Senate Bill 2626

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DUALLY ENROLL HOMESCHOOL 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, "homeschool 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, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(2) If a parent, guardian or legal custodian of a homeschool student submits a request, the local school board shall be authorized to also register the student in a public school for dual enrollment purposes, as provided under this section. If the homeschool student is enrolled in a public school district for dual enrollment purposes, the homeschool student shall be permitted to participate in any academic activities in the district on a part-time basis, and shall also be permitted to participate on the same basis as public school students in any extracurricular activities available to students in the homeschool student's grade. A homeschool 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 homeschool 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 homeschool 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.