
focused on group placement, subject area and/or grade level.
|
Will high school students entering the
public schools from home study programs be required to meet all state board
rules concerning graduation requirements? |
Yes.
All students graduating from any state-supported Georgia high schools must meet
all state requirements in regard to attendance, Carnegie Units and passing
scores on the state assessment requirements. |
What is the process for a home school
student entering public school? |
The
public school may either test the student to place at the appropriate level OR
the school may accept the school records to place for a probationary period of
at least one grading period to see if the student is
successful. |
What is the penalty for being violation
of this law? |
Any
person in violation of this law is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction
shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $100 (one hundred
dollars). |
What steps should a local school
superintendent take when a violation occurs? |
The law
requires the local school superintendent to notify the parent or guardian of the
child and then to report to the juvenile or other court having
jurisdiction. |