HB546: HB546 Quality Basic Education Act; require local school systems to offer certain exams to home study students

Currently, home study students in Georgia are not guaranteed access to standardized tests offered through their local public school systems, such as the SAT, ACT, PSAT/NMSQT, PreACT, ASVAB, or advanced placement exams. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's Quality Basic Education Act requiring that if a local school system offers any of these tests to its enrolled students, it must also make them available to home study students who would otherwise be zoned to attend that school system based on where they live. The bill requires schools to use the same rules and procedures for home study students as for enrolled students, though the test can be scheduled at a different time. School systems must post notice on their websites listing test dates, registration deadlines, and a statement that home study students are eligible. Schools cannot charge home study students extra fees or add requirements beyond what state law already requires for home study programs.

• Requires local school systems that offer the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, PreACT, ACT, ASVAB, or AP exams to enrolled students to also make them available to eligible home study students in grades 6-12.
• Requires school systems to use the same rules, policies, and procedures for home study students taking these tests as apply to enrolled students.
• Allows schools to offer the test to home study students either at the same time as enrolled students or at a separate date and time.
• Requires school systems to post notice on their public websites listing test dates, registration deadlines and procedures, and eligibility for home study students.
• Bars school systems from charging home study students fees not charged to enrolled students or imposing extra requirements beyond the existing home study law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690).

Home study (homeschool) students in grades 6 through 12 and their families, local school systems and school boards that administer standardized tests, and school staff responsible for test registration and website notices.

Home study students who want to take college entrance or placement exams like the SAT or ACT through their local public school system would gain a guaranteed right to do so, on the same terms as enrolled students, without extra fees, which could affect access to college admissions testing across Georgia.

• Adds new Code Section 20-2-324.8 to Part 15 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 defining 'home study student' as a grades 6-12 student in a home study program meeting O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690(c) requirements.
• Subsection (b) requires school systems offering the listed tests to make them available to eligible home study students under the same rules as enrolled students, though scheduling may differ.
• Subsection (b)(2) requires public website notice of test dates, registration deadlines and procedures, and a statement of home study student eligibility.
• Subsection (c) prohibits imposing fees on home study students that aren't charged to enrolled students or adding requirements beyond the existing home study statute.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-24House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-21House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-20House Hopper (House)

• Noelle Kahaian (R, HD-081)Primary sponsor
• Charlice Byrd (R, HD-020)
• Emory Dunahoo (R, HD-031)
• Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-014)
• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-015)
• Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)

• homeschooling
• standardized testing
• SAT and ACT access
• education policy
• school district requirements