Home Study Student - Extracurricular Interscholastic Activities

For purposes of the aforementioned statute, a “home study student” means any student in grades 6 through 12 who is in a home study program that meets the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690 (c).
“Extracurricular activities” means public school-sponsored activities in which students take part on a voluntary basis; which do not offer or provide school or course credits; which are generally conducted outside regular school hours or, if conducted in whole or in part during regular school hours, at times agreed to by the participants and approved by a school official; and which are managed and operated under the guidance of a teacher, other school employee, or other adult approved by a school official (examples including, but not being limited to, intramural and interscholastic athletics; band, chorus, and other musical activities; drama and other theatrical activities; and school clubs and organizations as provided in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-705 (a)).
“Interscholastic activities” means extracurricular activities, public school-sponsored athletic programs, and other public school-sponsored programs that are sanctioned or supported by a state-wide interscholastic activities governing body, including but not limited to, an athletic association.
“Athletic association” means any association of schools or any other similar organization which acts as an organizing, sanctioning, scheduling, or rule-making body for interscholastic activities in which public schools in Georgia participate.
“Resident school” means the public school in which a home study student would be enrolled based on his or her residence.
“Resident school system” means the public school system in which a home study student would be enrolled based on his or her residence.

For each semester of the regular school year during any part of which the home study student participates in an extracurricular or interscholastic activity, the home study student must enroll in and attempt to complete one qualifying course. For this purpose, a “qualifying course” means a course facilitated by the home study student’s resident school system:
(A) By applying one or more of the mechanisms provided for in paragraphs (1) through (4) of O.C.G.A. § 20-2-319.4 (b);
(B) By way of a dual credit course as provided for in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-161.3; or
(C) By way of an on-site course required for participation in designated extracurricular and interscholastic activities.

The home study student must meet established age, academic, behavioral, conduct, disciplinary, residence, zoning, and other rules and requirements applicable to all students for participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity and provide any supporting documentation required by the resident school.

The home study student must abide by the same student code of conduct and disciplinary measures and transportation policies as students enrolled at the resident school who are participating in the same extracurricular or interscholastic activity.

The home study student must complete the tryout process or the equivalent for participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity applicable to all students for participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity and provide any supporting documentation required by the resident school. For an extracurricular or interscholastic activity which involves a competitive selection process, the home study student must be selected.

Participation in an extracurricular or interscholastic activity includes participation in the following school-sponsored activities related to the extracurricular or interscholastic activity: tryouts; off-season practice, rehearsal, or conditioning; summer and holiday practice, rehearsal, or conditioning; in-season practice, rehearsal, or conditioning; and all exhibitions, contests, and competitions, including scrimmage, preseason, regular season, postseason, and invitational.

Eligible home study students will participate in extracurricular or interscholastic activities on behalf of such home study student’s resident school.

A student who withdraws from a public school to participate in a home study program shall be ineligible for participation in any extracurricular or interscholastic activity for 12 months from the date of the declaration of intent to utilize a home study program provided to the Department of Education as provided under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690 (c)(2).

At least 30 calendar days before the first school day of the semester in which a home study student will enroll in a qualifying course, a parent or guardian of the home study student must provide to the principal of the resident school and the superintendent of the resident school system:
(A) Written notice that the home study student intends to participate in one or more specified extracurricular or interscholastic activities as a representative of the resident school or resident school system; and
(B) A copy of the home study student’s most recent annual progress assessment report, as provided for in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690 (c)(8), along with written verification by the home study program instructor that the home study student is currently receiving a passing grade in each home study program course, is maintaining satisfactory progress toward advancement, and meets the requirements for participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity.