The Cobb County School District (District) recognizes that parents or guardians may teach their children at home in a home study program which meets the requirements of state law and this Administrative Rule.

RULE:

The regulations for withdrawing a student to participate in the Home Study Program and the regulations for re-entering the District after participation in the Home Study Program are as follows.

    A. WITHDRAWING A STUDENT TO ENTER HOME STUDY PROGRAM:
        1. When a parent/guardian requests a local school to withdraw his/her child for the
            purpose of entering a Home Study Program, the school should:
            a. Refer the parent/guardian to the District’s Office for Home Study; and
            b. Inform the parent/guardian that if a student withdraws during the semester,
                he/she will lose credit for all courses enrolled for the semester.
        2. The Office for Home Study will give the parent/guardian the requirements for
            operating a Home Study Program and for re-entry into the District.
        3. The parent/guardian will be required to sign a Declaration of Intent indicating their
            agreement to follow the state and local guidelines of the Home Study Program.
        4. District curriculum guides, syllabi, basal texts, supplemental materials and other
            related instructional materials are not available on a loan, lease or purchase basis
            to a home study parent/guardian.
        5. In the Home Study Program, the parent/guardian assumes the responsibility for
            teaching all subjects or employing a tutor to teach or assist in teaching all
            subjects.
        6. The parent/guardian must withdraw his/her child from the local school after the
            Declaration of Intent has been received by the Office for Home Study. The Office
            for Home Study will notify the local school when a parent/guardian has filed a
            Declaration of Intent to home study his/her child.
        7. The STATE regulations governing the operation of a home school are as follows:
            a. Parent or guardian must annually submit to the superintendent of the local
                school district in which the program is located a Declaration of Intent to utilize
                a Home Study Program by September 1 or 30 days after a program is
                established. The local school superintendent will provide a form upon request
                for this purpose to be returned to that office.
            b. The declaration must include the names and ages of the students, the address
                where the program is located, and the dates of the school year.
            c. The parent/guardian may teach only his/her own children.
            d. The teaching parent or guardian must have at least a high school diploma or
                equivalent GED certificate.
            e. If a tutor is employed, the tutor must hold a high school diploma or a general
                educational development diploma.
            f. The Home Study Program must include but is not limited to instruction in
               reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science.
            g. The school year must include the equivalent of 180 days of at least 4 1/2 hours
                of instruction per day unless the child is physically unable to comply with this
                requirement.
            h. Monthly attendance reports must be sent to the local superintendent at the
               end of each month. The local school superintendent will upon request provide
               the reporting forms.
            i. Students in the Home Study Program shall be subject to an appropriate nationally
               standardized testing program administered in consultation with a person trained
               in the administration and interpretation of norm reference tests. The student
               must be evaluated at least every three years beginning at the end of the third
               grade. Records of such tests shall be retained.
             j. The instructor shall write an annual progress assessment report in each required
                subject area for each student. These reports shall be retained for at least three
                years.

    B. ENTERING A STUDENT IN A LOCAL SCHOOL FROM HOME STUDY:
        1. Elementary/Middle School (Grades K-8):
            a. All students entering a Cobb County elementary or middle school from a Home
                Study Program shall be evaluated for placement based on the following criteria:
               (1) State Board of Education policy and District Administrative Rule requirements
                    relating to entrance into kindergarten or first grade.
               (2) Chronological age based on a certifiable document.
               (3) Performance on standardized tests and/or instructional placement tests.
               (4) Age, physical size, social and emotional maturity levels of the student.
            b. After reviewing the above criteria the local school shall place the student in the
                appropriate grade level. A review of the placement will be conducted after six
                weeks to determine final placement.
        2. High School Students (Grades 9-12):
            a. All students entering a Cobb County high school from a Home Study Program
                shall be admitted and evaluated for placement based on the guidelines found in
                District Administrative Rules regarding receiving credit from Non-accredited
                Schools and or/Home Schools as provided in Administrative Rule IHA (Grading
                Systems).
            b. The student/parent will present a transcript of work done in the Home Study
                Program to the school at the time of registration. The transcript should include
                the specific names, numeric grades earned, and the number of clock hours of
                instruction for each course.
            c. Students who have been enrolled in the Home Study Program must pass the
                Georgia High School Graduation Test, and applicable End of Course Tests, as
                well as meet State of Georgia and District graduation requirements before a
                diploma will be issued.
            d. Eligibility for extra-curricular participation is the same for home study students
                entering the system as that required of all District students.

Adopted: 8/26/04
Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04
Reviewed: 7/28/05
Revised: 4/26/07