House Bill 698

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, the phrase "home school student" means a compulsory-school-age child who is taught by private teachers, parents, guardians or custodians in a legitimate home instruction program as defined under the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law (Section 37-13-91).

(2) Upon the request of a parent, guardian or legal custodian of a home school student, the local school board, in its discretion, may register the student in a public school for dual enrollment purposes in the manner provided under this section. If the home school student is enrolled in a public school for dual enrollment purposes, the home school student may participate in any academic activities in the school on a part-time basis and may participate, on the same basis as students enrolled in that school, 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. A request for dual enrollment in the following school year must be submitted to the local school board by the parent, guardian or legal custodian before May 1.

(3) Any home school student enrolled in a public school for dual enrollment purposes must be included in the school district's average daily attendance for purposes of adequate education program funding.

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

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