Rome City Schools

Information for Home Study Students

Information from Georgia Department of Education including filing Declaration of Intent to homeschool: DOE Website

Rome City School Board Policy addressing the Dexter Mosley Act: Policy IDE

Rome City School Board Procedure for Policy IDE

Home Study Student; Procedure to Determine Eligibility for and Participation in Extracurricular Activities

In accordance with Policy IDE Competitive Interscholastic Activities, Grade 6-12, Rome City Schools implements the following procedure for enrolling home study students in Rome City Schools and allowing home study students to participate in Rome City Schools extracurricular activities.

PART I: DEFINITIONS

As used in this Code section, the term:

(1) “Extracurricular activities” means Rome City Schools - 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. 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.

(2) “Home study student” means any student in grades six through 12 who is in a home study program that meets the requirements of Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690(c)).

(3) “Interscholastic activities” means Rome City Schools sponsored extracurricular activities, athletic programs, and other programs that are sanctioned or supported by a state-wide interscholastic activities governing body or athletic association.

(4) “Qualifying course” means a course facilitated by the Rome City Schools:

(A) By way of a virtual instruction program, including but not limited to Georgia Virtual School; provided, however, that home study students’ enrollment in Georgia Virtual School through Rome City Schools shall be based on availability of slots and home study students shall be subject to the cost of tuition in the amount of $500.00 per block course (one block course is equivalent to two semester courses);

(B) By way of a dual credit course; or

(5) “Resident school” means that Rome City Schools elementary (for 6 grade), middle, or high school in which a home study student would be enrolled based on his or her residence.

PART II: HOME STUDY STUDENTS’ PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

A home study student shall be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities and interscholastic activities under the sponsorship, direction, and control of the resident school or Rome City Schools, provided that each of the following requirements is met:

(1) 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 as provided in paragraph (2) of Part II, a parent or guardian of the home study student provides to the principal of the resident school and the superintendent of the Rome City Schools, or their respective designees:

(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; and

(B) A copy of the home study student's most recent annual progress assessment report which is required to be prepared by the home study program instructor and maintained by the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the home school student, 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;

(2) 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 enrolls in and attempts to complete one qualifying course;

(3) The home study student meets 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 provides any supporting documentation required by the resident school;

(4) The home study student abides 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 as the home study student;

(5) The home study student completes 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 provides any supporting documentation required by the resident school;

(6) For an extracurricular or interscholastic activity which involves a competitive selection process, the home study student is selected; and

(7) The home study student participates in extracurricular or interscholastic activities on behalf of such home study student's resident school.

PART III: HOME STUDY STUDENT’S WITHDRAWAL FROM ROME CITY SCHOOLS; INELIGIBILITY PERIOD UPON WITHDRAWAL

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 paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690.

PART IV: REPORTS MADE TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The specific assigned program of each home study student enrolled in a qualifying course shall be included for a one-sixth segment of the school day, or the block scheduling equivalent, by the home study student's resident school system in reports made to the Department of Education.