This bill would amend Subpart 2 of Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A. to shift home school declarations and annual attendance records from LEA’s to the SDOE with provisions that would allow electronic submittal. It would also allow LEA’s to notify parents of unexcused absences in excess of 5 days by first-class mail instead of the more costly certified, receipt requested, letters. However, before a case could be adjudicated to impose a penalty on the parents/guardians, a certified, return receipt requested letter would have to be sent. The DOE would have to coordinate with local superintendents regarding notification of parents in home school programs.

NOTE: Students in registered home school programs that do not meet or keep attendance records could result in a child going without instruction for a full year before the DOE would realize that instruction is not taking place.