SUMMARY:

            This bill would amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A. to provide for the transfer of Military dependents regarding placement, waiver of course prerequisites, additional excused absences, eligibility for enrollment, and on-time graduation.

REQUIREMENTS:

• The bill would apply to:
• • Active duty military dependents;
  • Military veterans medically discharged for one year after discharge;
  • Dependents of members who die on active duty or as a result of injuries received while on active duty for a period of 1 year after the death;
• The bill would not apply to children of:
• •  Inactive members of national guard and reserves;
  • Retired military;
  • Veterans;
  • US DOD and other federal civilian and contract employees.
• A local school system would have to accept unofficial records and enroll a child as quickly as possible, then request official records immediately.
• Local systems would give 30 days for updating/obtaining immunizations required by the state.
• Students would continue in the grade level that they attended or would be scheduled to attend in the sending state.
• Initial placement during the school year would have to be in the same courses, including honors, AP, and IB, if offered at the receiving school; however, subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement and continued enrollment would be allowed.  Gifted and ESOL students would retain placement under the same provisions.
• Local schools would have flexibility to waive course or program prerequisites for the transferring students.
• Local schools would be able to grant additional absences to a student who parent is called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or a combat support posting.
• Power of attorney relating to guardianship of the child would be sufficient for enrollment and other parental responsibilities.
• Tuition cannot be charged for these students if the parent/guardian is a resident of the district.
• If the non-custodial parent lives in another district other than that of the custodial parent, the student may continue to attend the school in which he/she was enrolled while residing with the custodial parent.
• Local schools would have to facilitate participation in extra-curricular activities, regardless of application deadlines if the students are qualified to participate.
• Regarding on-time graduation:
• • Local schools must accept courses required for graduation if similar course work has been completed in another system, offer alternative means of acquiring the required course, or have a good reason for not doing so.
  • Local schools would have to accept exit or end-of-course exams required for graduation from the sending state, national norm-referenced tests, or alternative testing in lieu of testing requirements in Georgia.
  • If the senior is still ineligible to graduate with the class, the system would have to coordinate with the sending LEA to ensure the receipt of a diploma.

NOTES:

• Most, if not all of the above requirements are currently being followed informally by local school systems in Georgia based on current laws, local policies and general concern for students.