Relating to private instruction, including the issuance of diplomas or credentials to students who complete private instruction and the authority of parents, guardians, and legal custodians to execute documents to verify student information, and including effective date and applicability provisions

This bill relates to private instruction, including the issuance of diplomas or credentials to students who complete private instruction and the authority of parents, guardians, and legal custodians to execute documents to verify student information. The bill provides that a diploma or credential issued by a person who administers a program of secondary education under competent private instruction or independent private instruction pursuant to Code chapter 299A (private instruction) shall be deemed sufficient to demonstrate that the recipient has completed the program of secondary education and has attained the equivalent of a high school diploma. The bill prohibits the state, a political subdivision of the state, institutions of higher education under the control of the state board of regents, or an accredited private institution from discriminating against any individual based on the source of the individual’s diploma or credential and shall treat a diploma or credential awarded for completion of a program of secondary education under competent private instruction or independent private instruction the same as a high school diploma awarded by a school district or accredited nonpublic school. The bill provides that the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child of compulsory attendance age shall have the authority to execute any document required by law to verify the placement of a child under competent private instruction or independent private instruction, the child’s full-time or part-time status in competent private instruction or independent private instruction, the grades the child has obtained in competent private instruction or independent private instruction, or any other required educational information.