GEORGIA
Bill Introduced to Raise Compulsory Attendance Age
A bill has been introduced in the Georgia General Assembly which would increase the compulsory attendance age from 16 years old to 17 years old for students who have not received a high school diploma or GED. Designated as House Bill 547, this legislation is being sponsored by Representatives Randolph (72nd District), White (161st District), Lawrence (64th District), McKinney (51st District), Brooks (54th District), and others. If passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor, this change in the law would first apply to the 1995-96 school year.
The obvious effect of such a law on home schoolers in Georgia would be to subject them to all the requirements of the law governing home study programs for an additional year beyond what is presently required, unless the student has received a high school diploma or GED. This primarily involves having to submit an annual declaration of intent and monthly attendance records to the local public school superintendent, in addition to writing an annual progress assessment report. Home school students must take a standardized achievement test every three years beginning at the third grade, but test results need not be submitted to public education authorities.
