HB1218: HB1218 Georgia Virtual Public School Student Athletic Participation Act; enact

26 LC 61 0349 House Bill 1218 By: Representatives Flournoy of the 74th, Hilton of the 48th, Neal of the 79th, Olaleye of the 59th, and Berry of the 56th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O fficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act,"2 so as to revise the "Dexter Mosely Act" to allow for virtual school students from qualifying3 virtual schools to participate in specified extracurricular and interscholastic activities under4 the sponsorship, direction, and c ontrol of the student's reside nt public school or resident5 public school system; to provide for requirements of such virtual school student participation;6 to provide for virtual school qualifications; to provide for definitions; to provide for related7 matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effect ive date and applicability; to8 repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10 SECTION 1.11 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Virtua l Public School Student12 Athletic Participation Act."13 H. B. 1218 - 1 - 26 LC 61 0349 SECTION 2.14 Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official C ode of Georgia Annotated,15 relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended16 by revising Code Section 20-2-319.6, relating to home study student participation in resident17 school system extracurricular and interscholastic activities, s hort title, definitions,18 requirements for participation, impact of student withdrawal, and reporting requirements, as19 follows:20 "20-2-319.6.21 (a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the 'Dexter Mosely Act.'22 (b) As used in this Code section, the term:23 (1) 'Athletic association' means any association of schools or any other similar24 organization which acts as an organizing, sanctioning, scheduling, or rule-making body25 for interscholastic activities in which public schools in this state participate.26 (2) 'Extracurricular activities' means public school-sponsored school sponsored activities27 in which students take part on a voluntary basis; which do not offer or provide school or28 course credits; which are generally conducted outside regular s chool hours or, if29 conducted in whole or in part during regular school hours, at t imes agreed to by the30 participants and approved by a school official; and which are m anaged and operated31 under the guidance of a teacher, other school employee, or othe r adult approved by a32 school official. Examples of extracurricular activities includ e but are not limited to33 intramural and interscholastic athletics; band, chorus, and other musical activities; drama34 and other theatrical activities; and clubs and organizations as defined in subsection (a) of35 Code Section 20-2-705.36 (3) 'Home study student' means any student in grades six through 12 who is in a home37 study program that meets the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690.38 (4) 'Interscholastic activities' means extracurricular activities, public school-sponsored39 school sponsored athletic programs, and other public school-sponsored school sponsored40 H. B. 1218 - 2 - 26 LC 61 0349 programs that are sanctioned or supported by a state-wide inter scholastic activities41 governing body, including but not limited to an athletic association.42 (5) 'Qualifying course' means a course facilitated by the home study student's resident43 school system:44 (A) By applying one or more of the mechanisms provided for in paragraphs (1)45 through (4) of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-319.4;46 (B) By way of a dual credit course as provided for in Code Section 20-2-161.3; or47 (C) By way of an on-site course required for participation in designated extracurricular48 and interscholastic activities.49 (6) 'Qualifying virtual school' means a public school in this state that provides solely50 virtual instruction and that does not offer to students enrolle d in grades six through 1251 one or more school sponsored interscholastic athletic programs or other school sponsored52 programs that are sanctioned or supported by a state-wide inter scholastic activities53 governing body.54 (6)(7) 'Resident school' means the public school in which a home study student or virtual55 school student would be enrolled based on his or her residence.56 (7)(8) 'Resident school system' means the public school system in which a home study57 student or virtual school student would be enrolled based on his or her residence.58 (9) 'Virtual school student' means a student in grades six through 12 enrolled full-time59 in a qualifying virtual school.60 (c) A home study student shall be eligible to participate in e xtracurricular activities and61 interscholastic activities under the sponsorship, direction, and control of the resident school62 or resident school system, provided that each of the following requirements is met:63 (1) At least 30 calendar days before the first school day of the semester in which a home64 study student will enroll in a qualifying course as provided in paragraph (2) of this65 subsection, a parent or guardian of the home study student provides to the principal of the66 resident school and the superintendent of the resident school system:67 H. B. 1218 - 3 - 26 LC 61 0349 (A) Written notice that the home study student intends to part icipate in one or more68 specified extracurricular or interscholastic activities as a representative of the resident69 school or resident school system; and70 (B) A copy of the home study student's most recent annual progress assessment report,71 as provided for in paragraph (8) of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690, along with72 written verification by the home study program instructor that the home study student73 is currently receiving a passing grade in each home study progr am course, is74 maintaining satisfactory progress toward advancement, and meets the requirements for75 participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity;76 (2) For each semester of the regular school year during any part of which the home study77 student participates in an extracurricular or interscholastic a ctivity, the home study78 student enrolls in and attempts to complete one qualifying course;79 (3) The home study student meets established age, academic, be havioral, conduct,80 disciplinary, residence, zoning, and other rules and requirements applicable to all students81 for participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity and provides82 any supporting documentation required by the resident school;83 (4) The home study student abides by the same student code of conduct and disciplinary84 measures and transportation policies as students enrolled at the resident school who are85 participating in the same extracurricular or interscholastic ac tivity as the home study86 student;87 (5) The home study student completes the tryout process or the equivalent for88 participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity applicable to all89 students for participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity and90 provides any supporting documentation required by the resident school; and91 (6) For an extracurricular or interscholastic activity which i nvolves a competitive92 selection process, the home study student is selected.93 H. B. 1218 - 4 - 26 LC 61 0349 (c.1) A virtual school student shall be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities and94 interscholastic activities under the sponsorship, direction, and control of the resident school95 or resident school system, provided that each of the following requirements is met:96 (1) At least 30 calendar days before the first school day of the semester in which a virtual97 school student intends to participate in one or more extracurri cular or interscholastic98 activities, a parent or guardian of the virtual school student provides to the principal of99 the resident school and the superintendent of the resident school system:100 (A) Written notice that the virtual school student intends to participate in one or more101 specified extracurricular or interscholastic activities as a representative of the resident102 school or resident school system; and103 (B) A copy of the virtual school student's most recent report card or its equivalent,104 along with written verification by the virtual school that the virtual school student is105 currently receiving a passing grade in each course and meets th e requirements for106 participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity;107 (2) The virtual school student meets established age, academic , behavioral, conduct,108 disciplinary, residence, zoning, and other rules and requirements applicable to all students109 for participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity and provides110 any supporting documentation required by the resident school;111 (3) The virtual school student abides by the same student code of conduct and112 disciplinary measures and transportation policies as students e nrolled at the resident113 school who are participating in the same extracurricular or interscholastic activity as the114 virtual school student;115 (4) The virtual school student completes the tryout process or the equivalent for116 participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity applicable to all117 students for participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity and118 provides any supporting documentation required by the resident school; and119 H. B. 1218 - 5 - 26 LC 61 0349 (5) For an extracurricular or interscholastic activity which i nvolves a competitive120 selection process, the virtual school student is selected.121 (d) A student who withdraws from a public school to participate in a home study program122 or enroll in a qualifying virtual school shall be ineligible for participation in any123 extracurricular or interscholastic activity for 12 months from the date of the declaration of124 intent to utilize a home study program provided to the Departme nt of Education as125 provided under paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690 or enrollment in126 the qualifying virtual school.127 (e) For purposes of this Code section, participation in an extracurricular or interscholastic128 activity includes participation in the following school-sponsor ed school sponsored129 activities related to the extracurricular or interscholastic ac tivity: tryouts; off-season130 practice, rehearsal, or conditioning; summer and holiday practi ce, rehearsal, or131 conditioning; in-season practice, rehearsal, or conditioning; and all exhibitions, contests,132 and competitions, including scrimmage, preseason, regular seaso n, postseason, and133 invitational.134 (f) A resident school, a resident school system, or an athletic association shall not deny a135 home study student or a virtual school student the opportunity to try out and participate if136 selected in any extracurricular or interscholastic activities available at the resident school137 or in the resident school system if the student meets the requi rements contained in138 subsection (c) or (c.1) of this Code section, respectively, and is not ineligible under139 subsection (d) of this Code section.140 (g) No public high school which receives funding under this ar ticle shall participate in,141 sponsor, or provide coaching staff for interscholastic activities which are conducted under142 the authority of, conducted under the rules of, or scheduled by any athletic association that143 does not deem eligible for participation a home study student or virtual school student who144 meets the requirements contained in subsection (c) or (c.1) o f t h i s C o d e s e c t i o n ,145 respectively, and is not ineligible under subsection (d) of this Code section.146 H. B. 1218 - 6 - 26 LC 61 0349 (h) Home study students and virtual school students shall participate in extracurricular or147 interscholastic activities, as authorized under this Code secti on, on behalf of such home148 study student's resident school.149 (i) The specific assigned program of each home study student e nrolled in a qualifying150 course shall be included for a one-sixth segment of the school day, or the block scheduling151 equivalent, by the home study student's resident school system in reports made to the152 Department of Education as provided in subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-160."153 SECTION 3.154 This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026, and shall appl y beginning with the155 2027-2028 school year.156 SECTION 4.157 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.158 H. B. 1218 - 7 -