§ 6-15-504 — Enrollment or re-enrollment in local schools

(a) A local public school district: (1) Shall afford a home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in a public school the same rights and privileges enjoyed by other public school students; and (2) Shall not deny a home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in a public school any of the following solely on the basis of having attended a home school: (A) Award of course credits earned in the home school; (B) Placement in the proper grade level and promotion to the next grade level; (C) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, a diploma or graduation; (D) Participation in any academic or extracurricular activity; (E) Membership in school-sponsored clubs, associations, or organizations; or (F) Scholarships. (b) To enroll or re-enroll in a public school, a home-schooled student shall submit to the public school: (1) A transcript listing all courses taken and semester grades from the home school; and (2) A portfolio of indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress, including without limitation: (A) Curricula used in the home school; (B) Tests taken and lessons completed by the home-schooled student; and (C) Other indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress. (c) A public school shall place a home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in the public school at a grade level and academic course level equivalent to or higher than the home-schooled student's grade level and academic course level in the home school: (1) As indicated by the home-schooled student's: (A) Transcript listing all courses taken and semester grades from the home school; (B) Score of at least the thirtieth percentile on a nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment taken in the past year; and (C) Portfolio of indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress, including without limitation: (i) Curricula used in the home school; (ii) Tests taken and lessons completed by the home-schooled student; and (iii) Other indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress; or (2) By mutual agreement between the public school and the home-schooled student's parent or legal guardian. (d) If the student is unable to provide a nationally recognized norm-referenced test score, the school shall: (1) Assess the student using a nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment; or (2) Waive the nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment requirement. (e) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, if the home-schooled student does not meet the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, the public school shall have sole authority to determine the home-schooled student's grade placement and course credits based on the same methods used when a student who attended another public or private school enrolls or re-enrolls in the public school. (f) A public school may waive all requirements under subsections (b) and (c) of this section and enroll the student by mutual agreement with the parent or guardian. (g) A home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in a local public school shall attend classes for at least nine (9) months immediately before graduation before the student can become eligible to graduate from the public school with a diploma.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2017, No. 863,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2017. Amended by Act 2015, No. 832,§ 1, eff. 7/22/2015. Acts 1985 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 40, § 4; 1985 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 42, § 4; A.S.A. 1947, § 80-1503.7; Acts 1995, No. 522, § 2; 1997, No. 400, § 3; 1999, No. 1117, § 3; 2003, No. 1793, § 1; 2007, No. 617, §§ 7, 8.