Bill Text: GA HB281 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Georgia Virtual School Opportunity and Enrichment Act; enact

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-24 - House Reconsidered [HB281 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-HB281-Comm_Sub.html

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10 LC 21 0693S

The House Committee on Science & Technology offers the following substitute

to HB 281:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to enact the "Georgia Virtual School Opportunity and Enrichment Act"; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for a definition; to require a local school system to allow virtual students in grades six through 12 to participate in extracurricular activities; to provide for academic requirements; to provide for ineligibility; to provide that the virtual student is subject to all nonacademic rules, regulations, and codes of conduct as would apply to other students; to provide for ineligibility; to prohibit certain memberships; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Virtual School Opportunity and Enrichment Act."

SECTION 2.

The General Assembly finds that extracurricular student activities are an important complement to the academic curriculum and that participation in extracurricular activities contributes to student development of the social and intellectual skills necessary to become a well-rounded adult. Further, the General Assembly finds that the state has an investment in every child in this state and his or her education, regardless of where that child is being educated.

SECTION 3.

Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"20-2-319.3.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'virtual student' means a student enrolled full time in a virtual charter school approved by the State Board of Education.

(b) A local school system shall allow a virtual student in grades six through 12 to participate in any and all extracurricular activities offered or conducted by the school in which such child would be enrolled by virtue of his or her residence in the same manner as any student currently attending the school as a public school student. If a virtual student wishes to participate in an extracurricular activity, he or she shall register with the principal of the school, or his or her designee, of such intent to participate in extracurricular activities of the school in accordance with rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education. A virtual student shall be required to complete any related forms required by the school system or required pursuant to state board rules.

(c) In order to be eligible to participate pursuant to this Code section, a virtual student shall achieve a satisfactory score as defined by the state board on one or more curriculum based tests as designated by the state board. It shall be the responsibility of the virtual student and his or her parent or guardian to make all arrangements and cover all costs to take the test or tests required pursuant to this subsection and to provide the principal of the school, or his or her designee, with the results of such test or tests prior to participation in any extracurricular activity.

(d) A virtual student who does not meet the requirements contained in subsection (c) of this Code section shall be ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activity of the school for the remainder of the current semester and each succeeding semester until he or she meets the requirements in subsection (c) of this Code section.

(e) A virtual student shall comply with the same nonacademic rules and requirements for participation that apply to any student's participation in the same activity and shall be subject to the same code of conduct as would apply to other students participating in the same activity.

(f) A student who withdraws or drops out of a public school during the school year shall be ineligible to participate as a virtual student in extracurricular activities pursuant to this Code section for the remainder of the current school year in addition to the following school year. The public school principal may grant a waiver of this provision in the event of an extraordinary health related issue.

(g) Public schools shall be prohibited from membership in any organization or entity which regulates or governs interscholastic extracurricular activities that discriminates against virtual students.

(h) The State Board of Education shall establish rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Code section."

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.