SUMMARY:

            This bill would amend Part 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A. to require new residents to enroll a child in a local school system within 30 days, to provide for reporting of violations and for penalties for not reporting or not enrolling a child.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Enrollment within the 30 day limit could include not only public schools but private schools or home study programs.
• LBOE’s would be able to define excused absences beyond what is in the law.
• Previous procedures and penalties for violation would be struck from the law.
• New procedures would include:
• • Reporting a parent, etc., to the appropriate agency if a child has accumulated 25 unexcused absences (mandatory with penalty for failure);
  • Reporting a parent, etc., to the appropriate enforcement agency; if a child is not regularly attending school (optional);
  • Reporting a parent, etc., who appears to have violated the code section to the appropriate enforcement agency.
• The code would not be violated, regardless of reports, until a child accumulated 5 or more days of unexcused absences.  However, every day after 5 constitutes a separate offense.
• Schools would be required to make 2 reasonable attempts to notify parents, etc., of the 5 unexcused absences; if no response, they must send a certified letter, whereupon the system would be in compliance with the law.
• Penalties for parents, etc., would include:
• • A misdemeanor charge;
  • A fine of not less than $25 and not greater than $100;
  • No more than 30 days imprisonment;
  • Community service; or
  • Any combination of penalties at the discretion of the court