Parents or guardians must annually submit to the superintendent of the local school district in which the program is located a Declaration of Intent to utilize a Home Study Program by September 1 or within 30 days after a program is established. The local school superintendent will provide a form upon request for this purpose to be returned to that office.

The Declaration must include the names and ages of the students, the address where the program is located, and the dates of the school year.

Parents or guardians may teach only their own children in the home study program provided the teaching parent or guardian possesses at least a high school diploma or a general educational development diploma, but the parents or guardians may employ a tutor who holds a high school diploma or a general educational development diploma to teach such children.

The home study program must include, but is not limited to: instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.

The school year must include the equivalent of 180 days of at least 4.5 (four and one-half) hours of instruction per day unless the child is physically unable to comply with this requirement.

Monthly attendance reports must be sent to the local superintendent at the end of each month. The local school superintendent will, upon request, provide the reporting forms.

Students in home study programs shall be subject to an appropriate nationally standardized testing program administered in consultation with a person trained in the administration and interpretation of norm-referenced tests. The student must be evaluated at least every three years beginning at the end of the third grade. Records of such tests shall be retained.

The instructor shall write an annual progress assessment report in each required subject area for each student. These reports shall be retained for at least three years.

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 enforce the 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 educational development diploma.

Can the parents or guardians employ someone else to teach in a home school program?

Yes. However, any employed tutor must hold a high school diploma or general educational development diploma.

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 required by law 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

The law does not specify any promotion

requirements, testing or record keeping by the home study program?

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 the third grade and that records of such tests must be retained.

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