HB 908: Education; prohibit a public school, private school, or home school program from requiring a child who has completed all requirements for a high school diploma to take or attend classes for any additional course

Under current Georgia law, children between ages six and 16 must attend a public school, private school, or home school program, though attendance is not required once a child has completed all requirements for a high school diploma. This bill amends that law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1) to add a new protection for students in their final semester of high school. The bill states that no child in their final semester of high school can be required to take or attend classes for any course beyond the minimum coursework needed to earn a diploma. It also reorganizes the existing exemption from mandatory attendance so it clearly applies once a student has finished all diploma requirements. The bill does not set an effective date beyond the standard process, and repeals any conflicting laws.

• Amends Georgia's compulsory attendance law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1) covering children ages six to 16.
• Bars public schools, private schools, and home school programs from requiring a student in their final semester of high school to take classes beyond the minimum needed for a diploma.
• Restructures the existing exemption from mandatory attendance so it clearly covers children who have completed all diploma requirements.
• Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with this new rule.

High school seniors in their final semester who have already met diploma requirements, along with the public schools, private schools, and home school programs that currently may require them to keep attending extra classes.

Seniors who finish their required coursework early would no longer have to sit through additional classes just because the school year isn't over. This could change daily scheduling for graduating seniors and how schools plan coursework for students nearing graduation.

• Section 1 revises subsection (a) of O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1 to split the mandatory attendance rule into two paragraphs, clarifying when attendance is and is not required.
• Section 1 adds new language stating no child in their final semester of high school must take or attend classes beyond the minimum coursework necessary for a diploma.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard clause with no substantive effect beyond removing conflicts with this Act.

1. 2026-01-12House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2025-04-04House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-04-02House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Michael Smith (D, HD-041)Patrocinador principal

• education
• high school graduation
• compulsory attendance
• school policy