§ 70-5-132 — Students of legal age - Completion of twelfth grade -

Attendance at adult high school completion program. A. Any person lawfully present in the United States and who is of legal age and a resident of this state, over the age of twenty- one (21) and under the age of thirty (30), and who has not completed the twelfth grade in school shall be given the same educational privileges and opportunities provided by law for children over the age of five (5) and under the age of twenty-one (21), upon submitting to the board of education of the school district in which the person resides, or the board's designee, evidence satisfactory to that board showing that during the time before he or she was age twenty-one (21) he or she was unable to attend school for a definite period or periods of time, by reason whereof it was impossible for him or her to complete the twelfth grade before reaching the age of twenty-one (21). Provided further, the pupil shall be counted in the average daily attendance of the district where he or she attends school during the period of time provided for in this section for the purpose of calculating State Aid for the district. Provided that, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, persons applying for and approved to attend school in accordance with the provisions of this subsection shall only be eligible if such district offers a full-time virtual education program and such persons only utilize the full-time virtual education program option for the completion of their high school education. B. Any resident of the state who is age nineteen (19) or older, who is not enrolled in any high school program, and who has not completed the twelfth grade may attend any adult high school completion program which is established by a school district and approved by the State Board of Career and Technology Education if such attendance has the approval of the district offering the program. Such attendance shall not be counted in the average daily attendance of the district unless the Legislature appropriates monies for adult high school completion programs. Such attendance shall not be counted to meet minimum numbers for accreditation of the school district involved, and such students shall not attend classes which are a part of the normal class structure of the district. C. A person subject to the provisions of subsection A or B of this section shall not be required to take the student assessments required by Section 1210.508 of this title and shall not be included in the reports required by Section 1210.545 or 24-120.1 of this title.

Legislative History

Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 5-132, eff. July 2, 1971. Amended by Laws 1988, c. 211, § 1, eff. July 1, 1988; Laws 2014, c. 164, § 2, eff. July 1, 2014; Laws 2024, c. 162, § 1, eff. July 1, 2024; Laws 2025, c. 296, § 1, eff. July 1, 2025.