§18-31-2a. Educational privileges and programs available to Hope Scholarship students.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a Hope Scholarship student that pursues an individualized instructional program is exempt from the requirements of compulsory school attendance pursuant to §18-8-1(m) of this code and shall be subject to the requirements of this article unless otherwise stated: Provided, That a Hope Scholarship student that pursues an individualized instructional program shall have the same privileges and access to programs that this code makes available to students exempt from compulsory school attendance pursuant to §18-8-1(c) of this code including, but not limited to:

(1) The ability to receive a diploma from the student's secondary educational program administrator according to the requirements of §18-8-12 of this code;

(2) The ability to receive the PROMISE scholarship according to the requirements of §18C-7-1 et seq. of this code;

(3) The ability to receive a work permit without prior review by a school administrator pursuant to §21-6-3 of this code; and

(4) The ability to participate in an ACE program according to the requirements in §18-2E-11 of this code.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a Hope Scholarship student that attends a participating school shall have the same privileges and access to programs available to students exempt from compulsory school attendance pursuant to §18-8-1 of this code by virtue of attendance of a nonpublic school including, but not limited to:

(1) The ability to receive a diploma from the student's school administrator according to the requirements of §18-8-12 of this code;

(2) The ability to receive the PROMISE scholarship according to the requirements of §18C-7-1 et. seq. of this code; and

(3) The ability to participate in an ACE program according to the requirements in §18-2E-11 of this code.

(c) Nothing in this section may be construed as subjecting homeschool students or nonpublic school students not participating in the Hope Scholarship Program to the requirements of this article.