House Bill 488

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DUALLY ENROLL HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, "home school students" are those children taught by private teachers, parents, guardians or custodians in a legitimate home instruction program as defined in the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law, Section 37-13-91.

(2) If a parent, guardian or legal custodian of a home school student submits a request, the local school board may also register the student in a public school for dual enrollment purposes, as provided under this section. If the home school student is enrolled in a public school district for dual enrollment purposes, the home school student may participate in any academic activities in the district on a part-time basis, and may participate on the same basis as public school students in any extracurricular activities available to students in the home school student's grade. A home school student applying for dual enrollment must reside within the attendance boundaries of the school in which the student is seeking enrollment. Request for dual enrollment in the following school year must be submitted by the parent, guardian or legal custodian before May 1.

(3) Any home school student enrolled for dual enrollment shall be included in the public school's attendance for purposes of minimum education program or adequate education program funding.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any home school student to enroll with any school district for dual enrollment purposes.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.