| Issue |
Status/Date |
Level |
Summary |
 Assessment--Computer Based |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Directs the state board to establish rules and regulations to maximize the number of students, beginning with students entering ninth grade in the 2014-2015 school year (Class of 2018), who complete at least one course containing online learning through (1) an online course offered by the Georgia Virtual School, (2) an online dual enrollment course offered by a postsecondary institution, or (3) an approved provider. Directs the state board to make all end-of-course tests available online, and to establish rules and regulations to maximize the number of students and school systems using such online assessments. Repeals provision that gave public school students priority for enrollment in the Georgia Virtual School. Bars a local school system from prohibiting a student from taking a Georgia Virtual School course, regardless of whether the student's school offers the same course. Permits students enrolled in the Georgia Virtual School to be counted by a district for state funding purposes. Repeals certain provision relating to fund requests by the state board for the Georgia Virtual School grant account. Provides that funds from the account are to be used to cover department costs associated with the maintenance of the Georgia Virtual School, such as new course development, credit recovery, blended learning training, and operating a clearinghouse. Removes provision requiring state board to adopt provisions allowing students to participate in Georgia Virtual School courses in excess of any annual maximum number of courses at a tuition rate to be established by the state board. Requires local school systems to pay tuition, materials, and fees for student participation in Georgia Virtual School
Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, requires each local school system to provide opportunities for all public school students in grades 3-12 to participate in part-time and full-time virtual instruction program options. Requires local school systems to notify parents of such opportunities, and identifies mechanisms by which local school systems may facilitate virtual instruction program participation. Requires a local school system's virtual instruction program to provide for at least two full-time options and one part-time option for students enrolled in dropout prevention and academic intervention programs or Department of Juvenile Justice education programs. Directs the department to annually provide local school systems with a list of providers approved to offer virtual instruction programs, and establishes quality and accountability indicators providers must meet to be approved by the department. Requires each contract with an approved provider to set forth a detailed curriculum plan that illustrates how students will be provided services for, and be measured for attainment of, proficiency in state curriculum requirements for each grade level and subject. Directs the department, by December 2012, to submit a report to the governor and legislative leadership that (1) includes a plan under which local boards may voluntarily pool their bids for acquiring digital learning, and (2) identifies criteria to enable local boards to differentiate between the level of service as well as pricing based on specified criteria. Also requires that the report examine ways to increase student access to digital learning. Pages 1-6 of 7: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127888.pdf
Title: S.B. 289 - Online Learning
Source: |
Attendance |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Requires that declarations of intent and attendance records for home study programs be submitted to the department of education rather than local school superintendents; authorizes department to provide for electronic submittal of such records. Provides that notice by local school systems to parents relating to unexcused absences may be made by U.S. mail. Requires a district to send a notice to a parent or guardian via certified mail, return receipt requested, prior to to any action to commence judicial proceedings to impose a penalty for violating truancy provision. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127589.pdf
Title: H.B. 39
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Career/Technical Education |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12,
Community College |
Section 1: Delays until fall 2013 requirement that the state board of the Technical College System of Georgia require its institutions to accept for purposes of admissions any core curriculum coursework completed in high school.
Section 2: Directs the state board to prescribe a minimum course of study in career education for grades K-12, to include but not be limited to career awareness, career exploration, and career-oriented learning experiences.
Section 3: Extends until July 2013 date by which department of education must develop, and state board must approve, state models and curriculum framework for specified CTE programs of study.
Pages 1-2 of 4: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127601.pdf
Title: H.B. 713 - Career Education, CTE
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Georgia so as to (1) Clarify the authority of the General Assembly to provide for the establishment of policies for the provision of public education; (2) Provide that the authority of local boards does not diminish the General Assembly's authority otherwise granted in the state constitution, including the authority to establish special schools; (3) Revise provisions related to special schools to specify that no bonded indebtedness or levy may be incurred without the approval of a local board; (4) Specify that a special school may include state charter schools; (5) Identify schools that may not be classified as state charter schools, including private and for-profit schools; and (6) Provide no deduction may be made to any state funding a local school system is otherwise authorized to receive pursuant to general law as a direct result or consequence of the enrollment in a state charter school of a student residing within the geographic boundaries of the local school system. Provides wording of ballot amendment. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/125399.pdf
Title: H.R. 1162
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Repeals and rewrites provisions related to the Georgia Charter Schools Commission. Provides legislative findings and intent regarding charter schools and statewide oversight of charter schools. Allows commission to approve state charter schools with statewide attendance zone as well as defined attendance zone. Provides for membership, duties, and powers of State Charter Schools Commission. Specifies requirements that applicant charter school must meet, both to be approved by the commission and once school begins operations. Identifies prohibited activities of a member of a governing board of a state charter school. Specifies information that the commission must make available on charter schools to all parents in the state. Requires an annual report to the state board on the academic performance and fiscal responsibility of all approved state charter schools. Provides related to assuming of debt for a charter school whose charter is terminated or not renewed. Provides for funding for state charter schools, including special charter schools offering virtual instruction. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127650.pdf
Title: H.B. 797
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies |
Vetoed 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Provides that the state school superintendent has the authority to employ and dismiss employees. Revises a provision relating to contracting authority of the state school superintendent, to increase the amount for which the state superintendent has authority to enter into contracts from $50,000 to $250,000. Bill text: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/118212.pdf
Governor's veto message: http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,165937316_184600248_184703295,00.html
Title: S.B. 38
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
To amend Code Section 28-5-42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to introduction of bills having significant impact upon anticipated revenues or expenditures and furnishing of fiscal notes. Requires a 10-year projection of costs for bills that would create a new program or funding category and that would have a significant impact upon the department of education's anticipated revenues or expenditures. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127855.pdf
Title: H.B. 1178
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Directs the governor, in making his/her budget report, and budget units in preparing their estimates, to use zero-base budgeting, beginning with the budget report presented to the general assembly in January 2013. Requires the governor's budget report to include zero-base budgeting for the agencies and programs identified by the house and senate budget offices in consultation with the governor's office of planning and budget. Such offices must require each agency to use zero-base budgeting at least once every 10 years and may not require any agency or program to use zero-base budgeting more than once every 8 years. Specifies information that must be included in each budget unit's budget estimate in any year in which zero-base budgeting applies. Specifically provides that the board of regents of the University of Georgia is a budget unit subject to these provisions, and that programs of the board of regents be periodically subject to zero-base budgeting. Requires the department of education's budget as presented in the January 2013 budget report be submitted as a zero-base budget.Automatically repeals these provisions effective June 30, 2020, unless reauthorized by the general assembly.
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127816.pdf
Title: S.B. 33
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Health--Child Abuse |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Existing law includes child service organization personnel among those who must report suspected child abuse. New provision defines "child service organization personnel" as employees or volunteers at any public, private, for profit, not for profit, or voluntary organization or business that provides care, treatment, education, training, supervision, coaching, counseling, recreational programs, or shelter to children. Clarifies that "school" staff and volunteers required to report suspected child abuse include staff and volunteers of public and private pre-K, K-12, and postsecondary education providers. Defines "clergy" and clarifies requirements regarding clergy reporting of suspected child abuse. Defines "reproductive health care facility" and "pregnancy resource center personnel," and requires volunteers and staff at such facilities to report suspected child abuse. Removes statute of limitations for specified child abuse and child sexual abuse crimes committed on or after July 1, 2012. Prohibits record restriction if individual is convicted of chld molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes, sexual assault by persons with supervisory or disciplinary authority, and specified other crimes against minors. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127628.pdf
Title: H.B. 1176
Source: |
High School--College Readiness |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Section 4: Requires that transitional courses for 11th and 12th graders in reading, writing and math be offered by all local boards, and requires all students identified in grade 10 as in need of postsecondary readiness assistance to take such courses. Requires the state board of education, board of regents of the University System of Georgia, and state board of the Technical College System of Georgia to establish a statewide process for determining how successful completion of such courses will guarantee students meet college readiness standards. Pages 2-3 of 4: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127601.pdf
Title: H.B. 713 - Transitional Courses for 11th and 12th Graders Not College-Ready
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
High School--Graduation Requirements |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Section 5: Delays until 2013-14 school year deadline by which the state board, in consultation with the board of regents of the University System of Georgia and the state board of the Technical College System of Georgia, must adopt policies and guidelines for the awarding of high school credit based on demonstration of student proficiency. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127601.pdf
Title: H.B. 713 - Demonstration of Subject Area Competency
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Leadership--District Superintendent |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Replaces reference to "principal" with reference to "administrator" in certain provisions pertaining to actions to terminate or suspend a school employee's contract. Provides that actions to terminate or suspend contracts due to staff reductions incurred by loss of students or cancellation of programs must be due to no fault or performance issue of the teacher, administrator, or other employee, and that written specification of such must be provided to the teacher, administrator, or other employee. Adds provision that if a school system implements a furlough program, a furlough day must be a Monday or Friday or in conjunction with a holiday, unless the local board of education provides otherwise. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/126990.pdf
Title: S.B. 153
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Leadership--District Superintendent |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Section 1: Directs the department of education to establish the Professional Learning Rules Task Force to review state board professional learning rules, review current research regarding professional learning and provide suggestions for revisions, and provide suggestions for implementation. Establishes task force membership. By July 1, 2013, directs the task force to provide the state board with recommendations for professional learning rules. Requires recommendations to be included in revisions to state board rules by June 30, 2015. Repeals these provisions effective July 1, 2015. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/118157.pdf
Title: S.B. 184 - Professional Learning Rules Task Force
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Online Learning--Digital/Blended Learning |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Directs the department of education to develop a clearinghouse through which local school systems and charter schools may offer distance learning courses to students in other local school systems and charter schools. Provides procedures and requirements for offering a course through the clearinghouse, including department oversight duties. Establishes student enollment requirements and procedures. Provides for course fees and payment. Provides for the assignment of course grades. Permits the department to determine the manner in which an online clearinghouse course may be offered as a dual enrollment program, may be offered to students enrolled in nonpublic schools or a home study program, or may be offered at times outside the normal school day or school week. Authorizes the department to coordinate the clearinghouse with the Georgia Virtual School. Provides that nothing in these provisions prohibits a local school system or charter school from offering a distance learning course through any means other than the clearinghouse. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127714.pdf
Title: H.B. 175
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
P-3 Health and Mental Health |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Requires early care and education programs to annually provide parents with specified information on the influenza vaccine. Provides nothing shall be construed to require any early care and education program to provide or pay for influenza immunizations. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/126270.pdf
Title: H.B. 845
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
School Safety |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Repeals section 20-2-1183, which provided that student possession of an electronic communication device in school is permitted or prohibited as specifically prescribed by local board rule or policy.
Page 7 of 7: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127888.pdf
Title: S.B. 289 - Electronic Communications Devices
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Special Education |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Clarifies that hardbound and softbound textbooks remain the property of the local unit purchasing or acquiring them, while assistive technology devices and digital versions of textbooks may remain the property of the student. Provides that the electronic format of a textbook that the publisher is required to provide may include a digital version.
Pages 6-7 of 7: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127888.pdf
Title: S.B. 289 - Textbooks and Assistive Technology Devices
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Special Education |
Vetoed 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Specifies the language school systems must use to notify parents of a child's potential eligibility for a Georgia Special Needs Scholarship. Requires the student's resident school system to ensure the parent of a student with a disability is provided such notice at each individualized education program (IEP) meeting. Authorizes the state board to require a local board to expedite the development of an IEP and waive the scholarship qualification requirement that a student have spent the previous school year in a Georgia public school, on a case-by-case basis for a student's specific medical needs, on parental request. Authorizes the state board to require such an expedited IEP process to be completed before the start of the school year. Directs the state board to provide an annual report through 2015 on the number of waivers approved pursuant to these provisions. Establishes 3 scholarship application deadlines each school year (September 15, December 15, February 15) for a special needs student to transfer. Allows scholarship amounts to be reduced under certain circumstances. Specifies dates for making quarterly scholarship payments, and requires such payments to be equal, as nearly as practical. Directs the state auditor to cite as an audit exception any failure by the department to meet any payment deadlines and to include such audit exceptions on the state's Transparency in Government website.
Bill text: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127590.pdf
Governor's veto message: http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,165937316_184600248_184703295,00.html
Title: H.B. 181
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
State Longitudinal Data Systems |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
Postsec. |
Provides that a private college or university that submits confidential student data and records to the office of student achievement cannot be held liable for the breach of the confidentiality of such data and records by the office of student achievement. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127805.pdf
Title: S.B. 405
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Teaching Quality--Reduction in Force |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Section 2: Prohibits a local board from adopting or implementing a policy that allows length of service to be the primary or sole determining factor when implementing a reduction in force. Requires the local board to consider as the primary factor educator performance, one measure of which may be student academic performance. Provides that any policy that does not comply with these provisions is to be considered invalid, and permits the state board to withhold all or any portion of state funds. Provides these provisions do not apply if a state board eliminates an entire program. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/118157.pdf
Title: S.B. 184 - Reductions in Force
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Accountability--Measures/Indicators |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Directs the office of student achievement to work in coordination to review, and revise as necessary, indicators of quality. Requires such review to be conducted annually, rather than biennially. Requires that school and school system indicators include financial efficiency and school climate, and permits the office to include other indicators. Requires quality of learning indicators to be based on student achievement, achievement gap closure, and student progress, and to be disaggregated by all subgroups as required by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Deletes existing student achievement and school performance indicators. Identifies permissible components of financial efficiency and school climate determinations. Requires financial efficiency and school climate to be rated from 1 to 5 stars, and requires each of these ratings to be included on school and school system report cards, along with an explanation of the criteria that inform each of these ratings.. Requires school and school system quailty of learning ratings to be a numerical score on a scale of 0-100, with a majority of the quality of learning score based on student achievement. Requires school completion data to be included in school and school system indicators of quality of learning. Requires school and school system report cards to include performance data on quality of learning, financial efficiency, and school climate. Repeals language requiring school performance data in report cards to be compared to specified other performance indicators. Requires statewide report card to include rating for each school and school system (previously only school ratings included). Makes awarding of financial financial awards by director of office of student achievement optional rather than mandatory, and bases awards on reduction of achievement gap. Adds unacceptable progress in achievement gap closure to grounds for assistance and intervention in a school. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127822.pdf
Title: S.B. 410
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Accountability--Rewards |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Repeals Section Section 20-2-253, relating to achievement grants to recognize schools and school systems with high achievement, high levels of improved achievement, or to raise the performance of low-performing schools. Page 6 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Achievement Grants
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Attendance |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Adopts the "Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children." Provides for the purpose and policy of the compact. Provides for student educational records and enrollment, placement and attendance, eligibility, graduation, and state coordination services. Creates the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Provides for the members of the interstate commission and their service. Provides for an executive committee and its membership and duties. Provides for the commission's powers, duties, organization, and operations. Provides for oversight, enforcement, and dispute resolution. Provides for financing of the interstate commission. Provides for member states, an effective date, and amendments; provides for withdrawal and dissolution; provides for binding effect and other laws. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127877.pdf
Title: S.B. 227
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Attendance |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Clarifies that provisions for child's entry into kindergarten and 1st grade for a child who was a legal resident of one or more states two years immediately prior to moving to Georgia also apply to children residing in one or more countries two years immediately prior to moving to Georgia. Pages 3-4 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Age for Kindergarten or First Grade Entry for Children Moving from Abroad
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Attendance--Compulsory |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Clarifies that responsibility for administration and enforcement of compulsory attendance laws is the duty of the state department of education as well as local systems (previous legislation referred only to duty of local systems). Places responsibility for reporting truant homeschool students with the department of education. Pages 10-11 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Administration and Enforcement of Compulsory Attendance Laws
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Cheating |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Provides for the automatic decrease in the salary of a teacher or other certificated professional personnel for any salary increase or bonus provided based, in whole or in part, on the results of standardized test scores falsified or known or caused to be falsified by such teacher or professional. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/126996.pdf
Title: H.B. 692
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Finance--Facilities |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Makes changes to the state's facility funding program including:
--Eliminating additional funding for "exceptional growth" districts
--Striking a section of the law that would have allowed local voters to protest the closing of a school
--Striking a section of the law that prevented school districts from applying for state funds for at least 4 years after a failed bond vote
--Adding a section of the law that would allow for local school districts that lost school buildings due to fire or natural disaster to request flexibility in their bonding programs to allow them to rebuild/repair the school.
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/125053.pdf
Title: H.B. 760
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Finance--Funding Formulas |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Includes school nurses in state funding formula based on full-time equivalent student counts. Requires one nurse for every 750 full-time equivalent students at the elementary level and one nurse for every 1,500 studetns at the secondary level. Sets additional funding parameters, including that local school systems that do not meet the minimum full-time equivalent counts are to receive a base amount of funding. Directs the state board, subject to appropriations, to provide grants to local school systems to purchase supplies for school health nurse programs. Provides for distribution of grant funds to local school systems.
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127810.pdf
Title: S.B. 403
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Governance--Deregulation/Waivers/Home Rule |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Repeals Section 20-2-251, relating to demonstration programs (defined by former statute as a document submitted by the local school system or board of control of a regional educational service agency and approved by the State Board of Education which describes: how certain state policies, standards, rules, regulations, and categorical expenditure requirements in practice inhibit the local school´s, school system´s, or regional educational service agency´s delivery of an appropriate and effective educational program ). Page 6 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Demonstration Programs
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Governance--Regional Entities |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Clarifies the legal status of regional educational service agencies, to provide that regional educational service agencies are not state agencies but must be considered local units of administration. Page 6 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Legal Status of Regional Educational Service Agencies
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Repeals provision that authorized the state board, after a reasonable attempt at consultation with the state superintendent, to organize and reorganize the department of education and to prescribe the duties, functions, and operations of the various offices, divisions, sections, and units thereof at such times and in such manner as the state board may deem necessary or desirable for the more economical or effective organization, administration, or functioning of the department. Page 5 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Powers of State Board
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Repeals Section 20-2-254, which authorized the state board to engage in or otherwise provide for educational research. Page 6 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Education Research
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Health |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Provides legislative findings and definitions, including "diabetes medical management plan" and "trained diabetes personnel". Directs the department of education, by August 1, 2012, to develop guidelines for the training of school employees in the care of students with diabetes. Identifies components that such training guidelines must address. Requires local boards and each state chartered special school to ensure such training is provided to at least two school employees at each school serving a student with diabetes, and that information on recognizing diabetes-related emergency situations is provided to all bus drivers responsible for transporting a student with diabetes. Requires the parent of a student with diabetes to submit to the school a diabetes medical management plan that the school must implement. Delineates the functions that may be performed by school nurses or trained diabetes personnel. Authorizes a student to perform independent monitoring and treatment. Provides for immunity from civil liability. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/126950.pdf
Title: H.B. 879
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Health--School Based Clinics or School Nurses |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Permits local boards' school health nurse programs to include consulation with offsite health care professionals through appropriate protocols and contracts. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/121827.pdf
Title: S.B. 183
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Authorizes the department of education to permit parents to submit declaration of intent to use a home study program electronically. Provides that declarations of intent and attendance records for home study programs are submitted to the department of education rather than local school systems. Pages 8-10 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Home Study Programs
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Leadership--District Superintendent |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Prior language required each county school superintendent to take an oath of office. New language replaces reference to "county school superintendent" with "local school superintendent" and specifies the language of the oath superintendents must take. Pages 2-3 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Oath of Office for Local Superintendent
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Evaluation and Effectiveness |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Eliminates a deadline for annual performance evaluations (continues to require annual performance evaluations, but eliminates requirement that the evaluator complete annual evaluations of all certified personnel by April 1). Page 4 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Deadline for Annual Performance Evaluations
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Professional Development |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Directs the state board of education, in consultation with the professional standards commission, to establish category-level expenditure controls to ensure that specified staff development funds are utilized in such a manner as to help align professional learning with results in improved student achievement. Requires that such category-level expenditure controls be established no later than July 1, 2015, and that the controls reflect the revised certification renewal rules established by the professional standards commission regarding the impact of professional learning on student achievement. Amends amount of funding to be allocated to districts for staff and professional development. Requires that, beginning in fiscal year 2014, such amount include funding for school level administrators in the same manner as for other certificated professional personnel. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2015, requires that such amount be at least equivalent to 0.9 percent of salaries of all certificated professional personnel, including school level administrators, used in the development of each respective program weight, subject to legislative appropriation (this bill reduces amount to be at least equivalent to 1.0 of salaries of all certificated professional personnel, down from 1.5).
Directs the state board, subject to appropriation, to provide professional development centered on state-wide strategic initiatives, including training on the new common core curriculum, support for under-performing educators, and mentoring programs in specific subject areas. Requires specified weights to be used in Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 to determine funding amounts for state-wide strategic initiatives for professional development. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127825.pdf
Title: S.B. 404
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Professional Development |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Repeals: (1) Section 20-2-212.3, relating to increasing teachers' salaries in areas of shortage; (2) Section 20-2-212.4, relating to an additional five percent increase in teacher salary based on student performance; (3) Section 20-2-213, relating to career ladder programs; (4) Section 20-2-231, relating to the Georgia Education Leadership Academy; (5) Section 20-2-232, relating to staff development plans by local school systems. Pages 4-5 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Repealing Various Teacher and Leader Provisions
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Middle School |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Repeals Section 20-2-312, relating to a state program for middle school children during nonschool hours. Page 7 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Program for Middle School Children During Nonschool Hours
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
School Safety |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Repeals Section 20-2-1183, which provided that student possession of an electronic communication device in school was to be permitted or prohibited as prescribed by local board policy, and set forth parameters if local policy prohibited or permitted students to possess an electronic communication device in school. Page 11 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Electronic Communication Devices in School
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Health |
Adopted 02/2012 |
P-12 |
Urges the Georgia Department of Education to implement cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes and the implementation of automated external defibrillators in the public schools. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/123191.pdf
Title: S.R. 590
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
21st Century Skills |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Authorizes the Governor's Office of Workforce Development to establish certification in soft skills, which may include, but not be limited to, skills relating to punctuality, ability to learn, and ability to work in a team, as a discrete and complementary component to the current WorkKeys assessment used in Georgia. Provides such certification is intended to assist both the existing workforce as well as the state's emerging workforce. Authorizes the office to explore local, national and international soft skills programs to develop a soft skills certification system.
Provides the office is authorized and encouraged to work with the state's emerging workforce, including rising and graduating high school students, with the goal that, upon graduation, high school students have both a diploma and certification in soft skills and work readiness to enable them to be successful in postsecondary education, a career pathway, or both. Permits the office to collaborate with the department of education and the board of technical and adult education to facilitate coordination with high schools so that high school students can attain certification in soft skills and work readiness. Page 13 of 14: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116702.pdf
Title: H.B. 186 - Certification in "Soft Skills"
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Accountability |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Extends until end of 2014-15 school year the provision that each local school system either notify the department of its intention to request increased flexibility through local school board flexibility contract or elect not to request increased flexibility in exchange for increased accountability and consequences. Page 6 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116810.pdf
Title: H.B. 192
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Assessment--End-of-Course |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
By July 2012, directs the state board to approve department-developed models and curriculum frameworks for 16 areas of career/technical education study.
Requires that the competencies and curricula for career, technical and agricultural courses include state standards in academic core subject areas, as appropriate. Requires that in establishing such competencies and curricula, the state board work to ensure such courses meet postsecondary requirements for acceptance of credit for such coursework. Requires that career, technical and agricultural courses be taught by either (1) a highly qualified teacher in the academic content and trained or experienced in contextualized learning using project based methods; (2) by a highly qualified career, technical and agricultural education teacher who has completed a state-approved training program to strengthen academic content and has passed a state-approved exam for demonstrating mastery of academic content; or (3) by a team made up of a highly qualified teacher in the academic content and a highly qualified career, technical and agricultural education teacher working together to teach the course.
Permits local districts or charter schools to develop career, technical and agricultural courses with embedded academic standards in areas such as English, language arts, science, social studies and math. Provides that for an academic core subject for which an end-of-course exam is given, students must be provided the opportunity to take such end-of-course assessment upon completion of the career, technical or agricultural course that includes embedded standards in such academic core subject area, unless the student has already passed such end-of-course assessment. Provides that a student who completes a career, technical or agricultural course that includes embedded academic core subject area standards must receive credit for both the CTE course and the academic course, for up to three academic courses. Provides such courses must be accepted for purposes of admission into a postsecondary institution.
Pages 4-6 of 14: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116702.pdf
Title: H.B. 186 - Career, Technical and Agricultural Courses
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Attendance |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Provides that a foster care student who attends court proceedings relating to the student's foster care must not be counted as an absence, excused or unexcused, for the day or any portion of the day missed from school. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116565.pdf
Title: H.B. 314
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Career/Technical Education |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Establishes the State Education Finance Study Commission to evaluate the Quality Basic Education (QBE) Formula and education funding for public schools in Georgia. Provides for composition, compensation, duties and powers, and support staff of the commission. Directs the commission to review specified issues related to the QBE formula, state and local funding partnership, equalization, student transportation, state schools funding, capital outlay. Encourages the commission to study and evaluate issues related to charter schools; Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education, dual enrollment, virtual schools; teacher pay; non-QBE grants, and other changes to the education code. Provides a timeline for the commission's work, including that the proposed legislation for final recommendations be completed by end of 2012. Abolishes commission and supporting statutory language on March 31, 2013. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116810.pdf
Title: H.B. 192 - State Education Finance Study Commission
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Career/Technical Education--Career Academies/Apprenticeship |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Amends provisions related to career academies. Defines "college and career academy" as a specialized charter school established by a partnership that demonstrates a collaboration to advance workforce development between one or more local boards of education, a private individual, a private organization, or a state or local public entity in cooperation with one or more postsecondary institutions. Establishes the Office of College and Career Transitions in the Technical College System of Georgia to coordinate efforts across agencies in the professional development, curriculum support, and development and establishment of college and career academies. Provides for start-up funds for a college and career academy. Establishes procedures for the approval of a college and career academy. Authorizes the state board to disburse supplemental funding to existing or new college and career academies that demonstrate a need for such funding. Directs the office to establish a certification process for college and career academies, for approval by the state board of education. Provides that the certification process must require the applicant to:
--Demonstrate how the academy will increase student achievement, provide for dual credit and dual enrollment opportunities, increase work based learning opportunities, and address workforce development needs; --Articulate how the collaboration between business, industry, and community stakeholders will advance workforce development
--Demonstrate local governance and autonomy
--Show other benefits that meet the needs of the students and community.
Directs the office to collect and analyze data from and about college and career academies, including on academy effectiveness, in coordination with the Office of Charter School Compliance. Directs the board to establish eligibility criteria, requirements, and procedures for the disbursement of funding to college and career academies. Directs a college and career academy receiving state funds to submit an annual report to the board regarding the performance of such academy and the expenditure of funds received. Requires that representatives from business, industry, civic and governmental agencies and educational organizations advise the board on certification and governance of college and career academies. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116852.pdf
Title: S.B. 161
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Choice of Schools--Tax Credits |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Expands definition of "eligible student" to include 1st graders (previously included only students in a qualified kindergarten or pre-kindergarten program), and allow participants to continue to qualify until the student reaches age 20, graduates, or returns to a public school, whichever occurs first. Expands definition of qualified school or program to include a nonpublic pre-kindergarten program. Requires that the maximium scholarship amount a student scholarship organization may give in any year may not exceed the average state and local expenditures per student in fall enrollment in public K-12 for the state, which amount must be annually published by the department of education by January 1. Requires a student scholarship organization to have a board of directors of at least three members. Requires a student scholarship organization's annual audit to verify that it obligated for scholarships or tuition grants at least 90% of its annual revenue received from donations for scholarships or tuition grants. Amends the revenues and expenses data student scholarship organizations must report (including the total number and dollar amount of scholarships awarded), and requires this information to be posted to the department of revenue Web site.
Establishes penalties for any student scholarship organization that fails to comply with any statutory requirements within 90 days of notification of deficiencies. Prohibits student scholarship organizations from awarding a scholarship to a specific eligible student at a donor's request, or encouraging or facilitating taxpayers to engage in illegal actions. Provides that it is a misdemeanor for any officer or director of a student scholarship organization to actively participate in actions that are an intentional violation of a student scholarship organization's obligations.
Permits an entity other than a private individual, head of household, married couple or corporation to be allowed a tax credit. Allows the aggregate amount of tax credits allowed to increase annually until January 2018. Directs the tax commissioner to provide written notice to the taxpayer and the student scholarship organization of preapproval or denial of an amount a potential donor wishes to contribute to a student scholarship organization. Calls for the development of a Web-based donation approval process. Calls for development of an ongoing, current list on a Web site of the amount of tax credits available. Prohibits action against donors to student scholarship organizations if the tax commissioner preapproved a donation for a tax credit prior to the date the student scholarship organization is removed from the department of education list. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116780.pdf
Title: H.B. 325
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Class Size |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Extends for 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years certain temporary provisions that permit the average class size for certain programs to be equivalent to the maximum individual class size for each program. Page 7-8 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116810.pdf
Title: H.B. 192 - Class Size
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Finance--State Budgets/Expenditures |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Extends for 2013-14 and 2014-15 schools years a provision waiving expenditure controls relating to direct instructional costs, media center costs, and staff and professional development costs. Page 7 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116810.pdf
Title: H.B. 192 - Expenditure Controls
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Governance--Ethics/Conflict of Interest |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Directs the Professional Standards Commission to revise its certification renewal rules to require, effective July 2015, demonstration of the impact of professional learning on educator performance and student learning for purposes of certification renewal. Directs the Professional Standards Commission, as part of the revision process, to establish a task force to determine the level of evidence necessary for educators to demonstrate the impact of professional learning and how such evidence will be collected and submitted for purposes of certificate renewal.
Directs the department of education and the Professional Standards Commission to cooperatively develop an online course on educator ethics. Provides one area of emphasis in the course must be best practices for administering state-mandated assessments.
Clarifies the authority and responsibility of local units of administration to subject all prospective personnel to criminal background checks, and the authority of local units of administration to forward the results of criminal record checks to the Professional Standards Commission regarding potential violations of the code of ethics for educators. Clarifies that the Professional Standards Commission also has the authority to order criminal record checks through the Georgia Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and has the authority to receive the results of such criminal record checks.
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116755.pdf
Title: H.B. 285
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Health |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Permits a school to receive and store auto-injectable epinephrine on behalf of a student who is not able to self-administer the medication if the parent or guardian provides certain written statements from the doctor and parent. Directs each local board to adopt a policy authorizing school personnel to administer auto-injectable epinephrine to a student, regardless of whether the student has a prescription. Directs local boards to provide school staff with information on recognizing the symptoms of anaphylactic shock and the correct method of administering auto-injectable epinephrine. Provides immunity to a school staff member who in good faith administers or chooses not to administer epinephrine to a student. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116297.pdf
Title: H.B. 227
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
High School--College Readiness |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Directs the state board, working with the board of regents of the University System of Georgia and the board of technical and adult education, to develop college and career readiness competency standards in reading, writing and math. Provides these standards must be aligned with the board-adopted core curriculum and at a level of performance necessary to meet college-readiness standards in the state's public two- and four-year postsecondary institutions. Requires the board of technical and adult education to require its institutions, beginning in fall 2012, to accept core curriculum coursework completed by high school students for purposes of admission.
Directs the state board, the board of regents of the University System of Georgia, and the board of technical and adult education to:
(1) Develop policies to ensure that students who complete the state board-approved core curriculum will meet admission requirements to a postsecondary institution without need for remedial coursework. Requires that such policies (a) establish college readiness benchmarks and the means students can demonstrate postsecondary readiness in reading, writing and math upon completing the core curriculum, and (b) set the conditions for ensuring college readiness.
(2) Define college-readiness standards in reading, writing and math needed for success in certificate programs and programs leading to a two- or four-year degree
(3) Identify one or more statewide postsecondary readiness assessments in reading, writing and math and inform students of their college readiness by the end of the 10th grade
(4) Develop transitional courses in reading, writing and math for 11th and 12th grade students who do not meet readiness standards
(5) Ensure dual credit courses reflect postsecondary coursework.
Page 3 and 5 of 14: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116702.pdf
Title: H.B. 186 - College and Career Readiness
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Repeals Section 20-2-161.1 relating to enrollment of high school students in postsecondary courses. Directs the state board, the board of regents of the University System of Georgia and the board of technical and adult education to jointly (1) Establish the eligibility requirements for entering dual credit programs; (2) Develop appropriate forms and counseling guidelines for dual credit courses; (3) Establish policies to ensure dual credit courses reflect college-level work, including specified approaches. Provides any student may apply to an eligible institution to take one or more dual credit courses, and take any course at that institution, regardless of whether the course is during the regular school day, and receive secondary credit for such course. Establishes parameters for district/state board recognition of a dual credit course, including that such courses be counted toward completion of high school graduation requirements. Directs the state board to adopt rules relating to state and federal testing requirements for students participating in dual credit courses.
Specifies that students enrolled in the Georgia Youth Apprenticeship Program must be eligible to earn dual credit upon completing a planned training experience, provided students meet postsecondary readiness in reading, writing and math for the particular advanced training program or associate's degree.
Revises method of funding districts for dually-enrolled students. Provides that dually-enrolled students must be counted for funding purposes the same way as traditional high school students.
Pages 7-10 of 14: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116702.pdf
Title: H.B. 186 - Dual Credit
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
High School--Graduation Requirements |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Directs the state board, in consultation with the board of regents of the University System of Georgia and the board of technical and adult education, to establish guidelines for awarding high school credit based on demonstration of subject area competency, instead of or in combination with classroom instruction. Provides such policies must be applicable beginning with the 2012-13 school year. Directs the state board to identify commercial assessments for students to use to demonstrate competency, including industry-specific certificates and credentials for career, technical and agricultural education courses, among others. Directs the state board to establish a process for approving commercial, state- or locally-developed performance assessments. Limits the number of credits students may earn via demonstration of competency to three credits per student until the practice is proven to yield student outcomes at least equivalent to those found in standard seat-time courses. Directs the state board to review such policy after three years to determine if student outcomes from these options is equivalent to or better than student outcomes in traditional courses. Requires all districts to provide access to credit based on demonstration of subject area competency. Pages 6-7 of 14: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116702.pdf
Title: H.B. 186 - Credit Based on Demonstration of Competency
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Middle School |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Amends grade configurations and other criteria that qualify schools for participation in the middle school program. Repeals provision requiring minimum 5 hours of instruction in middle schools to include, for students not performing on grade level, remedial instruction in core academic courses. Repeals provision permitting a middle school to petition the state board to permit a 4.5-hour school day.
Pages 9-11 http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116810.pdf
Title: H.B. 192 - Middle School Program
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
P-3 Ensuring Quality |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Provides for emergency closure of an early care and education program upon the death of a minor or where a child's safety or welfare is in imminent danger. Provides for certain procedures upon the emergency closure of an early care and education program. Provides for hearings. Requires a program's revocation of licensure if a review finds that the program fails to meet the specifications and requirements set forth in statute. Provides for appeal of such revocation. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116866.pdf
Title: S.B. 185
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Postsecondary Governance and Structures |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
Community College,
Postsec. |
Changes the name of the State Board of Technical and Adult Education to the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116879.pdf
Title: H.B. 49
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Scheduling/School Calendar |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Extends for 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years a provision waiving the state from specified reimbursement for additional days of instruction for low-performing students.
Page 8 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116810.pdf
Title: H.B. 192 - Remediation
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Amends Sections 20-2-82(e), 20-2-244(b) and 20-2-2065(b)(13) to clarify that the state board may not authorize waivers to and charter schools are subject to the provisions of Section 20-2-327(c) relating to individual graduation plans. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116702.pdf
Title: H.B. 186 - Individual Graduation Plans
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions |
Signed into law 04/2011 |
P-12 |
Provides that members of local boards of education must serve terms of no less than four years. Provides for a phase-in period and for exceptions. Provides for the composition and election of county boards of education in counties in which there is a homestead option sales and use tax and a county sales and use tax for educational purposes. Authorizes the governor to remove members of a local board of education if the local school system has not reattained full accreditation status within a certain amount of time. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116716.pdf
Title: S.B. 79
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Adopted 04/2011 |
P-12 |
Directs the professional standards commission to (1) Revise its certification renewal rules so that demonstration of the impact of professional learning on educator performance and student performance is required in order for certification to be renewed, effective July 2015; and (2) Establish a task force to determine the level of evidence necessary for educators to demonstrate the impact of professional learning and how this evidence will be collected and submitted for the purposes of certificate renewal. Directs the department of education and the professional standards commission to cooperatively develop a course on educator ethics to include information on the official Georgia Code of Ethics for educators and have as one area of emphasis best practices for administering state mandated tests.
Directs the state board of education to revise its professional learning rules so that it is the responsibility of principals, district and state leaders to ensure teacher opportunities for professional learning that (1) reflect the findings of the House Study Committee on Professional Learning and (2) are consistent with major research findings and best practices regarding professional learning. Directs the state board to align its rules with the new Professional Standards Commission certification renewal rules requiring the demonstration of the impact of professional learning on educator and student performance when the commission's rules take effect. Directs the department of education to establish the Professional Learning Rules Task Force, in order to review current state board of education professional learning rules, review current research regarding professional learning, and provide suggestions for revisions to the rules and for implementation. Establishes the membership of the task force. Directs the task force to present recommendations for professional learning rules to the state board by July 1, 2013. Requires that recommendations be included in revisions to the state board professional learning rules and be adopted by June 30, 2015. Directs the department of education to provide written guidance aligned to revised state board of education professional learning rules.
Title: H.R. 489
Source: |
Leadership |
Adopted 03/2011 |
P-12 |
Strongly encourages the development of performance-based coaching programs that are designed for principals and district administrators to impact school-wide improvement by developing the organizational culture and the capacity of other educators to improve teaching and learning; and for other purposes.
Title: H.R. 491
Source: Westlaw/StateNet |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 03/2011 |
Postsec. |
Amends the method by which the amount of the HOPE scholarship is calculated. Additionally specifies that remedial or developmental courses may not be covered by HOPE scholarship funds. Clarifies definition of "legal resident" for purposes of eligibility for all HOPE scholarships. Among other changes, extends HOPE eligibility to an active duty service member or the spouse of an active duty service member stationed in Georgia.
Previous legislation required a full-time student to have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) at the end of the quarter or semester in which the student had attempted 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours. New provision requires full-time student to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA at additional quarter or semester hour checkpoints. Effective with the Class of 2015, requires students as a criterion for HOPE eligibility to receive credit prior to high school graduation in at least two courses from the following categories:
(1) Advanced math, such as Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, Math III, or an equivalent or higher course
(2) Advanced science, such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology II, or an equivalent or higher course
(3) Advanced Placement courses in core subjects
(4) International Baccalaureate courses in core subjects
(5) Courses taken at a unit of the University System of Georgia in core subjects where such courses are not remedial and developmental courses, as defined in Code Section 20-3-519
(6) Advanced foreign language courses.
Provides that effective with the Class of 2016, students must complete three or more such courses, and that effective with the Class of 2017, students must complete at least four courses from the aforementioned categories.
Provides that "Zell Mill Scholars" receive an additional HOPE award amount based on a specified calculation. Establishes a Zell Miller Scholar designation:
--For freshmen: either (1) a minimum 3.7 GPA and a combined 1,200 reading and math SAT score or an ACT composite of at least 26, (2) graduated a valedictorian or salutatorian, (3) or completed a home study program earning the aforementioned ACT or SAT scores and a minimum 3.3 GPA during the first 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours of postsecondary education
--For a sophomore, junior, senior or first professional student: meets the aforementioned criteria with a minimum 3.3 GPA at specified credit unit checkpoints.
Provides that any HOPE scholarship recipient or Zell Miller Scholar designee who loses eligibility may regain it only once. Adds provision that a student may receive a scholarship until 7 years after high school graduation or its equivalent (provides exception for students performing active duty military service during that 7-year period).
Repeals provision that no minimum number of hours of enrollment is required. Repeals provisions that HOPE scholarship covers student fees and provides a book allowance. Specifies that HOPE award may not exceed a student's tuition. Adds provision that no student who has completed a baccalaureate degree or higher is eligible for a HOPE grant. Makes various amendments to the HOPE GED voucher program. Adds provision that every eligible postsecondary institution is subject to examination at least once every three years by the Georgia Student Finance Commission, to determine whether the institution has complied with rules and regulations pertaining to the HOPE scholarships and grants. Permits the Georgia Student Finance Commission to suspend a postsecondary institution from receiving HOPE scholarship or grant award payments if it fails to refund monies after certifying an ineligible student for receipt of a HOPE scholarship or grant. Provides that it is a misdemeanor to knowingly make or accept false statements to enable an ineligible student to obtain a HOPE scholarship.
Repeals provisions related to the HOPE teacher's scholarship, PROMISE and PROMISE II teacher's scholarships, and the HOPE Scholarship/Pre-K Legislative Oversight Committee. Amends method of calculating the annual interest rate for any GOT [Graduate on Time] Student Loan. Permits a student to cancel a direct loan from the state if such student is employed by and agrees to teach in a public school in Georgia
as a science, technology, engineering, or math teacher at any K-12 level. Provides that for service repayment, the loan must be repaid at a rate of one year of service for each academic year of study or its equivalent.
Amends provisions related to tuition equalization grants at private colleges and universities. Among other changes, for a proprietary institution of higher education to be approved, it must be domiciled and incorporated in Georgia, and have been in existence in the state for at least 10 years. Any proprietary institution that qualified as of January 2011 can continue to be an approved school as long as it meets the requirements as they existed on the day prior to the effective date of this section. Adds that eligible student for purposes of tuition equalization grant must meet eligibility requirements for the HOPE program
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/112820.pdf
Also see http://www.usg.edu/student_affairs/students/how_hope_changes_will_affect_usg_students/
Title: H.B. 326
Source: www.legis.ga.gov |
Attendance |
Adopted 08/2010 |
P-12 |
Amends provisions related to student enrollment and withdrawal. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.28.pdf
Title: GA ADC 160-5-1-.28
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
High School--Graduation Requirements |
Adopted 08/2010 |
P-12 |
Rule 160-4-2-.20 identifies changes to course designations, including courses that may be taken for core graduation credit (as opposed to elective credit). Permits, among other changes, the remedial Mathematics Support I and II courses to be taken as a core/elective course (formerly an elective course) only for students entering grade 9 in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years. Also permits the remedial Mathematics III course to be taken as a core/elective (instead of core) course, only for students entering grade 9 in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years. Adds Mathematics III/GHSGT Preparation as a course option, and changes Mathematics III-Advanced Algebra/Statistics from a required to a core course only for students entering grade 9 in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years. Adds numerous CTE courses that may be taken for high school credit. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/DMGetDocument.aspx/IDA%20%283%29%20160-4-2-.20%20Change%20Document%20for%20FY12.pdf?p=6CC6799F8C1371F646B1E96913A501F20358B65FB5FD2DC5D507C138E99D06F8&Type=D
Title: 160-4-2-.20
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) |
Adopted 07/2010 |
P-12 |
Rule 160-4-8-.12, "Alternative Education Programs" has been repealed and a new rule adopted. Defines "alternative/non-traditional education program" as a program operating in affiliation with a school; a program does not report full-time equivalent (FTE) or receive an Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) designation. Achievement data for students enrolled in the program are reported back to the school where the student is reported for FTE. Provides a program may be housed within a school, on the same site or at a different location. Provides that programs may include Attendance Recovery, Credit Recovery, Disciplinary Program, Early College, Evening School, and Open Campus.
Clarifies that an "Alternative/Non-traditional Education School" has an official school code and serves as the home school for students enrolled. The school receives an AYP designation; reports FTE counts for all enrolled students; and earns Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula funds directly. Defines "Community-based Alternative Education/Non-traditional Program" as a type of alternative education/non-traditional program where students are engaged in educationally relevant and meaningful learning experiences in the school and larger community. The academic curriculum is integrated into work-based learning and structured work experiences using partnerships among business, industry, government, community and school, including Performance Learning Centers. Defines "sparsity grant" as a grant provided to each LEA that is unable to offer its students or a portion of its students educational programs and services comparable to those which are typically being offered to students in the state; the inability to offer students comparable programs and services is attributable, at least in part, to the fact that the LEA has full-time equivalent counts less than base size specified in state law.
Requires each LEA to provide an alternative/non-traditional education program/school for students in grades 6-12 with appropriate due process, who have been suspended from his/her regular classroom. Permits LEAs to provide an alternative/non-traditional education program/school to serve a student who is eligible to remain in his/her regular classroom but is more likely to succeed in a non-traditional educational setting. Authorizes an LEA to provide an alternative/non-traditional education program/school jointly with one or more LEAs. Authorizes an LEA to contract with educational management organizations to provide a non-traditional/alternative education program/school. Sets requirements/parameters for such contracts. Permits an LEA to use sparsity grant funds for all alternative/non-traditional education program(s)/school(s), but specifies that funds must be used exclusively for salaries and benefits for certified positions and assistants/paraprofessionals working in the program/school. Requires that all alternative/non-traditional education programs/schools only provide curriculum aligned to Georgia Performance Standards (GPS); permits curriculum to be delivered through computer-assisted instruction and online courses. Requires that programs/schools participate in state testing program, provide counseling services, operate in full compliance with federal and state laws and state board rules governing special education students and students with special needs, provide teachers that meet the requirements of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission in all classes, adhere to maximum class size provisions, and allocate to all Alternative/Non-traditional Education Programs/Schools the same expenditure per segment(s) based on what the student earns at his or her Full Time Equivalent reporting school, including federal and state funds allocated to the LEA for the student.
For students in grades 9-12, permits LEAs to (1) award course credit based on demonstrated competency on course examination(s) for course work completed while enrolled in the program/school in lieu of the 150/135 clock hours of instruction and (2) determine the length of the school day in lieu of the school day length set in state board rule.
Establishes reporting requirements for alternative/non-traditional education programs/schools. Requires each LEA to maintain and annually report to the state department of education on each alternative/non-traditional education program/school. Requires each program/school school improvement plan to demonstrate how the alternative/non-traditional education program/school modified SBOE rules, including methods to measure competency as well as what is defined as a full school day. Requires LEAs to seek parental and public input before submitting a program/school's improvement plan to the department of education. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-8-.12.pdf
Title: 160-4-8-.12
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
Finance--Facilities |
Adopted 07/2010 |
P-12 |
Amends provisions governing approval of all sites to be used for instructional purposes, design of all new educational facilities, additions, renovations, and modifications to all existing educational facilities, reimbursement of state funds for approved funded projects, and the process for closing an educational facility.
Rule: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-4-.16.pdf
Related guidelines: http://www.gadoe.org/fbo_facilities.aspx?PageReq=FBOFacilitiesInfo
Title: 160-5-4-.16
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
High School--Exit Exams |
Adopted 07/2010 |
P-12 |
Amends provisions providing alternatives to students who fail the high school graduation assessment. http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-1-3-.09.pdf
Title: 160-1-3-.09
Source: public.doe.k12.ga.us |
School Safety |
Adopted 07/2010 |
P-12 |
Establishes rules for appropriate use of seclusion (including time-out) and restraint for all students, when necessary for student safety.
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.35.pdf
Title: 160-5-1-.35
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
Attendance |
Vetoed 06/2010 |
P-12 |
Requires a parent whose child is of compulsory school age and who becomes a new resident of a local school system to enroll his/her child in a public or private school within 15 days of such new residency (or by the start date of school if such new residency occurs prior to such start date). Provides that failure to do so constitutes a violation of this Code section. Authorizes local school system officials or other persons to make and file a report to the appropriate enforcement agency regarding any parent whose child (1) is subject to mandatory attendance requirements but not attending school or (2) has accumulated 30 days of unexcused absences. Requires local school systems to cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of mandatory attendance violations.
Bill text: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb239.pdf
Governor's veto message: SB 239 ensures that families moving from one school district to another register their children for school in a timely manner. Unfortunately, the language of a floor amendment seeking to safeguard homeschooling families instead accomplished the opposite; as written, the bill would actually require homeschooling families to enroll their children in a public or private school upon moving to a new school district. Because of this unintended consequence, I VETO SB 239. From http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_160096907_160291947,00.html
Title: S.B. 239 - Section 2
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Choice of Schools--Vouchers |
Vetoed 06/2010 |
P-12 |
Revises and clarifies language relating to the organization of schools serving grades 6, 7 and/or 8. Provides that schools serving any of those grades qualify for the middle school program for students. Eliminates provision that for students not performing on grade level, the minimum 5 hours of instruction that middle schools must provide must include remedial academic instruction in English/language arts, reading, math, science or social studies as required to bring such students to grade level performance. Eliminates provision allowing middle schools to submit a waiver request to the state board to schedule a minimum of 4.5 hours of academic instruction (instead of 5), and requiring the state board to grant such a request if the school has achieved an acceptable rating for the preceding year.
Amends provisions related to the scholarship program for K-12 special needs students. Requires specific eligibility notice to be provided to parents of students with a disability each January and April via letter, e-mail and, if the school system utilizes automated telephone calls, by such automated system. Also requires the district to ensure that a student is notified at each IEP meeting. Requires the department to provide scholarship application deadline opportunities on August 1, October 1 and March 1 of each school year for a student to transfer. Requires that quarterly scholarship payments from the department be paid in equal amounts, and that if a student enrolled in the participating school after the school's start date, on or before specified dates for students entering a school during each of four specified quarters. Specifies payment procedures if a quarterly payment date is missed because a student had not been enrolled in a school at least 10 days in the prior quarter.
Bill text: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb907.pdf
Governor's veto message: HB 907 was originally intended to allow additional flexibility for management of middle schools, which I support. During the legislative process, however, language from another bill was added which imposes onerous requirements on the Department of Education regarding the Special Needs Voucher, most significant of which was the unqualified requirement to pay such vouchers in four equal quarterly payments. In a budget environment as challenging as this one – an environment in which public schools are being forced to operate on smaller budgets – it is not appropriate to tie administrators' hands and require them to fund vouchers fully as they seek budget flexibility elsewhere during these uncertain economic times. For these reasons, I VETO HB 907. (From http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_160096907_160291947,00.html)
Title: H.B. 907
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Civic Education--Civic Knowledge and Literacy |
Vetoed 06/2010 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Requires all K-12 schools and colleges/universities receiving state funds to hold an educational program on the governing principles of the U.S. Constitution on or around September 17 each year for the students served by the school, college or university.
Bill text (pages 1-2 and 6 of 6): http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb239.pdf
Governor's veto message: SB 239 ensures that families moving from one school district to another register their children for school in a timely manner. Unfortunately, the language of a floor amendment seeking to safeguard homeschooling families instead accomplished the opposite; as written, the bill would actually require homeschooling families to enroll their children in a public or private school upon moving to a new school district. Because of this unintended consequence, I VETO SB 239. From http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_160096907_160291947,00.html
Title: S.B. 239 - Section 1 and 3
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Finance--District |
Signed into law 06/2010 |
P-12 |
Authorizes local boards of education to solicit and accept donations, contributions and gifts from any source for purposes of field trips and other educational purposes. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb1200.pdf
Title: H.B. 1200
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Finance--District |
Signed into law 06/2010 |
P-12 |
Requires local boards of education to submit specified information on tax revenues to the department of audits and accounts for posting on a searchable Web site accessible by the public. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb1013.pdf
Title: H.B. 1013
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Finance--Federal |
Signed into law 06/2010 |
P-12 |
Amends language related to the Georgia Education Authority (Schools). Reduces authority membership from 7 to 5 members; replaces existing members with 3 gubernatorial appointees, one appointee of the lieutenant governor, and one appointee of the speaker of the house. Reassigns the commission from the department of administrative services to the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission. Provides for the assignment of staff from the department of education or Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission to carry out the authority's duties.
Authorizes the authority to sell federal bonds. For purposes of federal law, permits the authorioty to act as the state education agency and to issue qualified zone academy bonds, qualified school construction bonds, or build america bonds or, at its discretion, permit other authorized governmental bodies to issue such bonds. Provides that in participating in any federal program, the authority may apply for and receive funds, make certifications and designations, and do all other things necessary or convenient to participate in or obtain the benefits of federal programs, including programs of bond finance provided under federal law. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb936.pdf
Title: H.B. 936 - Section 2 and 3
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Finance--Federal |
Signed into law 06/2010 |
P-12 |
Amends "Transparency in Government Act" to include in the definition of "agency" all departments (including the department of education), any regional education service agency and local boards of education. Existing provisions require information on financials of all agencies to be posted to the searchable Web site; new provision requires that Web site include an indexed listing of all agencies and end users receiving any federal pass-through moneys and an itemized enumeration of the expenditure of such moneys. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb389.pdf
Title: S.B. 389
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
School Safety |
Signed into law 06/2010 |
P-12 |
Amends definition of "school safety zone", to remove from definition "within 1,000 feet of" public or private K-12 school or postescondary institution property ("school safety zone" now simply means in or on public or private K-12 school or postsecondary institution property). Makes possession of a weapon in a school safety zone a misdemeanor for any license holder, and a felony for a non-license holder, punishable by a minimum two-year sentence (previous provision made this violation a felony, not distinguishing between license holders and non-license holders, and made the minimum prison sentence five years). Adds provision making possession of a "dangerous weapon" (rocket launcher, bazooka, mortar or recoilless rifle) or machine gun in school safety zone punishable by terms previously reserved for anyone carrying a weapon or explosive onto school property (fine of up to $10,000, 5-10 years imprisonment, or both). http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb308.pdf
Title: S.B. 308
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation |
Signed into law 06/2010 |
P-12 |
Provides that the replacement allowance for purchasing new school buses must also be available to refurbish existing school buses. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb936.pdf
Title: H.B. 936 - Section 1
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Accountability--School Improvement |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
20-2-326 defines:
--"Career academy" as (1) a specialized charter school established by a partnership between one or more local boards of education and a technical school or college or (2) a small learning community where a student receives academic instruction at his/her assigned high school, along with work-based learning opportunities at an industry center or technical school or college
--"Chronically low-performing high school" as one (1) with a graduation rate below 60% for three consecutive years (using the National Governors Association methodology), or (2) that has not made adequate yearly progress (AYP) for three consecutive years
--"Choice technical high school" as a high school other than the one the student is assigned to by residence, designed to prepare a student for postsecondary education and employment. Provides a choice technical high school may be operated by a local school system or technical college. Also permits a choice technical high school to be operated as a charter school under a governance board comprised of parents, employers and representatives from the local school board
--"Focused program of study" as a rigorous academic core combined with (1) a focus in math and science, (2) a focus in humanities, fine arts and foreign language, or (3) a coherent sequence of career pathway courses that prepares a student for postsecondary education or immediate employment after high school graduation.
Also defines "small learning community" as a subset of high school students and teachers joined around a broad career or academic theme where teachers have common planning time to connect teacher assignments and assessments to college and career readiness standards. Provides that students voluntarily apply for enrollment in a small learning community but must be accepted, and such enrollment must be approved by the student's parent. Specifies that a small learning community also includes a career academy organized around a specific career theme and integrates academic and career instruction, provides work-based learning opportunities, and prepares students for postsecondary education and employment, in partnership with local employers, community organizations and postsecondary institutions.
New Section 20-2-328 directs the state board of education, subject to legislative appropriation, to establish a competitive grant program for local school systems to implement school reform measures in selected high schools. Requires the state board to establish grant criteria, which must include that priority for grants be given to chronically low-performing high schools. Directs the state board to develop, for high schools receiving a grant, an evidence-based model for serving at-risk students, which must focus on specified elements designed to increase student achievement; reduce dropout; help students and their parents set and achieve career and educational goals; and help students learn and apply study skills, coping skills and other habits that produce successful students and adults. Requires that the at-risk model program include:
(1) Diagnostic assessments
(2) A process for identifying at-risk students, closely monitored by the department of education to ensure that students are properly identified and receive timely and appropriate guidance and assistance, and to ensure no group is disproportionately represented
(3) An evaluation component in each high school to ensure programs provide students an opportunity to earn a high school diploma.
Identifies components the at-risk model program may include to facilitate 9th grade success, such as:
(1) Flexible scheduling to increase student time in language/arts and math to eliminate academic deficiencies
(2) Ninth grade student-teacher ratios no higher than those in any other grade in the high school
(3) Using effective teachers as leaders for teacher teams in 9th grade to improve instructional planning, delivery and reteaching strategies
(4) Assigning teacher mentors to meet frequently with students to provide planned lessons on study skills and other "habits of success" to help students become independent learners and help them receive the assistance they need to pass 9th grade
(5) Ninth grade career courses incorporating a series of miniprojects throughout the school year that require the application of grade-level reading, math and science skills to complete, require students to use a range of technology, and help students explore a range of educational and career options to help them formulate post high school goals and give them a reason to stay in school and work toward achieving their stated goals.
Requires the state board to adopt rules for chronically low-performing high schools receiving a reform grant, to make the high schools more relevant to and effective for all students. Requires that such rules encourage high schools to implement a comprehensive school reform research-based model that focuses on eight specified elements, including setting high expectations for all students and fostering collaboration among academic and career/technical teachers.
New Section 20-2-329 requires high schools receiving a reform grant per Section 20-2-328 to provide focused programs of study that, whether offered at a choice technical high school, a career academy, a traditional high school, or on site at a two- or four-year postsecondary institution:
(1) Are aligned with state board-set graduation requirements, including 4 years of math and 4 years of English with an emphasis on developing reading and writing skills to meet college and career readiness standards
(2) Implement a teacher adviser system
(3) Provide students in grades 9-12 with information on educational programs offered in high school, two- and four-year institutions, and through apprenticeship programs and how these programs can lead to a variety of career fields. Requires that districts offer opportunities for field trips, job shadowing and other means to help students and their parents in revising, if appropriate, the student's individual graduation plan.
(4) Enroll students by grade 9 into one of the following options for earning a high school diploma and preparing students for postsecondary education and a career which will include a structured program of academic study with in-depth studies in: (A) Mathematics and science; (B) Humanities, fine arts, and foreign language; or (C) A career pathway that leads to passing an employer certification exam in a high demand, high skill, or high wage career field or to an associate's degree or bachelor's degree.
(5) Implement the state board-developed at-risk model program
(6) Schedule annual conferences to help students and their parents set educational and career goals and create individual graduation plans
Directs the state board to adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this bill.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb400.pdf
Title: H.B. 400 - New Section 20-2-326, 328 and 329
Source: |
Background Checks |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Replaces requirement that the department of education (DOE) annually send each school a list of all registered sex offenders with requirement that DOE provide each school with access to such information. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb651.pdf
Title: H.B. 651
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Existing legislation defines "high school cluster" as a high school and all its feeder middle and elementary schools, including both public and charter schools. New provision specifies that a local board must not act on a petition for a conversion charter for a high school cluster (just as it may already not act on a petition for a conversion charter school) until the petition has been agreed to by a majority of faculty, instructional staff members, and parents. Adds new provision that, alternatively, a local board must not act on a petition for a conversion charter for a high school cluster until such petition has been approved by a majority of the school councils in the high school cluster and agreed to by at least 60% of the faculty, instructional staff members and parents present at a public meeting called to determine whether to submit the petition to the local board for approval. Requires each school council in the high school cluster to appoint two representatives to a committee to conduct the vote. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb457.pdf
Title: S.B. 457
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Requires study of the pledge of allegiance to the U.S. and Georgia flag as a part of the required studies regarding American institutions and ideals. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb518.pdf
Title: S.B. 518
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Economic/Workforce Development |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Creates the Workforce Investment Board and the Governor's Office of Workforce Development for the purpose of implementing state workforce development policy. Provides that the annual allocation reserved by federal law for statewide workforce activities and administration must be reserved for use by the governor to support statewide workforce activities and may be implemented through the creation of the Georgia Work Ready Program. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb1195.pdf
Title: H.B. 1195
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Equity |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Removes some requirements on the department of education relating to annual gender equity reporting; provides for related matters. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb910.pdf
Title: H.B. 910
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Finance--Facilities |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Provides that specific provisions allowing districts to receive state funds for capital outlay projects will be repealed effective June 30, 2015. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb905.pdf
Title: H.B. 905
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Finance--Funding Formulas |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
From bill summary: Temporarily waives certain expenditure controls relating to funds earned for direct instructional costs, media center costs, staff and professional development costs, and additional days of instruction. Temporarily provides for system average maximum class sizes in grades K-8. Provides for blanket waivers or variances of class size requirements.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb908.pdf
Title: H.B. 908
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Governance--Ethics/Conflict of Interest |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Requires local board member who moves out of local board jurisdiction to notify the local board secretary within 10 days of such move. Allows employees of private K-12 schools to serve on local school boards.
Defines "immediate family member" as spouse, child, sibling or parent (or spouse of a child, sibling or parent). Bars an individual with an immediate family member (1) on a local board, or (2) serving as a local school superintendent, principal or assistant principal, or system administrative staff in the local school system from serving on the local board of education. Requires (1) every local board member to be a U.S. citizen and registered voter; to have read and understood the code of ethics and conflict of interest provisions applicable to local board members and agreed to abide by them; and have agreed to annually disclose compliance with the state board policy on local board member training, the local board's code of ethics and the conflict of interest provisions applicable to local board members. Authorizes the state board to waive these provisions by request of a local board or an individual seeking to qualify for office on a local board and (2) every candidate for a local board to file an affidavit affirming that he/she meets all the aforementioned qualifications (beginning with "U.S. citizen".) Provides that any person judicially determined mentally incompetent is ineligible for election to a local board of education unless the disability determination has been removed.
Bars any local school board from having more than seven members, unless board exceeds seven members by local constitutional amendment, federal court order or other specified provisions. Amends provisions related to per diem and reimbursement of expenses for local board members. Provides for the fundamental roles of local boards of education and local school superintendents. Adds provision barring local board members or their family members from business activities or from acting in their official capacity in any matter that would constitute a conflict of interest. Adds provision barring local board members to use their position to secure privileges, advantages or employment for him/herself or others. Bars local board members (and their immediate family members and businesses in which board members have an interest) from accepting gifts, political contributions or other things of value given or offered to influence the board member in the discharge of his/her official duties. Adds provisions relating to confidentiality of information to which board members are privy that is not available to the general public.
Directs the state board to adopt a model code of ethics for local board members, including appropriate consequences for a violation of the code of ethics. Within three months of state board adoption of a model code of ethics, requires each local board to adopt a code of ethics that, at a minimum, includes the state board's model code of ethics.
Provides that if a local district or school is placed on the level of accreditation immediately preceding loss of accreditation for school board governance-related reasons, the governor may suspend all eligible members of the local board with pay and, in consultation with the state board, appoint temporary replacement members. Allows suspended board member to petition for reinstatement within 90 days; provides that any suspended member who does not petition for reinstatement within 90 days will be permamently removed, and his/her temporary replacement become a permanent member to finish out the removed member's term. Adds provisions relating to a removed board member's petition for reinstatement--requires hearing to determine whether the member's continued service on the board is more likely than not to improve the school system or school's ability to retain accreditation.
Makes ineligible for service as a local superintendent any individual with an immediate family member (1) on the local board or (2) serving as a principal, assistant principal or system administrative staff member in that school system. Allows the state board to waive this provision on a local board's request.
Repeals existing 20-2-230(b) requiring new members of governing boards to receive at least 12 hours of orientation within a year of assuming office. Directs the state board to adopt a training program for local board members. Within three months of such adoption, requires local boards and each governing board of other local units of administration to adopt a training program that includes, at a minimum, the state board's training program. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb84.pdf
Title: S.B. 84
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Repeals provision that barred a local school board member from engaging in the bail bond business in the jurisdiction of the board to which he/she was elected. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb980.pdf
Title: H.B. 980
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Establishes the Georgia Foundation for Public Education. Provides for its membership, duties, powers and purposes, including (among other purposes) to solicit and accept money and in-kind contributions of services and property to support educational excellence in the state, including at the Georgia Academy for the Blind, Georgia School for the Deaf and Atlanta Area School for the Deaf.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb427.pdf
Title: S.B. 427
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Health |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Enacts the Diabetes and Health Improvement Act of 2010. Establishes the Diabetes Control Grant Program. Provides for an advisory committee. Directs the committee, among other duties, to provide grants to middle schools and high schools to promoted diabetes prevention and understanding. Provides this code section is subject to appropriation from the general assembly. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb435.pdf
Title: S.B. 435
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
High School--College Readiness |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Provides that student performance at the advanced proficiency/honors level on any tests required for high school graduation must be recognized as (1) meeting postsecondary entrance test requirements and (2) qualifying students to enroll in credit-bearing postsecondary courses in accordance with policies established by the state board of education, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the state board of technical and adult education. Requires that secondary and postsecondary credit be awarded upon successful completion of any articulated or dual enrollment course in accordance with policies established by these three entities.
Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, requires that students in grades 6-8 be provided counseling, advisement, career awareness, career interest inventories and information to help them assess their academic skills and career interests. Requires students, before the end of grade 8, to develop an individual graduation plan. Requires that high school students annually be provided guidance that will enable them to successfully complete their individual graduation plans, preparing them for a seamless transition to postsecondary study, further training or employment. Requires that an individual graduation plan contain specified components, e.g., that it include experience-based, career-oriented learning experiences such as internships, apprenticeships, mentoring, co-op eduation and service-learning, and include opportunities for postsecondary studies (for example, dual enrollment). Clarifies that an individual graduation plan may be changed at any time during a student's high school career with approval from the student and student's parent, with guidance from the student's school counselor or teacher advisor.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb400.pdf
Title: H.B. 400 - New Section 20-2-327
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
High School--Exit Exams |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Directs the state board to consider passage of an industry certification exam or state board-approved licensure exam when considering granting a student a variance from one or more portions of the high school graduation test. Provides that before granting a variance, a student must have failed to pass the relevant portion of the high school graduation test at least four times.
Page 8 of 8: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb400.pdf
Title: H.B. 400 - Amended Section 20-2-281
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
High School--GED (General Education Development) |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
Postsec. |
Rewrites Section 20-3-519.6 relating to HOPE GED vouchers. Previous legislation awarded a one-time $500 voucher to each student earning a GED, with the voucher valid at any eligible postsecondary institution in the state for 24 months from the date of issuance. New provision does not denote amount of HOPE GED voucher, but specifies that to be eligible for a voucher, a student must be a legal resident of Georgia as defined by state entities for purposes of paying in-state tuition. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb341.pdf
Title: S.B. 341
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Leadership--District Superintendent--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Prohibits the use of state funds to provide a salary increase for the local school superintendent or administrators during a school year in which a local board of education furloughs teachers, paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, custodians, support staff or other nonadministrative positions. Requires the local board to provide 30 days' notice and a public hearing if local or private funds are intended to be used for salary increases for the local school superintendent or administrators during a year in which staff in the aforementioned nonadministrative positions were furloughed. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb977.pdf
Title: H.B. 977
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Leadership--District Superintendent--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Allows an educator, regardless of whether or not he/she is in a leadership position, to be placed on the salary schedule based on the leadership degree if the educator possessed (1) A master's level leadership degree prior to July 1, 2012; (2) An education specialist level leadership degree prior to July 1, 2013; or (3) A doctoral level leadership degree prior to July 1, 2014, as long as he/she was enrolled in such leadership preparation program on or before April 2009. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb923.pdf
Title: H.B. 923
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Defines "educational institution" as any K-12 school, child care learning center, or college, university, technical school or other institution of higher learning. Bars any educational institution receiving state funds to enter into a contract for student transportation without first verifying that such carrier is certified by the Public Service Commission or any other similarly required certifying agency.
Also bars a motor common or contract carrier from entering into any contract to transport passengers without first providing all parties with a copy of the carrier's proof of legally required minimum insurance coverage and a number proving the carrier's current certification by the commission, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or any other similarly required certifying agency. Provides that any contract entered into without proof of insurance and/or the carrier's current certification number is void and unenforceable. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb392.pdf
Title: S.B. 392
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Requires districts and private schools to adopt a reporting system for freshman, sophomore and junior high school students for the purpose of determining potential HOPE eligibility. Requires information reported to Georgia Student Finance Commission to include course transcripts and course grades, scores on any state tests required for graduation, the grading scales used by the district or private school for the time periods referenced by the transcripts, and any other pertinent information as determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Requires the Georgia Student Finance Commission to calculate a GPA to determine HOPE scholarship eligibility from these electronic transcripts, and to notify students of their potential eligibility and high schools as to the potential eligibility of students. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb340.pdf
Title: S.B. 340
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
School Safety |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Changes provisions relating to the zero tolerance policy on weapons in schools. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb299.pdf
Title: S.B. 299
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Amends definition of "bullying" to include cyberbullying and acts committed at school-related locations such as school grounds, school bus stops, school vehicles and school-sponsored activities. Expands defintion to include any intentional written, verbal or physical act that a reasonable person would perceive as being intended to threaten, harass or intimidate, and that meets any of specified criteria. Existing statute required local boards to establish policies that apply to students in grades 6-12; new provision requires local boards, by August 2011, to adopt policies that apply in all schools in the school system. Requires local policies to provide for determination of bullying by the disciplinary hearing officer, panel or tribunal of school officials; also requires local policies to include a method to notify a parent that his/her child has committed an act of bullying or is a bullying victim. By January 2011, directs the department of education to develop a model anti-bullying policy, to be posted to the department Web site; identifies components the model policy must include. Requires the department to post to its Web site a list of entities providing antibullying training programs and materials deemed appropriate for use in local school systems. Provides civil immunity for any individual who in good faith reports an incident of bullying. Provides that nothing in legislation or the department of education model policy requires a local board to provide transportation to a student transferred to another school as a result of a bullying incident.
Provides that knowledge, intention or recklessness must be an element of any offense of disruption or interference with the operation of any public school, public school bus or public school bus stop. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb250.pdf
Title: S.B. 250
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
School Safety--Sexual Harassment and Assault |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Defines "school" and revises definition of "sexual assault" to clarify that one definition is engagement in sexual contact by a teacher, principal, assistant principal or other administrator of any school with such other individual who the actor knew or should have known is enrolled at the same school. Amends fine and terms of emprisonment for persons found guilty of sexual assault, including under various circumstances related to victim's and perpetrator's ages. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb571.pdf
Title: H.B. 571
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Requires the Georgia Student Finance Commission to (1) Provide students in grades 6-12 with web-based counseling, career awareness inventories, and information to help them evaluate their academic skills and career interests and (2) Provide students in grades 8-12 with a web-based resource to develop a graduation plan indicating the courses a student needs to graduate from high school and successfully transition to postsecondary education and the workforce. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb387.pdf
Title: S.B. 387
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Suspends professional learning requirements for certification renewal for teachers and paraprofessionals from July 2010 to July 2015. Repeals provision allowing a certified educator to complete a requirement to demonstrate computer skill competency by completing a course in computer skill competency. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb1307.pdf
Title: H.B. 1307
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Authorizes certification fees to be paid by credit card, debit card or other method as approved by the professional standards commission. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb1079.pdf
Title: H.B. 1079
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Retirement/Benefits |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Adds provision that for purposes of the state teachers retirement system, the normal retirement age is whichever comes first: (1) 60 if the member has at least 10 years of creditable service or (2) the member's age when he/she attains 30 years of creditable service. Makes changes in other sections of code to reduce the normal retirement age from 62 to 60. Adds provision allowing a retired member who returns to service to choose between contributing to the system (upon which the member will accumulate additional creditable service and the member's retirement benefit will cease until such service ends), or not contributing to the system (in which case the member's retirement benefit will not cease, and no additional benefits will accrue). Clarifies that contributions to the retirement system are mandatory, and that no member may receive contributions in cash in lieu of having them contributed to the retirement system. Amends definition of "teacher" for purposes of the state teachers retirement system to exclude an individual classified as an independent contractor or leased employee. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb969.pdf
Title: H.B. 969
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Relates to exemptions to requirements for disclosure of public records, so as to provide that certain personal information relating to teachers and employees of public and nonpublic schools is exempt from disclosure. Provides that information relating to tests administered by the Professional Standards Commission are exempt from disclosure. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb1086.pdf
Title: H.B. 1086
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Textbooks and Open Source |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Requires the definition of a K-12 "textbook" to include computer hardware, software and technical equipment necessary to support the use of nonprint or digital content. Provides that these provisions do not exempt computer hardware or related equipment acquired by the state from competitive bidding. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb319.pdf
Title: S.B. 319
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality |
Signed into law 03/2010 |
P-12 |
Relates to annual contracts for certified K-12 personnel. Extends to May 15 (for the 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2012-13 school years only) the deadline for districts to tender a contract for current teachers and other certified personnel for the following school year, or provide written notification of the intent not to renew an existing certified staff person's contract for the following school year. Also extends employment into the subsequent school year for any teacher or other certified staff person who has not received a termination notice by such extended date, unless the employee provides written notification by June 1. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb906.pdf
Title: H.B. 906
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Choice of Schools--Vouchers |
Adopted 01/2010 |
P-12 |
New Rule 160-5-1-.34 has been adopted, governing the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.34.pdf
Title: 160-5-1-.34
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment |
Adopted 01/2010 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Rule 160-4-2-.34 has been repealed and a new rule adopted.
Title: 160-4-2-.34
Source: |
Accountability |
Adopted 11/2009 |
P-12 |
Renames rule (previously titled "School District Contracts for Flexibility and Accountability to Improve Student Achievement") to "Investing in Educational Excellence (IE2): Local Education Agency Contracts for Flexibility and Accountability". Amends rule, which allows local education agencies (LEAs) to request increased flexibility from certain state laws in exchange for increased accountability and defined consequences. Repeals provision that allowed contracts to be renewed beyond the initial five-year term (for up to five additional years) if a district's performance met the contract goals. Adds section on public input and transparency. New section requires local boards, prior to approving local plans for submission to the state board, to notify the public regarding the LEA's intent to seek such a contract with the state, and to hold a public hearing providing an opportunity for public input on the strategic plan and proposed contract, including on the LEA' s flexibility requests and performance goals, and their impact on each school. Also requires that a public hearing be held if the LEA chooses to amend the terms of an existing contract or seek additional flexibility. Clarifies that the Governor's Office of Student Achievement's (GOSA) monitoring of districts regarding progress toward intermediate and five-year goals must be on an annual basis. Directs the GOSA to present annual written progress reports to the state board of education for each Investing in Educational Excellence contract. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.33.pdf
Title: GAC 160 -5-1-.33
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions |
Adopted 11/2009 |
P-12 |
Adds that retention of students for athletic purposes is prohibited. Repeals rule 160-5-1-.19 "Grades 6-8: Competitive Interscholastic Activities" and adds provisions related to no pass no play for middle grades students to rule 160 -5-1-.18. Requires students participating in competitive interscholastic activities to pass at least 70% of courses carrying credit toward grade promotion in the semester immediately preceding participation. Requires all students who participate in competitive interscholastic athletics or cheerleading to have an annual physical examination prior to participation. Adds eligibility provisions specific to students with disabilities and children of military families. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.18.pdf
Title: GAC 160 -5-1-.18, -.19
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
Assessment--Formative/Interim |
Vetoed 05/2009 |
P-12 |
Directs the state board of education to develop an evidence-based model program for chronically low-performing high schools receiving a reform grant for addressing at-risk students. Provides the model program must include various programs and curricula proven to be effective for at-risk students focusing on:
(A) Identification of students at risk for being poorly prepared for the next grade level or for dropping out of school
(B) Strengthening retention of ninth grade students in school and reducing high failure rates
(C) Improving more student performance to grade level standards in reading and mathematics by the end of ninth grade
(D) Assisting students and their parents in setting an outcome career and educational goal and identifying a focused program of study to achieve such goal
(E) Assisting students in learning and applying study skills, coping skills and other habits that produce successful students and adults.
Requires the program to include diagnostic assessments to identify student areas of academic strength and weakness, identify students in need and provide them with timely, appropriate assistance, and an evaluation component in each high school to ensure the programs are providing students an opportunity to graduate with a high school diploma. Provides the program may include various components to help students pass ninth grade such as flexible scheduling to increase course time in reading and math for deficient students; maintaining 9th grade student/teacher ratios that are as low as those in other high school grades; using experienced and effective teachers as leaders for teacher teams in 9th grade to improve instructional planning, delivery, and re-teaching strategies; assigning 9th grade students teacher mentors who will meet with them frequently; and including 9th grade career courses which incorporate a series of miniprojects throughout the school year that require the application of 9th grade level reading, math and science skills to complete while students learn to use a range of technology and help students explore a range of educational and career options that will assist them in formulating post high school goals and give them a reason to stay in
school and work toward achieving their stated goals.
Directs the state board to adopt rules for chronically low-performing high schools receiving a reform grant. Provides such rules must encourage high schools to implement a comprehensive school reform research-based model that focuses on:
(1) Setting high expectations for all students
(2) Personalizing graduation plans for students
(3) Developing small learning communities or career academies with a rigorous academic foundation and emphasis in broad career fields of study
(4) Using project based instruction embedded with strong academics to improve relevancy in learning
(5) Fostering collaboration among academic and career/technical teachers;
(6) Implementing nontraditional scheduling in ninth grade for students behind in their grade level
(7) Promoting parental involvement
(8) Training teachers to work with low-performing students and their parents or guardians.
Directs the state board to establish a competitive grant program for local school systems to implement school reform measures in selected high schools, including program requirements and grant criteria, which must include that priority for awarding of grants be given to chronically low-performing high schools. Requires recipient high schools to:
--Provide focused programs of study (see pp 7-12 of this bill) aligned with graduation requirements
--Implement a teacher advisor system pairing an educator with a small group of students throughout their high school careers to help them and their parents set postsecondary goals and help them prepare programs of study, using assessments and other data to track academic progress on a regular basis; communicate frequently with parents; and provides advisement, support and encouragement as needed
--Provide students with information on education programs offered in high school, 2- and 4-year institutions, and through apprenticeship programs and how these programs can lead to a variety of career fields. Requires local school systems to provide opportunities for field trips, speakers, educational and career information centers, job shadowing, and classroom centers to assist students and their parents in revising, if appropriate, the student's individual graduation plan
--Enroll students in one of three enumerated diploma options
--Implement the at-risk model program
--Schedule annual conferences to assist parents and their children in setting educational and career goals and creating individual graduation plans beginning
with students in the 8th grade and continuing through high school.
By July 2010, directs the Office of Student Achievement to include in the accountability system emphasis on improving student achievement and increasing high school graduation rates, with the goal of having all public high schools in Georgia reach at least a 90 percent high school completion rate by July 2020, with annual incremental targets.
Requires individual graduation plans to be annually reviewed and revised if appropriate. Allows individual graduation plans to be revised at any time throughout a student's high school career.
Bill (pages 12-16 of 16): http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb178.pdf
Veto Message 11 (scroll toward bottom of page): http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_139486062_140372354,00.html
Title: S.B. 178 Section 10, Part 2
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Attendance |
Signed into law 05/2009 |
P-12 |
Provides for the transfer of students who are military dependents into a local school system. Provides that students must be placed in grade level commensurate with their grade level in the sending state at the time of transition, including in kindergarten, regardless of age. Requires local school systems to initially honor student placement in courses based on the student's enrollment in the sending state school or assessments administered at the school in the sending state, if the courses are offered, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, vocational, technical and career pathway courses. Also requires local school systems to initially honor education program placements in the sending state, including placement in English as a second language and gifted and talented programs. Directs local school systems to be flexible in waiving course or program prerequisites or other preconditions for placement in courses and programs.
Allows additional excused absences for students whose parent has been called to active duty for, is on leave from or immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting. Directs local school systems to facilitate the opportunity for transitioning qualified military children's inclusion in extracurricular activities, regardless of application deadlines. Adds provisions related to high school course substitution, and recognition of other states' exit exams, national norm-referenced achievement tests or alternative testing to facilitate on-time graduation. Provides that if a military student transferring at the beginning or during his or her senior year is ineligible to graduate from the receiving local education agency after all alternatives have been considered, the local school system must coordinate with the sending local education agency to ensure the receipt of a diploma. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb114.pdf
Title: S.B. 114
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Career/Technical Education |
Vetoed 05/2009 |
P-12 |
Directs the state board to consider a passing score on an employer or industry certification exam or state board-approved state licensure exam when considering whether to grant a student a waiver from one or more sections of the graduation exam requirement. Provides that the state board may not grant a waiver unless the student has attempted and failed to pass the relevant portion of the high school graduation test at least three times.
Bill: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb178.pdf
Veto Message 11 (scroll toward bottom of page): http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_139486062_140372354,00.html
Title: S.B. 178, Section 11
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Career/Technical Education |
Vetoed 05/2009 |
P-12 |
Enacts the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy Act". Directs the department of education to develop focused programs of study in high demand, high skill and high wage academic and career fields, which may include aerospace, health care and elderly care, agribusiness, life science, energy and environmental, logistics and transportation, information and technology, teacher education training, technology and engineering, science and math, and humanities and fine arts. Requires the department to include in the program of study the flexibility for students to study at either their school of attendance, a technical college, a public postsecondary institution, a work site under an apprenticeship cooperative education program, and at other state board-approved settings.
For each focused program of study, requires the department of education to convene a committee that includes high school teachers, counselors, representatives from the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, the Technical College System of Georgia, the governor's Office of Workforce Development, employers, and others as deemed appropriate by the department. Directs each committee to develop a focused program of study blending academic and technical content developed around college and career readiness standards with real-world problems and projects for students. Requires recommendations to include statewide articulation and dual enrollment courses to allow prepared high school students to move directly into postsecondary education. Directs the committees to develop measures to certify equivalency in content and rigor for all statewide articulation and dual enrollment courses.
Establishes means for identifying high school students qualified to enroll in credit-bearing postsecondary coursework. Requires secondary and postsecondary credit to be awarded to any student who articulated or dual enrollment course. Requires students in grades 6-8 to be provided counseling, advisement, career awareness, career interest inventories and information to help them evaluate academic skills and career interests. Requires all students by end of grade 8 to select a preferred focused program of study and develop an individual graduation plan. Requires high school students to be provided counseling annually to enable them to complete their individual graduation plans, and prepare them for a seamless transition to postsecondary study, training or employment. Sets forth required components of every individual graduation plan, including integration of experience-based, career-oriented learning experiences that may include internships, apprenticeships, mentoring, co-op education and service learning, as well as opportunities for postsecondary learning through articulation, dual enrollment and joint enrollment.
Requires the department to provide training for counselors and graduation coaches about (1) high demand, high skill and high wage opportunities for bachelor's degrees, associate's degrees and certificates; (2) how a combination of rigorous academic and technical courses can prepare students for these fields, (3) how to organize a teacher adviser system that engages teachers in working with a group of students and their parents in setting goals, identifying individual programs of study, and establishing individual graduation plans to achieve those goals. Requires the plan to include strategies for school staff to effectively involve parents in the educational and career guidance process and in the development of individual graduation plans. Provides that on request by any local school system, training may be given to counselors and graduation coaches in any middle or high school.
Directs the state board, in collaboration with the Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, to establish a process for certifying all focused programs of study by using national certifying agencies where they exist and developing state industry-certifying panels in career pathways where no national certifying agency exists. The certification process must, at a minimum, validate that a program of study curriculum meets industry standards where applicable, that its teachers hold current industry certification where applicable, and that its facilities, equipment and software are adequate to teach the curriculum.
Bill: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb178.pdf
Veto Message 11 (scroll toward bottom of page): http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_139486062_140372354,00.html
Title: S.B. 178 Section 10, Part 1
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment |
Signed into law 05/2009 |
P-12 |
Beginning in the 2009-10 school year, allows a K-12 student to enroll in another school in the district other than the one he/she has been assigned to, provided space is available. Directs the department to establish a model universal, streamlined process to implement these transfer provisions. Requires all districts, by July 1, to establish a universal, streamlined process available to all students to facilitate interdistrict transfer that includes the state model. Requires districts to annually provide all parents timely notification of the interdistrict transfer option, and to annually notify all parents by July 1 of the schools with available space. Adds that these transfer provisions do not apply to charter schools or to newly opened schools during their first four years of operation. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb251.pdf
Title: H.B. 251 Section 1
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Choice of Schools--Vouchers |
Vetoed 05/2009 |
P-12 |
Amends provisions regarding educational improvement and taxation of student scholarship organizations. Provides that a student who was eligible for a P-12 private school scholarship at the time an educational scholarship or tuition grant was first received remains an eligible student so long as the student receives an educational scholarship or tuition grant from a student scholarship organization. Includes pre-kindergarten programs as programs qualified to receive scholarship students. Adds to qualifications eligible recipient schools or programs must meet. Specifies six methods by which scholarship funds may be transferred. Requires that all information or reports provided by student scholarship organizations to the department of revenue be confidential. Establishes consequences for any student scholarship organization that fails to comply with its obligations. Specifies that the department of revenue cannot take any adverse action against donors to student scholarship organizations that fail to comply with obligations if the department of revenue preapproved a donation for a tax credit prior to the date the student scholarship organization is removed from the department of education list. Makes active participation in a student scholarship organization's intentional violation of its obligations a misdemeanor. Modifies amount a taxpayer may credit for qualified education expenses to the lesser of (1) the amount actually expended or (2) 75% of the taxpayer's income tax liability. Requires each student scholarship organization to provide the department of revenue with a copy of each letter of confirmation of donation on a monthly basis. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb100.pdf
Veto message (Veto Number 2): http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_139486062_140372354,00.html
Title: H.B. 100
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Finance--Funding Formulas |
Vetoed 05/2009 |
P-12 |
Sections 3-5: Adds sunset date of June 30, 2011 to subsections (h) and (j) of Code Section 20-2-260, relating to capital outlay funds generally, and to Code Section 20-2-262 relating to low-wealth capital outlay grants to local school systems.
Sections 6-7: Repeals Act approved May 6, 2008 (Ga. L. 2008, p. 288), Act approved April 9, 2001 (Ga. L. 2001, p. 148), and Act approved April 22, 1999 (Ga. L. 1999, p. 400), relating to the automatic repeal of provisions relating to advance funding, exceptional growth, and low-wealth capital outlay grants
Bill: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb178.pdf
Veto Number 11 (scroll toward bottom of page): http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_139486062_140372354,00.html
Title: S.B. 178 Sections 3-7
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Finance--State Budgets/Expenditures |
Vetoed 05/2009 |
P-12 |
Adds new subsections to Code Section 20-2-167 and 20-2-184.1. Provides that for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years, the expenditure controls relating to direct instruction costs, media center costs, professional development costs, and additional days of instruction do not apply, and that no penalty will be applied to a local school system that fails to comply with expenditure controls. Requires each local school system to report to the department of education its budgets and expenditures of such funds.
Bill: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb178.pdf
Veto message 11 (scroll toward bottom of page): http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_139486062_140372354,00.html
Title: S.B. 178 Sections 8 and 9
Source: gov.georgia.gov |
Governance--Ethics/Conflict of Interest |
Signed into law 05/2009 |
P-12 |
This section of H.B. 251 prohibits any person from being eligible to be appointed, employed, or to serve as superintendent of schools of any county or independent school system who has an immediate family member sitting on the local board of education for such school system or who has an immediate family member hired as or promoted to a principal, assistant principal, or system administrative staff on or after July 1, 2009, by that school system.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb251.pdf
Title: H.B. 251- Section Affecting Superintendent Selection
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 05/2009 |
P-12 |
Defines immediate family member. Effective with local board members elected or appointed after July 2009, bars an individual who has an immediate family member on a local board or serving as the district superintendent or as a principal, assistant principal or system administrative staff in the district from being eligible to serve as a member of such local board of education.
Effective July 2009, bars an individual who has an immediate family member sitting on the local board for such school system or who has an immediate family member hired as or promoted to a principal, assistant principal, or system administrative staff from serving as district superintendent.
Provides that neither provision affects the employment of such board members or superintendents prior to the effective date of these provisions. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb251.pdf
Title: H.B. 251 Section 2
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Health |
Signed into law 05/2009 |
P-12 |
Requires local school systems to provide information to parents of students in grades 6-12 on meningococcal meningitis disease and its vaccine whenever other health information is provided. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb300.pdf
Title: H.B. 300
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment |
Vetoed 05/2009 |
P-12 |
Adds provisions for counting dual enrollment students who are enrolled in a program other than that established in Code Section 20-2-161.1.
Bill: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb178.pdf
Veto message 11 (toward bottom of page): http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_139486062_140372354,00.html
Title: S.B. 178 Sections 1 and 2
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 05/2009 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Provides that dependent children of military personnel stationed in the state on active duty meet the residency requirements for purposes of HOPE scholarships. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb484.pdf
Title: H.B. 484
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Postsecondary Students--Military |
Signed into law 05/2009 |
Postsec.,
Community College |
Urges the Board of Trustees and the president of the Georgia Military College to maintain the current military programs at the military junior college of Georgia, Georgia Military College. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sr96.pdf
Title: S.R. 96
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Scheduling/School Calendar |
Signed into law 05/2009 |
P-12 |
Allows districts to provide the equivalent of a 180-day school year. Provides that beginning in the 2010-11 school year, schools may be closed on November 11 to allow students and staff to participate in Veterans Day programs. Revises reference to means of calculating school lunch personnel costs. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb193.pdf
Title: H.B. 193
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Curriculum--Mathematics |
Signed into law 04/2009 |
P-12 |
Provides that effective July 2010, and until there is no longer a shortage of math and science teachers, a secondary school teacher licensed in math or science must be moved to the salary step on the state salary schedule that is applicable to six years of creditable service, unless he or she is already on or above such salary step. After such salary step, provides one additional year of creditable service each year for the next five years, after which time the teacher may continue to be attributed one additional year of creditable service on the salary schedule each year if he or she meets or exceeds student achievement criteria established by the Office of Student Achievement. Provides that upon expiration of five years, or any year thereafter that the teacher does not meet or exceed student achievement criteria, teachers must be moved to the salary step applicable to the actual number of years of creditable service the teacher has accumulated.
Provides an annual $1,000 stipend for each year a K-5 teacher with an endorsement in math or science for each year the endorsement is in effect, for up to five years. After the five years, such teacher may continue to receive such stipend if he or she meets or exceeds student achievement criteria established by the Office of Student Achievement. Establishes minimum criteria for math and science endorsements for kindergarten and elementary teachers. Requires the Professional Standards Commission to establish standards for the math and science endorsements. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb280.pdf
Title: H.B. 280
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Curriculum--Physical Education |
Signed into law 04/2009 |
P-12 |
Enacts the Student Health and Physical Education Act. Beginning in the 2011-12 school year, requires local school systems to conduct an annual fitness assessment for students in grades 1-12 enrolled in a physical education class. Requires individual assessment results to be reported to each student's parent, and aggregate results to the state board of education.
Directs the state board to adopt and disseminate to local school systems standards that express the most current and widely accepted best practices and benchmarks in the areas of student health and physical education. Permits the governor, in collaboration with the state board, to develop one or more recognition programs to acknowledge local school systems and schools that have most improved in their physical fitness assessments. Repeals these provisions effective June 30, 2019. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb229.pdf
Title: H.B. 229
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Finance--Lotteries |
Signed into law 04/2009 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Defines "highest year-end balance" as the highest total amount of unexpended and uncommitted funds in the Lottery for Education Account, as determined by the state auditor, at the end of any fiscal year. Replaces certain references to "year-end balance" with "highest year-end balance" in Section 50-27-13, on lottery shortfall reserve subaccounts. Reduces scholarships for book allowances to $150 a year if the year-end balance of a fiscal year is less than 92% of the highest year-end balance. Eliminates all scholarships for book allowances for non-Pell-eligible students if the year-end balance of any subsequent fiscal year is less than 84% of the highest year-end balance. Eliminates scholarships for mandatory fees if the year-end balance of any further subsequent fiscal year is less than 75% of the highest year-end balance. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb157.pdf
Title: H.B. 157
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 04/2009 |
P-12 |
Provides that no person who is on the national or state sex offender registry may be eligible for election to or service on a local board of education. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb14.pdf
Title: S.B. 14
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies |
Signed into law 04/2009 |
P-12,
Postsec.,
Community College |
Establishes elements that must be reflected in state board rules on contracts or purchases of $100 or more. Requires the state board, to the extent reasonable and practicable, to give preference in contracts for or purchases of supplies, materials, equipment or agricultural products, including school buses but not including instructional materials or beverages for immediate consumption, produced in Georgia. Provides measures by which the state board should determine whether such a preference is reasonable. Enacts similar provisions applicable to state departments, agencies and commissions. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb44.pdf
Title: S.B. 44
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Health |
Signed into law 04/2009 |
P-12 |
Authorizes students to possess and self-administer prescription auto-injectable epinephrine. Requires local board policies to include
provisions to protect the safety of all students from the misuse or abuse of auto-injectable epinephrine. Provides a student may be subject to disciplinary action if he or she uses auto-injectable epinephrine in a manner other than as prescribed. Provides a local school system and its employees and agents shall incur no liability other than for willful or wanton misconduct for any injury to a student caused by his or her use of auto-injectable epinephrine. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb8.pdf
Title: S.B. 8
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment |
Signed into law 04/2009 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Enacts the Move on When Ready Act, which provides a program for 11th and 12th grade students to attend postsecondary institutions for high school credit. Requires all 10th and 11th graders and their parents to be notified about the program, and requires districts to provide counseling services to students and parents before students enroll in the program. Establishes procedures for awarding course credit. Specifies how state funds are to be awarded to institutions and districts for participating students. Specifies that hours for courses taken through the program by a participating eligible student shall not count against any maximum hourly caps applicable for purposes of HOPE scholarships or grants. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb149.pdf
Title: H.B. 149
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling |
Signed into law 04/2009 |
P-12 |
Includes home schooled students among those students eligible to participate in the high school honors program during the summer months. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb210.pdf
Title: S.B. 210
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
P-3 |
Adopted 04/2009 |
P-12 |
Amends rules concerning the Bright From the Start Program, including governing body, licensure and staff.
Title: GAC 591-1-1-.16 and .31
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 04/2009 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Specifies a revised method of calculating grade point average for purposes of HOPE scholarship eligibility, effective with students entering grade 9 in the 2008-09 school year. Specifies that the Georgia Student Finance Commission must uniformly apply weights for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate coursework, and that grade point averages must be on a 4.0 scale. Makes 3.0 grade point average the minimum grade point average for HOPE scholarship eligibility for all students. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb313.pdf
Title: H.B. 313
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Adopted 04/2009 |
P-12 |
Establishes new rules and amends exiting rules concerning educator certifications, including types of classifications and certificates, standards for renewal credit, and requirements within certain disciplines and subjects.
505-2: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/page.cgi?g=PROFESSIONAL_STANDARDS_COMMISSION%2FCERTIFICATION%2Findex.html&d=1
505-3: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/page.cgi?g=PROFESSIONAL_STANDARDS_COMMISSION%2FEDUCATOR_PREPARATION_RULES%2Findex.html&d=1
Title: GAC 505-2-.01 to .206 non seq, 505-2-.27 to .166 non seq, 505-3-.05 to .86 non seq
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Natl. Bd. for Prof. Teach. Stds. |
Signed into law 04/2009 |
P-12 |
Eliminates provision that a teacher must be granted two days of approved paid leave to prepare the portfolio of student work required for national certification. Replaces with provision that effective July 2009, only a teacher teaching full-time in a high-needs school is eligible for two days' paid leave to prepare the national board portfolio. Makes subject to legislative appropriation the state payment of a portion of the national certification program participation fee prior to national board certification for teachers who have completed the screening process and submitted an application and initial payment to the National Board. Adds that salary increases for teachers who enrolled in the process to obtain National Board certification on or before March 1, 2009 (and who subsequently earn certification) are subject to legislative appropriation. Provides that, effective July 1, salary increases for National Board-certified teachers will be available only to those teachers who were enrolled in the process to receive National Board certification or who were receiving salary increases as of March 1, 2009, both subject to legisative appropriation. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb243.pdf
Title: H.B. 243
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
Signed into law 04/2009 |
P-12 |
Adds provision that an educator's placement on the salary schedule cannot be based on a leadership degree earned on or after July 1, 2010, unless the educator is employed in a leadership position as defined by the state board. Requires the educator to be placed on the salary schedule position attributable to the educator without regard to the leadership degree. Specifies these provisions do not apply to an educator who possessed a leadership degree prior to July 1, 2010, regardless of whether or not he or she is in a leadership position. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb455.pdf
Title: H.B. 455
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Retirement/Benefits |
Signed into law 04/2009 |
P-12 |
Provides that members joining the Employees' Retirement System on or after July 1, 2009 are not eligible to receive any post-retirement benefit adjustment. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb452.pdf
Title: H.B. 452
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) |
Adopted 03/2009 |
P-12 |
Establishes guidelines for the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Treatment grant program, the Abstinence Until Marriage grant program, the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program, and the Caring Communities grant program.
Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Treatment grant program (96-1-.01): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/96/1/01.pdf
Abstinence until Marriage grant program (96-1-.04): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/96/1/04.pdf
Juvenile Accountability block grant program (96-1-.05): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/96/1/05.pdf
Caring Communities grant program (96-1-.07): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/96/1/07.pdf
Title: GAC 96-1-.01, .04, .05, .07
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation |
Adopted 03/2009 |
P-12 |
Establishes guidelines for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program School Bus Retrofit Grant Program and the Diesel Engine Retrofit Act State Diesel Grant Program. http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/391/3/21/10.pdf
Title: GAC 391-3-21.10
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Adopted 02/2009 |
P-12 |
Amends, repeals, and replaces rules concerning teacher certification and educator preparation, including international exchange certificates, support personnel licensure, evaluation of credit earned outside the U.S., voluntary deletion of a certificate field, teaching endorsements, coordinated career academic education endorsements, work-based learning endorsements, ESOL endorsements, career technical instruction endorsements, special education preschool programs, the Coordinated Career Academic Education Endorsement Program, the Work-based Learning Endorsement Program, and Career Technical Instruction Endorsement Programs.
505-2-.08 (International Exchange Certificate): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/2/08.pdf
505-2-.13 (Support Personnel License): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/2/13.pdf
505-2-.21 (Evaluation of Credit Earned Outside of the U.S.): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/2/21.pdf
505-2-.38 (Voluntary Deletion of a Certificate Field): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/2/38.pdf
505-2-.150 (Teaching Endorsements): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/2/100/50.pdf
505-2-.153 (Coordinated Career Academic Education Endorsement): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/2/100/53.pdf
505-2-.154 (Work-Based Learning Endorsement): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/2/100/54.pdf
505-2-.157 (English to Speakers of Other Languages Endorsement): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/2/100/57.pdf
505-2-.161 Repeals rule re: Middle Grades Endorsement
505-2-.164 (Career Technical Instruction Endorsement): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/2/100/64.pdf
505-3-.33 (Special Education Preschool (Ages 3-5) Program): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/3/33.pdf
505-3-.66 (Coordinated Career Academic Education Endorsement Program (CCAE)): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/3/66.pdf
505-3-.67 (Work-Based Learning Endorsement Program): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/3/67.pdf
505-3-.76 (Career Technical Instruction Endorsement Program): http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/3/76.pdf
Title: GAC 505-2-.08, .13, .21, .38, .150, .153, .154, .157, .161, .164, 505-3-.33, .66, .67, .76
Source: rules.sos.state.ga.us |
Assessment |
Adopted 12/2008 |
P-12 |
Eliminates reference to Georgia Kindergarten Assessment Program - Revised (GKAP-R). Provides all kindergarten students must be assessed using the Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS). Eliminates provisions that all students at grades 3, 5, 8 be assessed with state board-approved norm-referenced test.
Title: GAC 160-3-1-.07
Source: www.lexis.com |
P-3 |
Adopted 12/2008 |
P-12 |
Establishes rules implementing the pre-K Bright From The Start grant program.
Title: GAC 591-2-1-.01 to ,07
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Finance--Facilities |
Approved by voters 11/2008 |
P-12 |
(BALLOT MEASURE SR 996) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to authorize community redevelopment and authorize counties, municipalities, local boards of education to use tax funds for redevelopment purposes and programs, including the payment of debt service on tax allocation bonds.
Title: V. 3
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Accountability |
Adopted 10/2008 |
P-12 |
Allows school districts to enter into contracts with the state to allow for increased local flexibility and accountability. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.33.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-1-.33
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
No Child Left Behind--Supplemental Services |
Adopted 10/2008 |
P-12 |
Amends rule related to supplemental educational services (SES) in Title I schools. Adds provision regarding "supplemental educational services compact," which outlines the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder including the local education agency (LEA), provider, parent/guardian, and student, as well as the cost/fee structure for providing services. Directs the state department of education to develop a database of potential providers as recommended by parents, LEAs, and members of the public.
Additionally directs the department to develop and apply criteria for a minimum number of instructional hours received in total by a student enrolled with a provider. Provides these criteria must include a maximum number of instructional hours students may receive per week, and the state education agency (SEA) will communicate this to all applicable parties every year.
Also directs the department to:
--Develop, implement and publicly report annually on the evaluation used to measure the impact SES has on student achievement.
--Develop and implement guidelines for SES implementation for both LEAs and approved SES providers.
--Develop and implement a code of ethics for approved SES providers.
--Develop and implement assurances to which all SES providers must agree annually prior to serving students.
--Exercise authority to investigate and remove providers from the state-approved providers list based on non-compliance with the state board rule 160-4-5-.03, assurances, providers code of ethics, signed compacts, approved SES application, SES standards, and for violations determined by the department that would constitute "cause" for removal.
--Develop and implement a protocol for removing providers from the state-approved providers list.
--Ensure any provider removed from the state-approved providers list, whether through state board action or the provider's request for removal, is not eligible to re-apply to serve students as an approved provider in Georgia for the next two consecutive school years.
--Provide the opportunity for a previously removed provider to re-apply to become an approved provider after a period of two consecutive school years. Upon approval of the application, allows the provider to serve students in the state again. Specifies that in the event the provider is recommended and removed from the state-approved providers list a second time, the provider will be barred permanently from applying to become a provider in the state.
Eliminates requirement that LEA provide student achievement data to provider serving such students. Replaces with more specific requirement that LEA make available to providers achievement data that must include but are not limited to applicable state assessments such as the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT), Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT), and End of Course Tests (EOCT). Provides the applicable assessment data must indicate specific academic areas or strands of need in relevant subject areas. Specifies assessment data should be provided at the time contracts are signed with providers, and that data must be submitted to selected providers before students begin services. Specifies that LEAs must monitor the eligibility of students receiving SES and notify the SES provider and parent in writing when a student is no longer eligible for SES.
Expands upon provider responsibilities. Specifies that the cost of SES services must be in accordance with the state department of education's required minimum total number of instructional hours received per student. Also directs providers to:
--Ensure that pre- and post- assessments administered to SES students are valid and reliable.
--Explain the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder participating in SES using the Supplemental Educational Services Compact. Directs providers to make every attempt to acquire parent, and whenever applicable, student signatures on the document.
-- Develop Individual Student Plans (ISP) to set specific achievement goals for each student according to academic needs and subject area. Provides goals must be aligned with the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS).
--Ensure that parents have access to SES provider and/or designated LEA contact to discuss their child's academic progress.
--Conduct criminal background checks on all individuals who will have direct or indirect contact with students. Provides that failure to conduct a background check on any individual who is in contact with students either in person, by telephone, or internet will result in a recommendation to the state board that the provider be removed from the state-approved providers list. Sets parameters and requirements for background checks.
Notes that parents must notify the LEA if their child's provider does not begin service within 15 business days of notification, and must contact LEA and/or provider if contact information changes.
Rewrites and adds to provider criteria. New criteria require SES providers to:
--Document that instructional strategies used are high quality, based on research, and designed to increase student academic achievement.
--Document quantitative data demonstrating a record of effectiveness in improving student academic achievement.
--Maintain documentation indicating legal status to conduct business in the State of Georgia.
--Maintain documentation of current commercial general liability insurance with coverage for the State of Georgia.
Deletes provision that providers removed from the statewide list may reapply and specify geographical area(s) for their service
Specifies that any provider that accepts students and begins services for those students must complete the services and fulfill the signed contract for each student. Notes that any provider that terminates services to contracted participating students without written prior permission from the department will be recommended for removal from the state-approved providers list.
Directs providers to submit signed assurances (SES Provider application) annually by the department's specified date prior to beginning SES. Notes that any provider, whether newly approved or current, who does not submit signed and initialed assurances by the assigned deadline will be recommended for removal from the state-approved providers list.
Specifies that a provider may offer incentives to a student only AFTER the student has enrolled in the SES program for that provider. Notes that incentives must follow guidelines set forth in the SES Providers Code of Ethics, may only be for student attendance, program completion, or student achievement, and that enrollment incentives and incentives to parents and LEAs are NOT allowable at any time. Notes that providers not in compliance will be recommended for removal from the state-approved providers list.
Makes modifications to language relating to monitoring/evaluation of providers and the complaint process. Clarifies that the department reserves the authority to monitor any approved provider at will, and may conduct on-site monitoring visits without prior notice. Adds that failure to provide documentation of compliance with all SES Standards, State Board Rule 160-4-5-.03, and regulations during the time of the monitoring visit will result in a noncompliance rating.
Adds that the department will evaluate the effectiveness of providers in "other subjects" (in addition to reading, language arts and math) that are related to increasing student achievement on state academic assessments and that contribute to a particular school's ability to make Adequate Yearly Progress. Adds that the department will publicly report, at least annually, the overall performance rating of every provider site monitored for compliance with SES Standards, and will annually report the effectiveness of each provider's contribution to increasing the academic proficiency of students in reading, language arts, math and/or other subjects. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-5-.03.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-5-.03
Source: www.lexis.com |
School/District Structure/Operations--Facilities |
Adopted 10/2008 |
P-12 |
Amends rule to address processing of plans and specifications for public school construction for the board. Specifies that rule must apply to all public school construction projects regardless of project funding source unless certain exemptions apply.
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-4-.15.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-4-.15
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
Service-Learning |
adopted 07/2008 |
P-12 |
Amends rule to address the purpose, terms and conditions, eligible recipients, criteria for award, and directions and deadlines for applying for the Learn and Serve grant.
Title: GAC 160-1-4.258
Source: www.lexis.com |
Assessment |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Relates to the assessment of effectiveness of educational programs under the Quality Basic Education Act. Provides that each local school system may elect to administer, with state funding, nationally norm-referenced instruments in reading, mathematics, science or social studies in grades 3-8, subject to available appropriations, with assistance to such school systems by the state board of education with regard to administration guidance, scoring and reporting of such assessments. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb637.pdf
Title: H.B. 637
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Establishes the Georgia Charter Schools Commission as a state-level charter school authorizing entity working in collaboration with the department of education. Provides for membership of commission. Provides that the commission must, among other duties:
(1) Approve or deny petitions for charter schools and renew, nonrenew or terminate charter school petitions. Provides that the state board may overrule a commission action by a two-thirds vote.
(2) Authorize charter schools cosponsors. Provides that cosponsors have no authority to authorize charter schools, but may partner with charter petitioners and the commission to provide community support for the proposed charter school, including technical assistance, academic support, curriculum review, financial assistance, or other support.
(3) Conduct facility and curriculum reviews of charter schools.
(4) Develop, promote, and disseminate best practices for charter schools and charter school cosponsors. At a minimum, the best practices must encourage the development and replication of academically and financially proven charter school programs.
(5) Review and recommend to the general assembly any necessary revisions to statutory requirements regarding standards and accountability for charter schools.
(6) Collaborate with cosponsors to provide the highest level of public education to all students, including, but not limited to, low-income, low-performing, gifted, and underserved student populations and to students with special needs. Provides that such collaborations must allow two- and four-year institutions that cosponsor commission charter schools to enable attending students to take college courses and receive high school and college credit for such courses; and assist in determining the feasibility of establishing commission charter schools for students with disabilities.
(7) Provide training for members of charter school governing bodies after approval of the charter school, including on best practices on charter school governance.
Provides procedures for the submission of charter school petitions. Requires the commission to provide maximum access to information regarding commission charter schools to all parents, including through a user-friendly Web site. Requires the commission chair to submit an annual report on the academic performance and fiscal responsibility of all commission charter schools and cosponsors. Provides that if a charter is not renewed or is terminated, the commission charter school is responsible for all of the school's debts. Provides for funding levels of commission charter schools.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb881.pdf
Title: H.B. 881
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Finance |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Establishes the Charter School Capital Finance Act. Directs the state board of education to establish a grant program for qualified charter school contributions, i.e., funds donated by a taxpayer to a qualified charter school organization (501(c)3) for the purchase of real property and for capital outlay for a charter school. Provides that the grant program must provide $1 in matching funds up to a maximum amount for a single charter school project for each dollar donated to a qualified charter school organization for such project.
Directs the state board to adopt policies, guidelines,and standards regarding the construction of charter schools built in part with contributions made to qualified charter school organizations. Requires these policies, guidelines and standards, to the extent possible, to be consistent with state board provisions governing construction of other schools. Directs the state board to submit an annual report to the governor forecasting the amount of requests for matching funds made through these provisions.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb831.pdf
Title: H.B. 831
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Finance |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Relates to the sales tax for educational purposes to authorize local charter schools and state chartered special schools as capital outlay projects for purposes of such tax. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb1065.pdf
Title: H.B. 1065
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Choice of Schools--Tax Credits |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Authorizes the creation of "student scholarship organizations" that allocate funds for scholarships or grants allowing preschool and K-12 students to attend accredited private schools. Establishes requirements for student scholarship organizations. Provides for tax credits by individuals and corporations for contributions to a student scholarship organization ("qualified education expense"). Provides a the tax credit is not allowed if the taxpayer designates the taxpayer´s qualified education expense for the direct benefit of any dependent of the taxpayer. Provides that tax credits will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. Limits the aggregate amount of tax credits to $50 million per tax year.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb1133.pdf
Title: H.B. 1133
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Curriculum--Arts Education |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Creates the Georgia Arts Alliance to receive and distribute funds for the support of the arts, including the Georgia Council for the Arts, and for teaching and physical infrastructure needed to provide arts and arts in education, for the improvement of education and economic development/tourism. Provides for membership of the board of trustees and an advisory committee, duties and fiscal matters. Authorizes the Georgia Arts Alliance to make written recommendations to the governor and the general assembly for strengthening of the arts in Georgia.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb291.pdf
Title: H.B. 291
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Economic/Workforce Development |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Relates to Department of Economic Development. Creates a Made in Georgia program promoting goods and products manufactured in Georgia by showcasing and promoting goods and products manufactured in the state, informing Georgians of the diverse manufacturing sector within the state and providing educational outreach efforts to bring the science of manufacturing into the classroom and emphasizing the significant contributions Georgia companies make to the economy and quality of life. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb359.pdf
Title: S.B. 359
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Governance--Ethics/Conflict of Interest |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12,
Postsec.,
Community College |
Provides for audits and the examination of books and records. Provides for the creation and maintenance of a searchable Web site that provides public access to certain state expenditure information. Relates to the Department of Audits and Accounts and the Department of Revenue. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb300.pdf
Title: S.B. 300
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Provides an exception to provision prohibiting a school board member from selling school supplies or equipment to the county board. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb602.pdf
Title: H.B. 602
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Health |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Requires each public high school with an interscholastic athletics program to have at least one functioning automated external defibrillator on site for use during emergencies. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb1031.pdf
Title: H.B. 1031
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12,
Postsec.,
Community College |
Revises provision relating to the determination of resident status of students for tuition or fees. Adds public or private schools located in another state and accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools as "eligible high schools" as regards HOPE scholarships and grants. Amends residency requirements for HOPE scholarship eligibility at public and private postsecondary institutions, as regards students who have left Georgia after graduating from high school, have moved to Georgia after graduating from a high school outside the state, or who have left the state after completing a freshman, sophomore or junior year. Provides that a dependent child of military personnel stationed in Georgia must be considered a legal resident of Georgia and, subject to meeting all other eligibility requirements, must be eligible to receive the HOPE scholarship as a freshman if the student graduated from a Georgia high school or an approved home study program in Georgia.
Specifies that the maximum number of attempted quarter or semester hours covered by the HOPE scholarship eligibility include all postsecondary level course hours taken prior to high school graduation if such student does not qualify for the HOPE scholarship as an entering freshman based solely on his or her grade point average. Provides that the term 'postsecondary level course hours' means hours accepted by the student´s eligible postsecondary institution for credit when the student enters as a freshman.
Specifies that for purposes of HOPE scholarships and grants, eligible postsecondary institutions include a unit of the University System of Georgia; a branch of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education; a private independent nonprofit postsecondary institution eligible for tuition equalization grants; or a private proprietary postsecondary institution eligible for tuition equalization grants.
Amends policy such that attempted hours do not include hours for courses taken and paid for by a HOPE grant while a student is participating in dual credit enrollment with both an eligible high school and an institution within the University System of Georgia or the Department of Technical and Adult Education. Requires the Department of Technical and Adult Education or the University System of Georgia to verify that a student is enrolled in an eligible high school and notify the Georgia Student Finance Commission of the student´s participation in dual credit enrollment.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb492.pdf
Title: S.B. 492
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Online Learning--Virtual Schools/Courses |
Adopted 05/2008 |
P-12 |
160-7-1-.04: Clarifies rules regarding the audit procedures for the Governor's Office of Student Achievement (OSA). http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-7-1-.04.pdf
160-8-1-.01: Revises the definition of "blended learning" with regard to the Virtual School program and clarifies the parameters for using the Georgia Virtual School course content in a local teacher-led classroom setting. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-8-1-.01.pdf
Title: GAC 160-7-1-.04, 160-8-1-.01
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
P-3 Child Care |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Revises the definition of a day-care center to exclude certain private schools that provide K-12 education. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb1169.pdf
Title: H.B. 1169
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
Postsec. |
Relates to Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) scholarships and grants. Provides that otherwise qualified students who either received a GED, completed a home study program, or graduated from a high school that is not an eligible high school and scored in the 85th percentile or higher nationally on a standardized college admission test, and has been admitted as an undergraduate student, is eligible for a HOPE scholarship at a public or private postsecondary institution. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb152.pdf
Title: H.B. 152
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
Postsec. |
Creates new sections 20-3-395 ff. related to student loans. Authorizes the Georgia Student Finance Authority to provide direct, low-interest loans to eligible students who are legal residents of the state. Provides for maximum amount, repayment period and student eligibility criteria. Directs the authority to establish a separate fund for loans. Directs the authority, beginning with the first fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the fund has a balance of $500,000.00 or more, for each fiscal year, to determine the amount of moneys available for loans and determine by a random selection process the recipients of such loans. Directs the authority to establish a repayment schedule for direct loans made to students, including GOT Student Loans as provided below. Specifies criteria that render a student ineligible for a direct loan (such as a GOT Student Loan or EPS Student Loan), including if the student is not a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien.
Adds new sections 20-3-400 ff. Enacts the Graduate on Time (GOT) Student Loan Act to provide student loans to students in eligible postsecondary institutions in the state. Specifies that dual enrollment classes do not establish the beginning date of a postsecondary course of study. Provides that the maximum amount of a GOT Student Loan is the lesser of $10,000 per calendar year or the cost of attendance for a calendar year minus the estimated amount of the student´s financial aid, with a maximum total eligibility of $40,000 per student. Provides that the annual interest rate for any GOT Student Loan is 1% retroactive to the origination date of the loan for each student who meets minimum GPA criteria and who either earns a bachelor's degree within four years or earns a bachelor's or first professional degree within five years if the course of study was designed to be completed in five years and either meets the requirements for a first professional degree program or includes undergraduate studies, leads to a bachelor's or first professional degree. Establishes a 2% interest rate for any GOT Student Loan for any student meeting minimum GPA criteria who completes a bachelor's degree in five years, or who completes within six years a program of study that meets the requirements for a first professional degree program and was designed to be completed in six years, or completes a course of that includes undergraduate studies and leads to a bachelor's or first professional degree.
Adds new sections 20-3-405 ff. Enacts the Education for Public Service (EPS) Student Loan Act. Defines "public service." Provides that the maximum amount of a GOT Student Loan is the lesser of $10,000 per calendar year or the cost of attendance for a calendar year minus the estimated amount of the student´s financial aid, and that the maximum amount of EPS Student Loans for a degree equals $10,000 times the number of academic years required for a full-time student to earn the degree. Provides that the annual interest rate for any EPS Student Loan is 1% retroactive to the origination date of the EPS Student Loan for each student who meets minimum GPA criteria and who completes five years of public service after completing one degree with the assistance of an EPS Student Loan or 10 years of public service after earning two degrees with the assistance of two or more EPS Student Loans. Provides criteria under which an EPS Student Loan is converted to an interest-free loan.
Requires each Georgia income tax return form for taxable years beginning on or after 2008 to contain language offering the taxpayer the opportunity to contribute to the funds established for direct loans, Graduate on Time (GOT) Student Loans, and Education for Public Service (EPS) Student Loans by either donating all or any part of any tax refund due, or by contributing any amount over and above any amount of tax owed.
Adds new section 20-3-440 ff. Establishes a program to provide $1,500 of tuition grant assistance per semester to eligible students attending North Georgia College and State University, Georgia´s only state-supported military college. Establishes student eligibility criteria, including that the student has signed a contract to accept a commission, effective upon graduation, as an officer in any branch of the U.S. armed services or the Army National Guard. Provides that North Georgia College and State University is subject to examination by the state auditor to determine whether the school has properly certified eligibility and enrollment of students and credited grants paid on behalf of such students. Provides that any person who knowingly makes any false statement or misrepresentation or who accepts such statement or misrepresentation knowing it to be false for the purpose of enabling an ineligible student to wrongfully obtain a grant is guilty of a misdemeanor.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb169.pdf
Title: S.B. 169
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Institutions--Community/Technical Colleges |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
Community College,
Postsec. |
Changes the name of the Department of Technical and Adult Education to the Technical College System of Georgia. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb435.pdf
Title: S.B. 435
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
School Safety |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Directs the department of education to develop a model program for educating students about safety while using the Internet, taking into consideration educational
materials developed by other states and any other materials suggested by experts that promote child online safety issues. Authorizes local boards to incorporate components on Internet safety into instructional programs.
Adds a section providing that if an Internet access provider knows from registration data that a subscriber currently resides within the state, the provider must make
available to the subscriber a device enabling the subscriber to control a minor´s use of the Internet.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb474.pdf
Title: S.B. 474
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
School Safety--Code of Conduct |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Provides that falsifying, misrepresenting, omitting, or erroneously reporting reports of instances of inappropriate behavior by a teacher, administrator or other school employee toward a student must be addressed in the student code of conduct. Directs the Professional Standards Commission to establish a process for students to follow in reporting instances of such behavior. Provides for notice of the process in student handbooks and in employee handbooks or policies.
Provides that if through the state mandated process it is determined that a complaint against a teacher, administrator or other school employee is unsubstantiated, the local school system must, at the request of the aggrieved party, submit a written statement to that effect to all local print and television media outlets that published any articles or reported any news relating to such complaint against the teacher, administrator, or employee.
Directs the Professional Standards Commission to coordinate a training program on educator sexual misconduct, and requires every local superintendent to ensure that all certified staff receive such training.
Authorizes the staff of the Professional Standards Commission, without notification to the Professional Standards Commission, to immediately open an investigation submitted to the commission by a local school superintendent, with approval of the local board of education, of a complaint by a student against an educator alleging a sexual offense. Directs the Professional Standards Commission to have on staff a minimum of one investigator specifically trained in investigating educator sexual misconduct. Requires that the investigation of any complaint of sexual misconduct be completed in a maximum of 60 days.
Provides that if the Professional Standards Commission´s review of the investigative report results in a sanction against the educator, the educator must have the right to appeal the commission decision to a hearing before an administrative law judge within 90 days of the sanction.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb1321.pdf
Title: H.B. 1321
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Declare the third week of October "School Bus Safety Week." http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb790.pdf
Title: H.B. 790
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Declares the third Monday of October "School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day." http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb791.pdf
Title: H.B. 791
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Relates to the installation of protective devices at railroad grade crossings. Requires that school districts annually provide the department of transportation with a list identifying each rail crossing that does not have active warning devices on an established bus route. Requires each district to use best efforts to minimize the number of school bus routes that cross rail crossings that do not have active warning devices. Directs the department to use the information about school bus routes as an important factor in selecting rail crossings to upgrade with active warning devices. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb426.pdf
Title: H.B. 426
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
State Longitudinal Data Systems |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Rewrites section 20-2-320 relating to the Education Information Steering Committee. Replaces with language regarding the state-wide comprehensive educational information system. Pages 3-4: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb344.pdf
Title: S.B. 344
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Students |
Vetoed 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Adds Georgia as a member of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Includes provisions related to unofficial and official records and transcripts, immunizations, kindergarten and first grade entrance age, course placement and placement in special services such as gifted and talented and special education, absences related to deployment activities, high school graduation requirements and exit exams, and transfers during the student's senior year.
Provides for state coordination, the creation of the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children by member states, and the interstate commission's powers and duties, organization and operation, rulemaking functions, oversight, enforcement and dispute resolution, and financing.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb345.pdf
Title: S.B. 345
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Authorizes the professional standards commission to investigate complaints alleging that an educator has been convicted of any other criminal offense involving the manufacture, distribution, trafficking, sale, or possession of a controlled substance or marijuana or of any sexual offense. Authorizes the staff of the commission, without notifying the commission, to immediately open an investigation submitted by a local school superintendent, with the local board's approval, of a complaint by a student against an educator alleging a sexual offense.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb250.pdf
Title: H.B. 250
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Creates the Joint Study Committee on Teacher Training and Certification. Provides that in the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations for proposed legislation, such report must be made by December 31, 2008. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hr1103.pdf
Title: H.R. 1103
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Retirement/Benefits |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Relates to retirement benefits under the Teachers Retirement System of the State; provides that a retired teacher who has been retired for a minimum amount of time may return to full-time employment and continue to collect his or her full retirement benefit; provides a public school system may employ a retired teacher as a full time teacher, principal, superintendent, media specialist of counselor. Provides a retired principal or superintendent may be not be re-employed at the same school or district, respectively. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb327.pdf
Title: S.B. 327
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Accountability |
Signed into law 04/2008 |
P-12 |
Relates to elementary and secondary education; provides that a local school system may enter into a contract with the state board of education for increased flexibility in exchange for increased accountability; relates to waivers to improve student performance; provides exemptions for charter systems.
Authorizes a local superintendent to concurrently serve as a principal, teacher or in another staff position. Authorizes a local superintendent to concurrently serve as superintendent of more than one school system in accordance with the terms of the superintendent's respective contracts and upon approval by each affected local school system.
Bars the state board of education from providing any district with waivers related to class size requirements (excepting hardship provisions); expenditure controls, certification requirements and salary schedule requirements.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb1209.pdf
Title: H.B. 1209
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Special Populations--Corrections Education |
Adopted 02/2008 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding the providing of grants to local units of administration and facilities serving eligible children, which are children who are in custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Human Resources. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-2-.06.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-2-.06
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Special Education |
Adopted 12/2007 |
P-12 |
Revises rules regarding special education, including the rights of children and parents and assists educational agencies to provides for such and education.
Purpose for Exceptional Students Rules: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.01.pdf
Free Appropriate Public Education http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.02.pdf
Child Find Procedures http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.03.pdf
Evaluations and Reevaluations http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.04.pdf
Eligibility Determination and Categories of Eligibility http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.05.pdf
Individualized Education Program http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.06.pdf
Least Restrictive Environment http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.07.pdf
Confidentiality of Personally Identifiable Information http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.08.pdf
Procedural Safeguards/Parent Rights http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.09.pdf
Discipline http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.10.pdf
Surrogate Parent http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.11.pdf
Dispute Resolution http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.12.pdf
Private Schools http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.13.pdf
Personnel, Facilities and Caseloads http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.14.pdf
Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.15.pdf
Georgia Learning Resources System http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.16.pdf
Required Reports http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.17.pdf
Grants for Services http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.18.pdf
Services for Agency-Placed Students http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.19.pdf
Mandatory Pre-Determination of Local Education Agency's Inability to Provide Services to (a) Student(s) with Disability http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.20.pdf
Definitions http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.21.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-7
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Adopted 12/2007 |
P-12 |
505-2-.10: Adds provisions and clarification for National Guard personnel to apply for JROTC instructor positions, which is now authorized by the Department of Defense. http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/2/10.pdf
505-2-.26: Makes available an optional Computer Science Endorsement (6-12) to provide strengthened and enhanced competency levels for teaching computer science skills in grades 6-12.
505-2-.96: Renames the Professional Foods specialization to Culinary Arts and deletes a temporary certificate "option" which will be replaced by a new endorsement.
505-2-.150: Adds the new endorsements of Culinary Arts and Computer Science to the list of teaching endorsements.
505-2-.166: Creates an optional endorsement for individuals assigned to teach secondary computer science courses.
505-2-.167: Creates an endorsement allowing teachers with Family and Consumer Sciences Education certification to teach the culinary arts curriculum to students in grades 6-12.
505-2-.202: Provides for issuing a Non-Renewable Certificate in School Counseling with a master's degree in Social Work.
505-2-.300: Establishes the certification requirements and guidelines for the new Educational Leadership certificates. The previous version of Rule 505-2-.300 is proposed to be repealed and replaced by this new rule.
505-2-.350: Establishes guidelines for the "grandfathering" of the previous endorsements (the individual rules are being repealed) and establishes the new Teacher Leader Endorsement.
505-2-.351: Repeals rule regarding "Director of Media Centers" endorsement. Replaces with new rule establishing a Teacher Leader Endorsement, which is intended to serve as the initial certification step for teachers to begin assuming basic leadership-type functions while remaining in the classroom. This endorsement is optional and is not required to perform the leadership-type functions as outlined in rule.
505-2-.352: Repeals rule regarding "Director of Pupil Personnel Services" endorsement. Current holders of the endorsement will be "grandfathered" and continue to be in-field to serve in this position, as outlined in proposed PSC Rule 505-2-.350. Future pupil personnel services directors must hold the Leadership certificate.
505-2-.353: Repeals rule regarding "Director of Special Education" endorsement. Current holders of the endorsement will be "grandfathered" and continue to be in-field to serve in this position, as outlined in proposed PSC Rule 505-2-.350. certificate.
505-2-.354: Repeals rule regarding "Director of Technology/Career Education" endorsement. Current holders of the endorsement will be "grandfathered" and continue to be in-field to serve in this position, as outlined in proposed PSC Rule 505-2-.350. Leadership certificate.
505-2-.355: Repeals rule regarding "Instructional Supervision" endorsement. Current holders of the endorsement will be "grandfathered" and continue to be in-field to serve in this position, as outlined in proposed PSC Rule 505-2-.350. Future instructional supervision educators must hold the Leadership certificate.
505-3-.062: This new rule establishes guidelines for a Computer Science Endorsement Program.
505-3-.063: This new rule establishes guidelines for a Culinary Arts Endorsement Program.
Title: GAC 505-2-.10, -.26, -.96, -.150, -.166, -.167, -.202,-.300, -.350, -.351, -.352, -.353, - .354, -.355; 505-3-.62, -.63
Source: www.lexis.com |
Bilingual/ESL |
Adopted 09/2007 |
P-12 |
Adds language regarding the Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs), an English language proficiency test administered annually to all English language learners (ELLs) to determine students' level of English language proficiency level.
Adds provision regarding "conditional administration," a test administration in which a more expansive accommodation is utilized to provide access for a small percentage of students with more severe disabilities who would not be able to access the assessment without such assistance.
Adds provision regarding Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS), a performance assessment designed to provide teachers with information about the level of instructional support needed by individual students entering kindergarten and first grade. Provides this assessment will replace the Georgia Kindergarten Assessment Program-Revised (GKAP-R).
Replaces Middle Grades Writing Assessment (IMGWA) with Grade 8 Writing Assessment.
Adds science to areas in which a first-year ELL student may participate in the appropriate state board approved language proficiency assessment rather than the standard assessment.
Clarifies that only state-approved accommodations may be included in an IEP or Section 504 IAP. Eliminates certain provisions regarding the Georgia Alternate Assessment.
Specifies that students with significant cognitive disabilities participating in the GAA must be provided access to the state-adopted curriculum. Clarifies that educators may adjust the learning expectations for this group of unique students provided the instruction is based on and aligned to the grade-level curriculum standards. Provides that instruction may reflect pre-requisite skills but must be sufficiently challenging for the individual student.
Directs local school systems to provide individual student score reports for all state-mandated assessments to the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) in a timely manner.
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-3-1-.07.pdf
Title: GAC 160-3-1-.07
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Adopted 09/2007 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding charter schools, including applicable definitions, responsibilities, petition provisions and termination of the charter. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-9-.04.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-9-.04
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
High School--Graduation Requirements |
Adopted 09/2007 |
P-12 |
Amends graduation requirements for students enrolling in grade 9 for the first time in the 2008-2009 school year and subsequent years (graduating class of 2012). Replaces existing four curriculum pathways (college preparatory, college preparatory with distinction, technology/career preparatory, technology/career preparatory with distinction) with one common set of requirements (total of 23 Carnegie units) for all students:
English/Language Arts: 4 units, including 1 unit each of American Literature/Composition and Ninth-Grade Literature and Composition
Mathematics: 4 units, including Mathematics 1, 2 and 3
Science: 4 units, including 1 unit Biology; 1 unit either Physical Science or Physics; 1 unit Chemistry, Earth Systems, Environmental Science or an AP/IB course
Social Studies: 3 units, including 1 unit U.S. History; 1 unit World History; and .5 unit each of American Government/Civics and Economics
CTAE (career, technical and agricultural education) and/or Modern Language/Latin and/or Fine Arts: 3 units
Health and Physical Education: 1 unit
Electives: 4 units
Becomes effective July 1, 2008: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.48.pdf
Title: 160-4-2-.48
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
Class Size |
Adopted 08/2007 |
P-12 |
Establishes class size maximums for core courses in grades 9-12. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.08.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-1-.08, -.10
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Charter Districts |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Enacts the Charter Systems Act. Amends definitions of "charter," "charter petitioner," "local revenue," and "petition," and adding definitions of "charter system," "governing council," "school-level governance," and "system charter school." Provides procedures for the establishment of charter systems. Provides that, with exceptions, all schools within a charter system are system charter schools. Directs the state board of education to establish rules to allow a local school district to submit a petition to establish a charter system. Provides that such rules must include specific components toward the goal of maximizing school level governance and the involvement of parents, teachers, and community members in such governance.
Directs the state board, subject to legislative appropriation, to disburse planning grants to local school systems that wish to become charter systems, and to disburse $125,000 implementation grants to each charter system. Authorizes the state board to approve up to 5 petitions for charter systems during the 2008 fiscal year, and in following years to approve up to a maximum number of petitions as may be established in board rules and as subject to availability of funding for
implementation grants.
Directs the state board to establish a charter advisory committee to review charter petitions for compliance with established standards, and to make recommendations to the state board on charter policy and petitions.
Amends code section 20-2-2064 relating to the approval or denial of a charter petition. Amends code section 20-2-2064.1 relating to the review of a charter by the state board, by directing the state board to give all due consideration to input from the charter advisory committee. Amends code section 20-2-2065, relating to operating requirements, control, and management. Amends code section 20-2-2067.1 relating to the amendment of the terms of charter for a charter school, the initial term of a charter, and an annual report. Revises code section 20-2-2068, relating to charter amendments and terminations. Amends code section 20-2-2068.1 (effective July 1, 2008), relating to the application of the Quality Basic Education Formula, grants, local tax revenue, and funds from local bonds. Adds new language directing that, for system charter schools, federal, state, and local revenue be distributed to each such school by the charter system with an objective of maximizing spending at the school level. Amends code section 20-2-2069, relating to the office of charter school compliance, to add references to charter systems and the charter advisory committee.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb39.pdf
Title: S.B. 39
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Class Size |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Requires twins or other multiples to be placed in the same classroom if the parent requests. Also allows districts to establish maximum class sizes in grades 9-12 for mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts. Provides such maximum class sizes may not exceed the funding class size by more than 39%. Directs local boards to report annually to the state board and to each school council in its school system such class sizes established.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb123.pdf
Title: S.B. 123
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Governance--Site-Based Management |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Specifies that parents of students enrolled in the school must comprise a majority of school council members. Replaces prior requirement that two businesspersons serve on the council with requirement that at least two of the members who are parents of students at the school be businesspersons. Adds that other businesspersons from the local business community may serve on the council and must be selected by the other members of the school council. Adds that the chairperson of each school council must be a parent member.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb72.pdf
Title: S.B. 72 (Section 1)
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Governance--Site-Based Management |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Authorizes local districts to hire school administrative managers in lieu of or in addition to assistant principals. Provides that such school administrative managers are not required to be certificated by the professional standards commission but must meet local board qualifications. Provides that the duties of school administrative managers are to manage the school's financial and business affairs, while the principal must retain authority over curriculum and instruction. Directs a local board considering hiring or utilizing school administrative managers to consider recommendations by the school council as to whether or not to utilize such position and as to selection of the manager.
Provides that in terms of compensation, school administrative managers must be treated the same as assistant principals.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb72.pdf
Title: S.B. 72 (Section 2)
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
High School--Graduation Requirements |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Provides that any student, not just a deaf student, may fulfill the foreign language requirements for a college preparatory curriculum seal of endorsement on a high school diploma by demonstrating proficiency in American Sign Language.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb170.pdf
Title: S.B. 170
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
High School--International Baccalaureate |
Vetoed 05/2007 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Directs each public institution of higher education, by December 31, 2007, to adopt a policy to award undergraduate course credit to entering freshmen who have completed the international baccalaureate (IB) diploma program, beginning with the entering freshmen of the 2008-2009 academic year. Provides that at least 24 semester credit hours must be awarded unless a student received a score of less than 4 on an IB diploma program exam.
Bill: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb467.pdf
Veto message (scroll halfway down page): http://www.gov.state.ga.us/press/2007/press1441.shtml
Title: H.B. 467
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Enacts the Grade Integrity Act of 2007. Provides that no classroom teacher shall be required, coerced, intimidated, or disciplined in any manner to change the grade of a student. Provides that a violation of this provision constitutes an ethical violation reportable to the professional standards commission. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb9.pdf
Title: S.B. 9
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
Postsec.,
Community College |
Relates to definitions relative to the Georgia HERO (Helping Educate Reservists and their Offspring) Scholarship, so as to provide that surviving spouses of certain deceased service members are eligible for scholarships. Provides that term of award eligibility for spouses of deceased is four years. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb131.pdf
Title: H.B. 131
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Vetoed 05/2007 |
Postsec. |
Relates to eligibility requirements for a Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) grant. Provides that students at Georgia Military College are eligible for HOPE grants.
Bill: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb363.pdf
Veto message (scroll down): http://www.gov.state.ga.us/press/2007/press1441.shtml
Title: H.B. 363
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
School Safety--Uniforms/Dress Codes |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Provides for a nonbinding, advisory referendum in November 2008 for residents of the DeKalb County School System regarding whether school uniforms should be required for students in grades K-5. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb712.pdf
Title: H.B. 712
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us/ |
Special Education |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Enacts the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act to provide scholarships for public school students with disabilities to attend eligible private schools. Establishes student eligibility requirements and requirements for private schools to participate in the scholarship program. Provides that the maximum scholarship granted a scholarship student must be equivalent to the costs of the educational program that would have been provided for the student in the resident school district, not including any federal funds. Provides that the scholarship amount must be the lesser of (1) the educational program costs in the resident school district or (2) the amount of the participating school´s tuition and fees. Authorizes the department of education to bar a school from participation in the program if the department determines that the school has intentionally and substantially misrepresented information or failed to refund to the state any scholarship overpayments in a timely manner.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb10.pdf
Title: S.B. 10
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Special Education |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Enacts the Deaf Child's Bill of Rights Act. In developing an individualized education (IEP) program for a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, directs a district to consider the related services and program options that provide the child with an appropriate and equal opportunity for communication access. Directs the district to consider the child´s specific communication needs and, to the extent possible, address them in the child's IEP. Provides that a district must consider specific circumstances and resources in addressing the child's needs. To enable a parent to make informed decisions on the educational options suited to his/her child, requires all the educational options provided by the district and available to the child at the time the child´s individualized education program is prepared to be explained to the parent. Provides no deaf or hard-of-hearing child may be denied the opportunity for instruction in a particular communication mode or language solely because of certain specified circumstances. Provides that nothing in this section shall preclude instruction in more than one communication mode or language for any particular child, and that any child for whom instruction in a particular communication mode or language is determined to be beneficial must
receive such instruction as part of the child´s IEP.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb168.pdf
Title: S.B. 168
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Creates a Joint Study Committee on Continuing Education and Collegiate Sports Programs for Students with Disabilities. Directs the committee to undertake a study of what alternatives are open to the general assembly to identify and create opportunities for student athletes with disabilities at the collegiate level and explore the development of pilot programs, recruitment of athletes, and nonprofit and private sector support for different collegiate programs. Also directs the committee to explore current high school, community, and collegiate sports programs and facilities. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hr322.pdf
Title: H.R. 322
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Highly Qualified Teachers |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Subject to approval by the professional standards commission, authorizes a district to provide a secondary-level alternative teacher certification program for core academic subjects. Requires such alternative teacher certification candidates to:
(A) Possess a master´s degree, doctoral degree, or Juris Doctor in each academic subject in which the candidate will teach;
(B) Receive high-quality professional development that is sustained, intensive, and classroom focused;
(C) Participate in a program of intensive supervision that consists of structured guidance and regular ongoing support for teachers or a teacher mentoring program;
(D) Assume functions as a teacher for a maximum of three years; and
(E) Demonstrate satisfactory progress toward full certification as prescribed by the professional standards commission.
Defines 'core academic subject' as English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, or geography. Directs the professional standards commission to apply the least restrictive standards when approving a district-developed alternative teacher certification program. Provides that a teacher certified through such a program must be considered a highly qualified teacher for purposes of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.
Subject to approval by the professional standards commission, also authorizes a district to provide a secondary-level alternative teacher certification program for non-core academic subjects. Requires such alternative teacher certification candidates to:
(1) Possess a master´s degree, doctoral degree, or Juris Doctor in each academic subject in which the candidate will teach; and
(2) Demonstrates satisfactory progress toward full certification as prescribed by the professional standards commission.
Directs that a teacher receiving initial certification through a local alternative option be treated in the same manner as certificated professional personnel for purposes of statute or any local board policy, including receiving salaries in keeping with the minimum salary schedule.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb72.pdf
Title: S.B. 72 (Section 4)
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--At-Risk Schools |
Adopted 01/2007 |
P-12 |
Establishes rules regarding the Title IIA Program Grant, which distributes funds for schools with a proven spending record of Title IIA funds to develop and support specific programs to improve teaching quality, the number of highly qualified teachers and equitable access to highly qualified teachers for all students in the state during the 2006-2007 school year. Provides that districts with the lowest percentage of highly qualified teachers will be given priority in grant awards.
http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/1/4/200/73.pdf
Title: GAC 160-1-4-.273
Source: rules.sos.state.ga.us |
Special Education--Finance |
Adopted 11/2006 |
P-12 |
Terminates various grant programs within the state board of education. Creates low incidence grant program to provide funds to districts that do not earn sufficient state dollars to employ a teacher for a specific low incidence area of disability. Creates contract for the organization of conferences and professional development opportunities for the Georgia elementary school foreign languages model program.
Low incidence grant: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/1/4/100/00.pdf
Contract for the organization of conferences and professional development opportunities for the Georgia elementary school foreign languages model program: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/1/4/100/91.pdf
Title: GAC 160-1-4-.01, .17, .48, .53, .60, .85, .100, .124, .127, .129,.175, .187, .191, .195, .198, .202, .236, .257, .259, .264, .268, .269
Source: rules.sos.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Adopted 11/2006 |
P-12 |
Clarifies various rules regarding certification, including certificaton for interns, non-renewable professionals, teaching endorsements, safety and driver education endorsement, school counseling, school psychology, and speech and language pathology. Establishes new rules creating online teaching endorsement and online teaching endorsement program.
Online teaching endorsement: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/2/100/62.pdf
Online teaching endorsement program: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/505/3/85.pdf
Title: GAC 505-2-.05, .06, .25, .38, .150, .162, .163, .165, .202, .204, .205, .206; 505-3-.16, -.85
Source: rules.sos.state.ga.us |
Student Supports--Remediation |
Adopted 07/2006 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding the following:
Remedial education for students in grades 6-12: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/4/5/01.pdf
Charter schools: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/4/9/04.pdf
Class size: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/5/1/08.pdf
Student attendance: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/5/1/10.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-5-.01; -4-9-.04; -5-1-.08, -.10
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Accountability |
Adopted 06/2006 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding the Comprehensive Academic Performance System (CAPS) Demonstration Site Grant. The intent of the funding is to provide seed resources to stimulate the adoption of a school-based comprehensive academic performance system that consolidates the use of curriculum standards alignment and pacing, benchmark assessment, differentiated instruction, parent involvement, and public accountability. Use of a web-based accountability system is required.
Each participant school, with the support of its affiliated district, must:
(a) Develop and implement an achievement-oriented, comprehensive instructional model that champions standards-based instruction, benchmark assessment, data driven decision-making, differentiated instruction, parent involvement, and public accountability;
(b) Make the time and funding commitments required for the training of leaders, teachers, coaches, parents, community, etc.;
(c) Set annual and benchmark measurable goals for improving learning, teaching and assessment;
(d) Align instruction to state standards for the content that all students should know by grade span and subject;
(e) Conduct formative and summative assessment of student academic achievement at regular intervals;
(f) Utilize results of benchmark student assessments that have clear performance criteria to differentiate instruction;
(g) Publicize student performance statistics at each interval, including statistics by subject, by teacher and by class;
(h) Provide parents with specific information regarding the performance of their students;
(i) Agree to participate in ongoing coordination with the GaDOE and school/system project teams. http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/1/4/200/72.pdf
Title: GAC 160-1-4-.272
Source: rules.sos.state.ga.us |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) |
Adopted 06/2006 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding grants for juvenile delinquency prevention and treatment, Title V prevention, abstinence education and juvenile accountability block grants.
96-1-.01 Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Treatment: http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/96/1/01.pdf
96-1-.02 Title V Prevention http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/96/1/02.pdf
96-1-.04 Abstinence Education http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/96/1/04.pdf
96-1-.05 Juvenile Accountability Block Grants http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/96/1/05.pdf
Title: GAC 96-1-.01, .02, .04, .05
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Bilingual/ESL |
Adopted 06/2006 |
P-12 |
Amends requirements for language assistance for English language learners (ELLs). http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/4/5/02.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-2-.03; -5-.02
Source: rules.sos.state.ga.us |
Accountability--School Improvement |
Adopted 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Provides for the employment of an academic coach at a public school based on the teaching and learning needs identified in the school improvement plan for the 2006-07 school year.
Title: GAC 160-1-4-.271
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Changes certain provisions relating to mandatory education for children between ages six and 16; provides that an unemancipated minor older than the age of mandatory attendance may not withdraw from enrollment in school without the permission of his or her parent or guardian. Requires the school principal or designee, prior to accepting such permission, to convene a conference with the child and parent within 2 school days of receiving notice of the intent of the child to withdraw from school. Requires the principal or designee to share with the student and parent the educational options available, including the opportunity to pursue a general educational development (GED) diploma and the consequences of not having earned a high school diploma, including lower lifetime earnings, fewer jobs for which the student will be qualified, and the inability to avail oneself of higher educational opportunities.
Requires local boards to adopt a policy on the process of voluntary withdrawal of unemancipated minors who are older than the mandatory attendance age, to be filed with the department by January 1, 2007. Requires the department to annually provide local superintendents with model forms for the parent signature requirement and updated information from reliable sources relating to the consequences of withdrawing from school without completing all requirements for a high
school diploma. Requires superintendents to distribute such forms and information to all of principals of schools serving grades 6-12 for the principals to use
during the required conference with the child and parent or legal guardian."
Clarifies that student who has completed all requirements for a high school diploma is released from attendance requirements.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb413.pdf
Title: S.B. 413 Section 1 and 2
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Drugs/Alcohol |
Adopted 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Establishes rules regarding the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program for Georgia schools. Requires all schools serving students grade nine and above to make the ADAP course available to eligible students at least once annually. Establishes requirements for instructors. http://www.dds.ga.gov/rules/rules.aspx?chap=375-5-4&head=375-5
Title: GAC 375-5-4
Source: www.dds.ga.gov |
Career/Technical Education |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Creates the Career and Technical Education Oversight Commission. Requires the head of the career and technical education program of the department of education to report annually to the commission regarding the conditions, needs, issues and problems of the program. Requires the commission to periodically review the conditions, needs, issues and problems related to the career and technical education program, annually issue a report on the same to the General Assembly, and recommend any action or legislation which the commission deems necessary or appropriate. Repeals commission effective December 31, 2012.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb1228.pdf
Title: H.B. 1228
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Career/Technical Education |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Creates the Agricultural Education Advisory Commission. Requires the head of the agricultural education program of the Department of Education to report annually to commission regarding the conditions, needs, issues and problems of the program. Requires the commission to periodically review the conditions, needs, issues and problems related to the agricultural education program, issue annually a report on the same to the General Assembly, and recommend any action or legislation which the commission deems necessary or appropriate. Repeals commission effective December 31, 2012.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb1227.pdf
Title: H.B. 1227
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Finance--Facilities |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
Postsec.,
Community College |
Creates the Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority as a body corporate and politic, an instrumentality of the state, and a public corporation. Gives the authority power to purchase, lease, hold and dispose of property; appoint an executive director; make and execute contracts, leases, rental agreements, and other instruments to exercise the powers of the authority, including construction contracts; construct, erect, acquire, own, repair, remodel, maintain, add to, extend, improve, equip, operate, and manage projects; to make loans; acquire, accept, or retain equitable interests, security interests, or other interests in any property; and to accept loans and to borrow money. Creates sections relating to revenue bonds.
Creates the Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority Committee as a joint committee of the General Assembly. Requires the committee to periodically inquire into and review the operations of the Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority, and review and evaluate the success with which the authority is accomplishing its duties and functions.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb562.pdf
Title: S.B. 562
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12,
Postsec.,
Community College |
Relates to HOPE scholarships and grants. Clarifies language related to program eligibility of students in a first professional degree program, defined as a nonundergraduate degree program which accepts students after the completion of the sophomore or junior year and results in the award of a nonundergraduate degree.
Removes HOPE scholarship eligibility for students participating in the state's dual enrollment program. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb561.pdf
Title: S.B. 561
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Special Populations--Corrections Education |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Changes provisions to the Quality Basic Education Act; changes certain provisions relating to eligibility of enrollment for children in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Human Resources. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb618.pdf
Title: S.B. 618
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Student Supports--Remediation |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Relates to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to expand the grades of eligibility for the remedial education program. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb515.pdf
Title: S.B. 515
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Creates the High School Athletics Overview Committee; provides for reports and expenditure of funds. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb1316.pdf
Title: H.B. 1316
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Defines 'clubs and organizations' and 'competitive interscholastic activity'. Requires local boards to include information regarding school clubs and organizations in the student code of conduct distributed annually at the beginning of each school year. Requires the form in the student code of conduct to include an area for a parent to decline permission for his or her student to participate in a club or organization designated by him or her. For clubs or organizations started during the school year, requires written permission from a parent or guardian prior to a student's participation.
Requires the student code of conduct to encourage parents and guardians to inform their children on the consequences, including potential criminal penalties, of underage sexual conduct and crimes for which a minor can be tried as an adult.
Clarifies that student codes of conduct should be distributed to all students at the beginning of each school year. Requires students and parents to provide written acknowledgment of receipt of student codes of conduct. Adds that a parent who does not acknowledge receipt of the student code of conduct is not absolved of any responsibility with respect to the information contained in the student code of conduct, and that student codes of conduct must be available in each school and classroom. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb413.pdf
Title: S.B. 413 Section 4 - 7
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--No Pass No Drive |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Clarifies that a minor's license previously revoked under the No Pass No Drive policy and related rules may be reinstated upon proof of receipt of a high school diploma or certificate of completion, or enrollment in postsecondary education, whichever comes first. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb1253.pdf
Title: H.B. 1253
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Attendance |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Provides that a student whose parent or legal guardian is in military service is granted up to 5 excused absences per school year to visit with his or her parent or legal guardian prior to deployment or while on leave. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb984.pdf
Title: H.B. 984
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet, www.legis.state.ga.us |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Allows charter schools to provide computer or Internet-based instruction. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb610.pdf
Title: S.B. 610
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Class Size |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Changes certain provisions relating to maximum class size requirements. For the 2006-2007 school year, increases maximum class sizes in grades K-3, establishes maximum class sizes in grades 4-12 for mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts classes. Sets maximum class size for remedial education, vocational laboratory, alternative education, and early intervention programs at 20.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb1358.pdf
Title: H.B. 1358
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Curriculum |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Authorizes high schools to offer elective courses in the History and Literature of the Old Testament Era and the History and Literature of the New Testament
Era. Requires the state board, by February 2007, to adopt a curriculum for each course, including objectives, reading materials, and lesson plans. Specifies that the Old and New Testament shall be the basic text for each respective course. Effective July 2007, students may earn .5 Carnegie units of elective credit for completing each course.
Requires the courses to:
(A) Be taught in an objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the biblical materials or texts
from other religious or cultural traditions;
(B) Not include teaching of religious doctrine or sectarian interpretation of the Bible or of texts from other religious or cultural traditions; and
(C) Not disparage or encourage a commitment to a set of religious beliefs.
Specifies that no person shall be assigned to teach such courses based in whole or in part on any religious test, profession of faith or lack thereof, prior or present religious affiliation or lack of affiliation, or criteria involving particular beliefs or lack thereof about the Bible. Adds that the qualifications and training of teachers shall be determined by local boards.
Authorizes a local board to monitor the content and teaching of the courses as it deems appropriate.
Clarifies that these provisions do not limit the authority of a local board to offer courses regarding the Old Testament or the New Testament that are not in compliance with these provisions; provided, however, that no state funds shall be expended in connection with such a course that does not meet the requirements of these provisions. Also clarifies that local boards are not barred from offering elective courses based upon the books of other religions or societies. In determining whether to offer such courses, the local board may consider various factors including student and parent demand for such courses and the impact such books have had upon history and culture.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb79.pdf
Title: S.B. 79
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Finance--District |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Concerns the Classroom First for Georgia Act. Defines "direct classroom expenditures" and "total operating expenditures." Beginning with fiscal year 2008, requires local schools to spend a minimum of 65% of total operating expenditures on direct classroom expenditures. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb390.pdf
Title: S.B. 390
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Health--Child Abuse |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Relates to parent and child relationship generally, so as to change certain provisions relating to reporting of child abuse. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb442.pdf
Title: S.B. 442
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Recruitment and Retention |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Authorizes the state board to establish a grant program for High Performance Principals to attract successful principals to schools in need of improvement (that have not made adequate yearly progress for 2 or more consecutive years in the same subject). Mandates that the sole criteria for designating and selecting individuals as High Performance Principals must be data-based evidence of the effectiveness of a proposed High Performance Principal in improving a low performing school or in taking an average or excellent performing school to higher achievement within the last five years. Authorizes the state board to establish and maintain a nonexclusive pool of preapproved eligible candidates for High Performance Principals for consideration by local school systems.
Provides that an individual selected as a High Performance Principal is eligible for a one-year salary supplement, in an amount as determined by the state board and subject to legislative appropriations. Limits an individual grant to a maximum of $15,000 a year; provides that the amount shall be awarded pursuant to state board rule based on the relative recruitment need of that Needs Improvement School. Allows the local school system to apply for up to two additional school years for renewal of the High Performance Principal designation for an individual, subject to appropriation. Requires an individual selected as a High Performance Principal to enter into a contract with the local board which must include terms and conditions relating to the designation of High Performance Principal, as required by the state board.
Requires an individual to reimburse the local board for any moneys paid to him or her relating to the High Performance Principal designation if he or she does not comply with the terms of the contract relating to the High Performance Principal designation.
Requires a local board to report on the effectiveness of an individual designated as a High Performance Principal and his or her impact on the improvement of the school in the school year in which he or she was designated a High Performance Principal. Mandates that the state board use the data in the reports as the primary factor in evaluating applications for renewal of a High Performance Principal designation. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb468.pdf
Title: S.B. 468
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
Postsec. |
Relates to HOPE scholarships and HOPE grants, so as to provide for a set amount for mandatory fees for HOPE scholarships and HOPE grants for eligible public postsecondary institutions created after January 1, 2004. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb506.pdf
Title: S.B. 506
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
School Safety |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Adds that a person who does not check in at the designated location as a visitor to a school during school operating hours is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Provides that law enforcement records created, received, or maintained by campus policemen (K-12 or postsecondary) relating to the investigation of criminal conduct and crimes and not subject to protection from disclosure by any other Georgia law must be made available within a reasonable time after request for public inspection and copying.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb1302.pdf
Title: H.B. 1302
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Student Supports--Remediation |
Adopted 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding the Early Intervention Program for students in grades K-5 http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.17.pdf, hearing processes http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.18.pdf and student transportation funding surveys http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-3-.10.pdf.
Title: GAC 160-4-2-.17; -7-.18; -5-3-.10
Source: public.doe.k12.ga.us |
Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Provides that no high school that receives funding under the Quality Basic Education Act shall participate in or sponsor interscholastic sports events conducted by any athletic association unless the athletic association provides for certain eligibility conditions for student athletes. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb1241.pdf
Title: H.B. 1241
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Provides that, should the professional standards commission include a requirement to requirement to demonstrate computer skill competency for certification renewal, the rules and regulations must provide that a certificated educator may elect to meet the requirement by:
(A) Completing a course in computer skill competency; or
(B) Receiving satisfactory results on a test in basic computer skill competency. If a certified educator chooses to take such test, the local district must provide the opportunity to take the test on site at the school in which the educator is assigned. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb972.pdf
Title: H.B. 972
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Adopted 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Establishes rules regarding educator preparation programs for grades 6-12 geography, history, economics, and political science to replace existing "broad field" Social Science certification area.
Geography: http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherEducation/Rules/505-3-.40.pdf
History: http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherEducation/Rules/505-3-.41.pdf
Economics: http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherEducation/Rules/505-3-.42.pdf
Political Science: http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherEducation/Rules/505-3-.43.pdf
See also: http://www.gapsc.com/msgc_SocialSciencesCertificationChanges.asp
Title: GAC 505-3-.40 thru .43
Source: Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GASPC) Web site |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Relates to salary schedules for certified personnel under the Quality Basic Education Act; requires two public hearings prior to decreasing any local salary supplement where there has been an increased in the state minimum salary schedule. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb1483.pdf
Title: H.B. 1483
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Relates to sick leave for teachers and other public school personnel; provides for the donation of sick leave from an employee of a local board of education to his or her spouse who is also an employee of the local board of education for certain purposes. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb543.pdf
Title: H.B. 543
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Technology--Internet Safety |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Requires every local board, by January 1, 2007, to adopt an acceptable-use policy for its school system. At a minimum, an acceptable-use policy must contain provisions designed to:
(1) Prevent students and employees of the school system from using any computer equipment and communication services owned or leased by the school system for sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading visual depictions of obscenity, child pornography, or material that is harmful to minors;
(2) Establish appropriate measures to be taken against students and school employees who willfully violate the acceptable-use policy; and
(3) Provide for expedited review and resolution of a claim that the policy is denying a student or school employee access to material that is not within the prohibition of the acceptable-use policy.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb1055.pdf
Title: H.B. 1055
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions |
Signed into law 12/2005 |
P-12 |
Makes the department responsible for the implementation of a single statewide system of accountability. Adds school systems to the system of review and accountability. Strikes subparagraph (D) of paragraph (6) of subsection (a) of Code Section 20-14-41, relating to appropriate levels of intervention for failing schools, and inserts in lieu thereof the following: (D) Mandate that the parents have the option to relocate the student to other public schools in the local school system to be chosen by the parents of the student with transportation costs borne by the system from a list of available options provided by the local school system. The local school system is to provide transportation for students in Title I schools in accordance with the requirements of federal law. The local school system may provide transportation for students in non-Title I schools. In any year in which the General Assembly does not appropriate funds for the provision of transportation to non-Title I students, the parents assume responsibility for the transportation.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb35.pdf
Title: S.B. 35
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
Assessment--Accommodations |
Adopted 12/2005 |
P-12 |
Establishes "variance" procedure for a student not eligible for waiver (not rendered incapable of passing a section of the GHSGT or the
GHSWT due to a disability or substantial hardship) to demonstrate proficiency on Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) and the Georgia
High School Writing Test (GHSWT). Requires every district to develop a process for notifying students and parents or guardians of the procedures related to the application and granting of waivers and variances. Requires a local superintendent, upon receipt of a waiver or variance request, to certify that the student has met minimum eligibility criteria. Establishes requirements for district transmission of waiver and variance requests to the state superintendent. Establishes state board procedures for the approval of waiver and variance requests. Requires variance requests to the state board to include a statement describing opportunities provided by the school to assist the student in preparing for the test(s), including remediation classes, tutoring sessions, etc., and the participation of the student in such activities.
Authorizes the state board, by a majority vote, to grant a variance to students who satisfy all of the following requirements:
(i) The student has passed any three of the five graduation tests (four content sections of the GHSGT and the GHSWT);
(ii) The student has met the attendance and course unit requirements for graduation as described in State Board of Education Rule 160-4-2-.47 High School Graduation Requirements for Students Enrolling in the Ninth Grade for the First Time in the 2002-03 School Year and Subsequent Years;
(iii) The student has a 90% or better attendance record, excluding excused absences, while enrolled in grades 9-12;
(iv) The student has obtained a scale score that falls within one standard error of measurement (SEM) for passing the relevant section of the GHSGT or GHSWT. The SEM shall be applied to the student's highest score achieved over multiple administration; and
(v) The student has successfully passed each of the End-of-Course Tests (EOCT) related to the sections of the GHSGT or the GHSWT in which the variance is being sought.
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/proposed/pr160-1-3-.09.pdf
Title: GAC 160-1-3-.09
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet, www.doe.k12.ga.us |
P-3 Finance |
Adopted 12/2005 |
P-12 |
Submits rules regarding grants under the Department of Early Care and Learning.
http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/591/2/1/01.pdf
http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/591/2/1/06.pdf
Title: GAC 591-2-1
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet, rules.sos.state.ga.us |
Class Size |
Adopted 10/2005 |
P-12 |
Changes the maximum individual class size for science grades 9-12 for school years 2007-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 from 28 to 30. Amends the funding class size and maximum individual class size for students with disabilities., AGENCY CONTACT: Patricia L. Mills, Department of Education, 2052 Twin Towers East, Atlanta, GA 30334, 404- 656-4689, fax 404-657-8376
http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.08.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-1-.08
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Governance--Deregulation/Waivers/Home Rule |
Adopted 10/2005 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules so that school systems may apply for waivers of certain education law for the purpose of increasing student achievement.
AGENCY CONTACT: Patricia L. Mills, Department of Education, 2052 Twin Towers East, Atlanta, GA 30334, 404- 656-4689, fax 404-657-8376
http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-1-3-.02.pdf
Title: GAC 160-1-3-.02
Source: Lexis/Nexis, StateNet |
No Child Left Behind--Supplemental Services |
Adopted 10/2005 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding supplemental educational services in Title I Schools.
AGENCY CONTACT: Patricia Mills, Department of Education, 2052 Twin Towers East, Atlanta, GA 30334, 404-656- 4689, fax 404-657-8376
http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-5-.03.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-5-.03
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Special Populations--Corrections Education |
Adopted 10/2005 |
P-12 |
Establishes rules regarding case management consultation for agency-placed transfer students to provide necessary transition services for students who are placed by the Department of Human Resources or the Department of Juvenile Justice in new schools. AGENCY CONTACT: Patricia L. Mills, Department of Education, 2052 Twin Towers East, Atlanta, GA 30334, 404- 656-4689, fax 404-657-8376
http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-8-.17.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-8-.17
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Accountability--Rewards |
Adopted 07/2005 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding the statewide accountability system, including definitions, profiles and awards and school- and district-level consequences. Also sets forth state audit and record retention requirements for schools and districts. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-7-1-.04.pdf
Title: GAC 160-7-1-.01 thru -.04
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
Assessment--Accommodations |
Adopted 07/2005 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding testing programs and student assessment. Clarifies assessment participation requirements for English language learners, students with disabilities, students in each grade K-8, and students taking the Georgia High School Graduation Tests, as well as staff development opportunities on use of assessments in the instructional program. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-3-1-.07.pdf
Title: GAC 160-3-1-.07
Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us |
Online Learning--Virtual Schools/Courses |
Adopted 07/2005 |
P-12 |
Establishes rules regarding the Georgia Virtual School Program. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-8-1-.01.pdf
Title: GAC 160-8-1-.01
Source: StateNet |
Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
Amends No Pass No Drive law. Adds provision that a student who is pursuing a general education development (GED) diploma will not have his/her drivers license suspended. Amends absences or other behaviors that trigger suspension to include ten or more school days of unexcused absences in the previous academic year; or if student has been found in violation by a hearing officer, panel, or tribunal of one of several offenses, has received a change in placement for committing one of several offenses, or has waived his or her right to a hearing and pleaded guilty to certain offenses on school property or at a school sponsored event (adds the latter).
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb35.pdf
Title: S.B. 35 - Attendance Provisions
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
Career/Technical Education |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
Creates the Joint Agricultural Education Study Committee for the purposes of promoting the importance and study of agriculture in the state. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/versions/hr50_HR_50_AP_6.htm
Title: H.R. 50
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
Curriculum |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
Creates the Georgia Driver's Education Commission. Authorizes the commission to recommend to the governor and the general assembly changes in state programs, statutes, policies, budgets and standards relating to the provision of driver education and training to maximize participation in driver's education and training and accident reduction.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/sum/sb226.htm
Title: S.B. 226
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Curriculum--Mathematics |
Adopted 05/2005 |
P-12 |
Establishes rules regarding the Mathematics and Science Partnerships Grants to build mathematics and science teachers' content knowledge and skills.
Title: GAC 160-1-4-.266, -.269
Source: WestLaw |
Finance--Funding Formulas |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
One section changes program weights for funding purposes. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb35.pdf
Title: S.B. 35 - Funding Section
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
States that local boards of education are authorized to expend local funds for life, disability, and liability insurance, retirement and pension coverage, social security coverage, and similar benefits for members of such local boards of education who elect to participate.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/sum/sb98.htm
Title: S.B. 98
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12,
Postsec.,
Community College |
Creates the state accounting office, to be overseen by the state accounting officer. Creates the position of state accounting officer, to be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor. Requires the state accounting officer to:
(1) Prescribe state-wide accounting policies, procedures, and practices;
(2) Prescribe, develop, operate, and maintain uniform state accounting systems for all state organizations which facilitate financial accounting and reporting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and also meet state and federal accounting and financial reporting requirements;
(3) Prescribe the manner in which disbursements shall be made by state organizations;
(4) Prescribe and supervise the installation of any changes in the state accounting information systems necessary to secure and maintain internal control and facilitate the recording of accounting data for the purpose of preparing reliable, timely, and meaningful statements and reports;
(5) Manage the state's accounting, payroll, and human capital systems;
(6) Using generally accepted accounting principles, prepare the state's financial statements and other reports in accordance with legal requirements;
(7) Provide annual financial statements and other reports to the state auditor and other auditors, as appropriate, for review and certification when required by statute or federal regulation;
(8) Develop interim reports on the financial condition and budgetary compliance of the state and various state organizations;
(9) Determine the proper classification for accounting and reporting purposes of all assets, liabilities, revenues, expenditures, fund balances, funds, and accounts in compliance with legal requirements and generally accepted accounting principles and prescribe a uniform classification of accounts and other accounting identifiers which shall be used by all state organizations;
(10) Develop processes and systems to improve accountability and enhanced collection of accounts receivable due to the state. In developing these processes, the state accounting officer may prescribe procedures to allow for the recognition of uncollectible accounts for financial reporting purposes. He or she may also develop guidelines to allow uncollectible debts to be removed from active collection processes. This recognition shall not remove or diminish the state's claim on accounts or debt owed to the state; and
(11) Develop processes and systems to improve accountability and enhance efficiency for disbursement of funds and management of accounts payable.
Clarifies that term "organizations of state government" refers to state boards, departments, commissions, committees, offices, etc. but not to local boards of education or local authorities.
Strikes certain statutory references to the "state auditor" and the Department of Audits and Accounts; inserts references to and transfers some powers to the "state accounting office" and "state accounting officer."
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/sum/hb293.htm
Title: H.B. 293
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
Postsec.,
Community College |
Allows the Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation and the Georgia Student Finance Authority to exercise powers possessed by private corporations performing similar functions; increases the amount of bonds that the Georgia Student Finance Authority may issue; provides the Georgia Student Finance Authority with collection tools to collect unpaid service cancelable loans. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/versions/hb298_HB_298_AP_5.htm
Title: H.B. 298
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
Postsec.,
Community College |
Establishes the Georgia HERO (Helping Educate Reservists and their Offspring) Scholarship and sets rules for application and distribution, etc. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/versions/sb43_AP_9.htm
Title: S.B. 43
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
Postsec.,
Community College |
Provides for a program of educational and living expense grants for certain children who qualify as foster children (or are adopted and whose families receive adoption assistance); provides for eligibility; covers tuition, ancillary student fees, and the cost-of-living expenses for any undergraduate program of any Georgia public postsecondary institution, including all four-year and two-year colleges and universities and institutions of the Georgia Community and Technical College System. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/versions/hb272_HB_272_AP_4.htm
Title: H.B. 272
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/ |
Private Schools |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
Provides that state law may not prohibit a private school from conducting a prayer prior to an athletic event held on the campus of the private school; and that athletic teams from public schools cannot be prohibited from participating in an athletic event held on the campus of a private school in this state for the reason that the hosting private school conducts a prayer prior to such athletic event. Bars a state-funded school from participating in, sponsoring, or providing coaching staff for interscholastic sports events conducted under the authority of, conducted under the rules of, or scheduled by any athletic association which prohibits or discourages a private school from conducting a prayer prior to an athletic event held on the campus of the private school. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/versions/hb678_HB_678_AP_5.htm
Title: H.B. 678
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
State Longitudinal Data Systems |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
Deletes completion target of July 1, 2003 and makes completion of the statewide comprehensive educational information system subject to appropriation by the General Assembly (inserts "phased approach"). Deletes requirement that the following agencies submit data: public libraries, public colleges and universities through the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, pre-kindergarten programs, the Professional Standards Commission, and postsecondary technical colleges and schools. Changes from giving the responsibility for the data system to be housed with State Data and Research Center through the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to the Department of Education.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb35.pdf
Title: S.B. 35 - Data System
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
Students |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
Requires the state board to develop a school interscholastic extracurricular athletic policy that provides for the use of a single, comprehensive, preparticipation physical examination form. States that in a school or district that requires students who participate in extracurricular sports to have a physical examination prior to participation, the person conducting the exam must use the state board-approved form.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/sum/sb272.htm
Title: S.B. 272
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
Relates to athletic trainers; amend Chapter 5 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to athletic trainers, so as to require that students, teachers, or other persons who serve as athletic trainers for a public or private elementary school or high school in this state must be licensed as an athletic trainer; provides an exception for a student-trainer, assistant-trainer, or similar person. (Nothing in this section is to be construed to require licensure of elementary or secondary school teachers, coaches, or authorized volunteers who do not hold themselves out to the public as athletic trainers.) http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/versions/hb217_HB_217_AP_7.htm
Title: H.B. 217
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
Students--Records/Rights |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
Postsec. |
Relates to the University System of Georgia; provides that a student in an education degree program shall not be required to join a professional association as a condition of enrollment. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/versions/hb553_HB_553_AP_7.htm
Title: H.B. 553
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
Attendance |
Signed into law 04/2005 |
P-12 |
Repeals the authority for the Governor to suspend all or any part of compulsory attendance requirements because of a riot, insurrection, public disorder, disturbance of the peace, natural calamity, or disaster. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/versions/hb26_HB_26_AP_5.htm
Title: H.B. 26
Source: StateNet |
Finance |
Signed into law 04/2005 |
P-12 |
Repealed the following provision and related provisions: The General Assembly, being mindful of the primary obligation of the state to provide an adequate education for the citizens of this state under Article VIII, Section I, Paragraph I of the Constitution of Georgia, and being mindful of the authority vested in the General Assembly under Article VIII, Section VII of the Constitution of Georgia to discharge all obligations of the state to provide an adequate education for its citizens by providing for grants of state, county, or municipal funds to such citizens for educational purposes, and being further particularly mindful of the need for a literate and informed society in all events, declares it to be the purpose and intent of this article to encourage and aid the education of all children of this state by implementing Article VIII, Section VII of the Constitution of Georgia by making provision for payment of education grants from public funds to the extent and in the manner as provided in this article. . . . 20-2-642.
Every child between the ages of six and 19 years residing in this state who has not finished or graduated from high school and who is otherwise eligible and qualified to attend the elementary and secondary public schools of the local school system wherein such child resides shall, in lieu of attending the public schools of such local school system, be eligible to receive an education grant to be expended for the purpose of paying or otherwise defraying the cost of tuition at a nonsectarian private school located in any state of the United States or a public school located outside this state but within some other state of the United States, in the amount and manner provided by and subject to this article.
20-2-643.
The amount of each education grant that may be paid under this article per school year shall not exceed:
(1) The actual amount expended or to be expended by parents in payment of the tuition cost of attendance of their child or ward at a school which by the terms of this article qualified such child to receive such grant; or
(2) The average state cost per pupil in average daily attendance in the public schools of this state for the school year immediately preceding the school year for which the education grant is to be paid, to be determined by dividing the state-wide average daily attendance figure in the public schools of this state during the preceding school year into the total amount of state education funds allotted to all public school systems of this state for the preceding school year under Article 6 of this chapter excluding state allotments for capital outlay purposes,
whichever of the two sums is the lesser. Only one education grant shall be paid on behalf of any school child eligible to receive a grant during any one school-year period as defined by law.http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/versions/hb27_HB_27_AP_8.htm
Title: H.B. 27
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment |
Adopted 04/2005 |
P-12,
Postsec.,
Community College |
Repeals rules regarding postsecondary options and establishes rules regarding dual and joint enrollment to replace it.
Title: GAC 160-4-2-.34
Source: StateNet |
Postsecondary Governance and Structures |
Signed into law 04/2005 |
Postsec. |
Repeals the provision which grants the Governor the power to close any school or institution under the control of the board of regents. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/versions/hb25_HB_25_AP_5.htm
Title: H.B. 25
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Governance and Structures |
Signed into law 04/2005 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Repeals a provision which grants the governor the power to close any school or institution under the control of the board of regents.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/sum/hb25.htm
Title: H.B. 25
Source: http://www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Signed into law 04/2005 |
P-12 |
Automatically grants any member of the national guard or any reserve component of the U.S. armed services who serves on active duty for at least 90 consecutive days an extension, without fee, of any annual license or registration otherwise required under any state law or state entity. Such extension must continue until the otherwise regular expiration date which occurs in the year next succeeding the year in which such active duty ceases. Grants individuals who receive such an extension exemption from any continuing education requirements during such automatic extension period. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb538.pdf
Title: H.B. 538
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Civic Education |
Adopted 01/2005 |
P-12 |
Establishes rules regarding instruction in United States and Georgia history and government. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.07.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-2-.07
Source: StateNet |
Governance |
Adopted 01/2005 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding regional education service agencies. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.13.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-1-.13
Source: StateNet |
Service-Learning |
Adopted 01/2005 |
P-12 |
Establishes rules regarding the community service grant.
Title: GAC 160-1-4-.268
Source: StateNet |
Accountability |
Adopted 12/2004 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding the following: single statewide accountability system; accountability system definitions; accountability profiles; and accountability system awards and consequences.
Single statewide accountability system: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-7-1-.01.pdf
Definitions: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-7-1-.02.pdf
School profiles: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-7-1-.03.pdf
Awards and consequences: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-7-1-.04.pdf
Title: GAC 160-7-1-.01 thru .04
Source: StateNet |
Adult Basic Education |
Adopted 12/2004 |
Postsec. |
Establishes rules regarding the Area School Program and adult literacy grants. http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/page.cgi?g=GRANTS_OF_GEORGIA_DEPARTMENT_OF_TECHNICAL_AND_ADULT_EDUCATION%2FGRANT_PROGRAMS%2Findex.html&d=1
Title: GAC 668-1
Source: StateNet |
School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation |
Adopted 11/2004 |
P-12 |
Submits a grant regarding the Georgia Adopt-A-School Bus Pilot Project and the Clean School Bus USA Grant.
Title: GAC 391-3-21-.10
Source: StateNet |
Leadership |
Adopted 10/2004 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding educator certification. Includes general rules, teaching field rules, service field rules and leadership field rules. http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/page.cgi?g=PROFESSIONAL_STANDARDS_COMMISSION%2FCERTIFICATION%2Findex.html&d=1
Title: GAC 505-2-.03 thru .355 (non seq)
Source: StateNet |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) |
Adopted 08/2004 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding class size, absences and excuses. Renames chapter on absences as Student Attendance. Provides definition of truant and outlines policies and procedures to reduce unexcused absences. Permits a maximum individual class size of 30 for grades 9-12 science classes for school year 2004-05. GEORGIA REG 4246 (SN). http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.08.pdf and http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.10.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-1-.08; -.10
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Finance--Funding Formulas |
Active 08/2004 |
P-12 |
The governor announced "The Quality Basic Education (QBE) Task Force in February 2004. The task force will look at realigning the school funding formula to ensure it serves all students in the new era of accountability. The task force is authorized under O.C.G.A. 20-2-161. http://www.gov.state.ga.us/press/2004/press369.shtml
Source: Georgia State Web site |
School Safety--No Child Left Behind--Safe Schools |
Adopted 08/2004 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding student discipline. Removes the requirement that the local board of education policies regarding the student learning environment, student behavior and discipline address all issues related to State Board of Education rules regarding unsafe school choice option. GEORGIA REG 4247 (SN) http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-8-.15.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-8-.15
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Accountability |
Adopted 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding statewide accountability, applicable definitions, school profiles, and awards and consequences; creates a single statewide accountability system consistent with state and federal law; provides valid, reliable accountability determinations at school, local education agency and state levels with the purpose of promoting continuous improvement in student achievement levels; provides annual profiles for every school and local education agency.
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-7-1-.01.pdf; http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-7-1-.02.pdf; http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-7-1-.03.pdf; http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-7-1-.04.pdf
Title: GAC 160-7-1-.01 thru -.04
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Assessment--End-of-Course |
Adopted 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Requires the results of core subject and end-of-course assessments to be included as a factor in a student's final grade in the core subject course for which the end-of-course assessment is given. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.13.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-2-.13
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Class Size |
Adopted 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Class size is amended to comply with changes in law that were adopted by the Georgia General Assembly during the 2004 session regarding the number of students allowed in grades 4-12 for the 2004-2005 school year, the number of students allowed in kindergarten classes with a paraprofessional, and the system averaging for class size. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.08.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-1-.08
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Middle School |
Adopted 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules to comply with new legislation to provide that a school may reduce the required five hours of academic time to four and one-half hours if the school has met Adequate Yearly Progress. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.05.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-2-.05
Source: Georgia State Web site |
No Child Left Behind--Adequate Yearly Progress |
Adopted 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules to define school and special entity so as to ensure an accurate reporting to ensure an accurate reporting of FTEs and Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) determinations for all schools and school systems throughout the state. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-5-.03.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-1-.03
Source: Georgia State Web site |
No Child Left Behind--Supplemental Services |
Adopted 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Establishes rules regarding supplemental education services (SES). Defines roles and responsibilities of state and local education agencies and the SES providers in delivering services to students in schools required to offer SES. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-5-.03.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-5-.03
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
School Safety |
Adopted 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Amends student discipline by adding a definition of disciplinary order and requiring local boards of education to adopt policies that provide for the development of age-appropriate student codes of conduct, including student behavior on school buses and at school bus stops and regarding any off-campus behavior that endangers students or interrupts the educational process; requires disciplinary hearings be held no later than 10 days after the beginning of the student's suspension, unless the school system and parents or guardians agree to an extension.
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-8-.15.pdf
Title: GAC 460-4-8-.15
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Accountability |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Provides for the revision of certain provisions regarding education flexibility and accountability; requires the State Board of Education to create a single state-wide accountability system by December 31, 2004; amends provisions regarding school councils; amends the history curriculum requirements; amends provisions for early intervention programs; amends provisions related to effectiveness assessments, including end-of-course assessments; amends parental notification concerning compulsory attendance requirements; requires Department of Motor Vehicle notification of students 14 years of age and older who are in violation of attendance requirements; amends student discipline policies; changes the name Office of Education Accountability to Office of Student Achievement. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/search/hb1190.htm
Title: H.B. 1190
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Background Checks |
Vetoed 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Requires local school boards to adopt a code of ethics; requires local units of administration to request a criminal check of teachers, principals, and other certificated professional personnel within 10 working days of hire. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/hb198.htm
Title: H.B. 198
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Finance--Taxes/Revenues |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Renewed the exemptions from state sales and use tax, so as to provide for an exemption with respect to the sale of certain school supplies, clothing, footwear, computers, and computer related accessories for a limited period of time in 2004. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/hb1184.htm
Title: H.B. 1184
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Health |
Vetoed 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Provides that students, teachers, or other persons who serve as athletic trainers for a public or private elementary school or high school in this state must be licensed as an athletic trainer;provides an exception for a student-trainer, assistant- trainer, or similar person who functions under the advice, consent, and supervision of a physician or a licensed athletic trainer. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/hb1394.htm
Title: H.B. 1394
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Relates to requirements for private schools and home study programs; changes the qualifications of tutors in home study programs from requiring a baccalaureate college degree to a high school diploma or a general educational development diploma. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/hb1428.htm
Title: H.B. 1428
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
P-3 |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Creates the Improvement of Georgia's Pre-K Program Joint Study Commission; report due December 31, 2004. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/sr760.htm
Title: S.R. 760
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
P-3 Governance |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Changes the name of the "Office of School Readiness" to "Bright From The Start: Georgia's Office of Early Care and Education;" makes the office a separate budget unit; revises definitions; changes certain provisions relating to the director of the office; adds powers and duties of the office; revises certain references for conformity purposes. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/sb456.htm
Title: S.B. 456
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
Postsec.,
Community College |
Relates to elementary and secondary education and to postsecondary education; changes the reporting system and method for determining eligibility for HOPE scholarships, other scholarships, grants, or loan assistance, and certain postsecondary courses and advanced placement courses for students graduating from high school in 2007 and thereafter. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/search/hb1325.htm
Title: H.B. 1325
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
School Safety |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Relates to elementary and secondary schools, so as to provide that the offense of disrupting the operation of a public school applies to disruption of public school buses and established public school bus stops. Requires school buses to meet safety specifications. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/hb1179.htm
Title: H.B. 1179
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Amends retirement allowances, disability benefits, and spouses' benefits under the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia to allow a teacher who retired on a service retirement may be employed as a classroom teacher, principal, superintendent, counselor, or librarian without having his or her benefits affected. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/hb366.htm
Title: H.B. 366
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Teaching Quality--Professional Development |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Relating to elementary and secondary education; requires providers of in-service or continuing education for teachers and other professional personnel to offer such in-service or continuing education online; provides for treatment by the Professional Standards Commission. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/hb1698.htm
Title: H.B. 1698
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Curriculum |
Adopted 04/2004 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding the list of state-funded K-8 school subjects and grades 9-12 courses. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.03.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-2-.03
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Finance--District |
Adopted 04/2004 |
P-12 |
Adds rules regarding the provisions under which school systems can receive low-wealth funding. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-4-.05.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-4-.05
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Adopted 02/2004 |
P-12 |
Submits rules regarding charter school planning grants, implementation grants and dissemination grants. http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/page.cgi?g=GEORGIA_DEPARTMENT_OF_EDUCATION%2Findex.html&d=1
Title: GAC 160-1-4-.155, .255, .267
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Adopted 02/2004 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding educator certification. (GEORGIA REG 1493)
As of March 15, 2004, a redesigned educator certification system that incorporates recent federal and state legislation is in effect for the State of Georgia. The changes are numerous, significant and designed to improve Georgia's ability to attract and keep high quality educators in every classroom. Among these changes are the introduction of new routes to certification, the introduction of new types of certificates, the creation of new ways to add a teaching field to an existing certificate, the exemption of some special GA requirements for eligible out-of-state veteran teachers, and important changes in the renewal requirements for educators employed in Georgia schools. (Changes to the "in-field" rule will become effective on July 1, 2004.)
Most of the answers to questions about new requirements and procedures can be found within the rules posted on the PSC web site at http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherCertification/Documents/cert_rules.asp and in supplementary information referenced within the rules.
Title: GAC 505-2-.01 thru .137 (non seq)
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Class Size |
Adopted 11/2003 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding special appropriation for public school capital outlay. Adds the additional funds authorized by the General Assembly to assist local boards of education in funding the construction of instructional units needed to implement the required reduction in teacher-pupil ratios. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-4-.04.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-4-.04
Source: Delaware State Department of Education Web site |
Reading/Literacy |
Adopted 11/2003 |
P-12 |
Submits rules regarding the Reading First Program System Subgrant, which provides federal funds for scientifically based reading reform for eligible K-3 schools.
Title: GAC 160-1-4-.265
Source: StateNet |
Student Supports--Remediation |
Adopted 11/2003 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding instructional extension, a state-funded instructional program beyond the regular school day to address the academic needs of low-performing students. Allows local school systems to spend up to 15 percent of the designated funds on transportation costs incurred for transporting students who are attending the additional classes. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.14.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-2-.14
Source: Georgia State Department of Education Web site |
Teaching Quality--Professional Development |
Adopted 11/2003 |
P-12 |
Changes title of rules to Professional Learning. Clarifies state requirements and expectations for staff and professional development programs. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-3-3-.04.pdf
Title: GAC 160-3-3-.04
Source: Georgia State Department of Education Web site |
Teaching Quality--Professional Development |
Adopted 11/2003 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules to change title to Professional Learning Unit (PLU) Program Approval. Specifies state requirements for plans for PLU credit for certification renewal. Allows school systems to submit alternative plans for staff development that free them from existing rules and allows them to take advantage of the most current research and experience in staff development and school improvement. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-3-3-.10.pdf
Title: GAC 160-3-3-.10
Source: Delaware State Department of Education Web site |
Curriculum |
Adopted 10/2003 |
P-12 |
Provides list of state-funded K-8 subjects and 9-12 courses. Amended 10/2003 clarifying rules regarding state-funded subjects and courses. Assigns a unique course number to accurately report gifted education services using the Resource Class model. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.03.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-2-.03
Source: Georgia State Web site |
School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation |
Adopted 08/2003 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding student transportation surveys and standard cost development. Determines bus needs for allotment purposes, ascertains standard costs for allotment purposes, and uses allotments for student transportation. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-3-.11.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-3-.10; GAC 160-5-3-.11
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Class Size |
Adopted 07/2003 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding class size. Specifies definitions and requirements. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.08.pdf
Title: GAC 160-5-1-.08
Source: Georgia State Web site |
School Safety--No Child Left Behind--Safe Schools |
Adopted 07/2003 |
P-12 |
Establishes rules regarding "Unsafe School Choice Option" (USCO). Specifies a three- year process to declare a school as unsafe and an appeal procedure to the State Board of Education. Provides the process which victims of violent criminal offenses occurring at school may follow to transfer to a safe school, as guaranteed by federal legislation. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-8-.16.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-8-.16
Source: Georgia State Web site |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) |
Signed into law 06/2003 |
P-12 |
Relates to child abuse and deprivation records; permits the Department of Human Resources to share access to child abuse records and release information from such records to the Office of School Readiness, includes principals, guidance counselors, school social workers or school psychologist; provides that counseling records are confidential and may not be disclosed to any unauthorized person. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/sb201.htm
Title: S.B. 201
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Finance--Taxes/Revenues |
Signed into law 06/2003 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Section 12 provides a 4-day sales tax holiday for school supplies, clothing, eye wear and certain technology items. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/hb43.htm
Title: H.B. 43
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Postsecondary |
Vetoed 06/2003 |
Postsec. |
Relates to salaries and fees of public officers and employees; provides that deductions are authorized for the purpose of contributing to savings trust accounts established under the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/hb424.htm
Title: H.B. 424
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Postsecondary |
Signed into law 06/2003 |
Postsec. |
Provides cause of action against certain persons in favor of certain colleges and universities and student athletes for violations of college athletic recruitment rules and regulations; provides for damage, costs, attorney's fees, and injunctive relief; provides for certain required disclosures for all student-athletes in high schools; provides for criminal penalties. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/hb95.htm
Title: H.B. 95
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 06/2003 |
Postsec. |
Relates to postsecondary education, removes a restriction on tuition equalization grants for summer school; provides a limitation on the total number of semester hours or quarter hours an eligible student may receive a tuition equalization grant; provides for an exception to the requirement for registration with the United States Selective Service System in order to be eligible for certain scholarships and grants administered by the Student Finance Authority. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/sb244.htm
Title: S.B. 244
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees |
Signed into law 06/2003 |
Postsec. |
Creates the "Improvement of HOPE Scholarship Joint Study Commission". http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/sr220.htm
Title: S.R. 220
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
School Safety |
Signed into law 06/2003 |
P-12 |
Provides that persons required to register as a result of a conviction of a crime against minors or of sexual violence or as a result of having been declared a sexually violent predator shall not reside within 1,000 feet of schools and areas where minors congregate; provides for penalties. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/sb101.htm
Title: S.B. 101
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
School Safety |
Signed into law 06/2003 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Requires the State Board of Education to develop a rape prevention and personal safety education program, and a program for preventing teen dating violence for grade eight through grade 12. Local boards may implement the programs at any time and for any grade level local. The State Board shall encourage the implementation of such programs and shall make information regarding such programs available to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/sb346.htm
Title: S.B. 346
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Special Education |
Adopted 06/2003 |
P-12 |
Defined guidelines related to the required standard credential for all related service personnel providing educational interpreting for students who are deaf or hard of hearing in local school systems (LSSs) or state-operated school programs (SOPs). Outlines class size, equipment and facility requirements. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.11.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-7-.11
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Special Education |
Adopted 06/2003 |
P-12 |
Establishes IDEA procedural safeguards and parents' rights. Removes language that allows local school systems to initiate a due process hearing to override a parent's refusal to consent to the initial provision of special education and related services to a child with a disability. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-7-.05.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-7-.05
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance |
Vetoed 06/2003 |
P-12 |
Relates to conditions of employment of certain persons under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for salary increases for certain persons credentialed as National Certified School Counselors and to provide for salary increases for certain school social workers who are certified as Certified School Social Worker Specialists. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/sb178.htm
Title: S.B. 178
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Student Supports--Remediation |
Adopted 06/2003 |
P-12 |
Established requirements for Remedial Education Program (REP). Specifies the criteria students in grades 9-12 must meet to be eligible for services. Requires each local school system to submit to the Department of Education the achievement results of all students who received instructional services through the REP in the content areas in which they were served. Clarifies reporting requirements for local school boards regarding percentages of passing students. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-5-.01.pdf
Title: GAC 160-4-5-.01
Source: Georgia State Web site |
Teaching Quality |
Signed into law 06/2003 |
P-12 |
Relates to sick and personal leave for teachers and other personnel; provides for restoration of certain forfeited sick and personal leave after return to service for two consecutive years. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/hb25.htm
Title: H.B. 25
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
Signed into law 06/2003 |
P-12 |
Provides for an annual increase in state pay for certain teachers; individuals who first became teachers on or after July 1, 2000, acquire rights to continued employment; provides procedures for hearings for such persons; provides for selection of a tribunal, transcripts, legal questions, burden of proof, decisions of the local board, and appeals. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/sb193.htm
Title: S.B. 193
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Assessment |
Signed into law 05/2003 |
P-12 |
Revises provisions relating to payment of fees for advanced placement tests; revises provision relating to the release of certain test questions; deletes provision that students with alternate assessments shall not count for accountability purposes; changes provisions regarding expenditure controls for the 2003-2004 school year; changes provisions regarding maximum class size for the 2003-2004 school year and provides for automatic repeal; changes provisions regarding funding for additional days of instruction; provides that when certain sales taxes for educational purposes are imposed, each board of education expending proceeds of the tax undergo a performance audit or performance review of the expenditures and provides for performance audit or review contracts. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/sb249.htm
Title: S.B. 249
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 05/2003 |
Postsec. |
Relates to postsecondary scholarships, loans, and grants; changes certain provisions regarding the Georgia Student Finance Commission and the Georgia Student Finance Authority; changes certain provisions regarding the board of commissioners of the commission; changes certain provisions regarding the board of directors of the authority. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/hb551.htm
Title: H.B. 551
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
School Safety |
Signed into law 05/2003 |
P-12 |
Authorizes each local board of education to establish a policy to either permit or prohibit the possession of electronic communication devices by students in school. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/sb29.htm
Title: S.B. 29
Source: Georgia Legislative web site |
Teaching Quality--Paraprofessionals |
Signed into law 05/2003 |
P-12 |
Changes certain provisions regarding the regulation of certificated professional personnel; exempts teachers desiring to transfer to Georgia from other states from certain examinations in certain circumstances; changes certain provisions regarding specific course requirements; changes certain provisions regarding paraprofessionals and aides. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/hb590.htm
Title: H.B. 590
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract |
Signed into law 05/2003 |
P-12 |
Relates to annual contracts for teachers; provides that teacher and other professional employee contracts shall be complete in all terms and conditions, including the amount of compensation for the ensuing school year, when presented to the teacher or professional employee of the school system. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/sb223.htm
Title: S.B. 223
Source: Georgia Legislative Web site |
Finance--Taxes/Revenues |
Approved by voters 11/2002 |
P-12 |
(2001, HB 299) Relates to homestead exemptions from school district ad valorem taxation for educational purposes for residents who are 62 years of age or older; changes the income limitation provisions of such exemption.
Title: STATEWIDE REFERENDUM A
Source: Georgia Secretary of State Web site |
No Child Left Behind--Report Cards |
Active 10/2002 |
P-12 |
2000-01 Report Card web page: (http://techservices.doe.k12.ga.us/reportcard/)
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
No Child Left Behind--Supplemental Services |
Active 10/2002 |
P-12 |
- Supplemental education services providers application (dated 9/23/02); closing date: 11/16/02 (http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/federal/nclb/_documents/providers_application.pdf)
- List of approved supplemental education service providers (updated 9/13/02): (http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/federal/nclb/_documents/service_providers.pdf)
- Information for parents: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/federal/nclb/nclb_parents.html
Source: Georgia Department of Education Web site |
Finance |
Adopted 09/2002 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding the withholding of funds from local units of administration.
Title: GAC 160-5-2-.02
Source: WestLaw |
Textbooks and Open Source |
Adopted 09/2002 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding textbook or instructional materials selection and recommendation.
Title: GAC 160-4-4-.10
Source: Westlaw |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Adopted 08/2002 |
P-12 |
Clarifies rules regarding charter schools. Specifies the following: definitions; role of the local board; role of the state board for locally approved charters; role of the state board for state chartered special schools; charter school petition requirements; allotment of funds; applicable laws; charter renewals; and Office of Charter School Compliance.
Title: GAC 160-4-9-.04
Source: Westlaw |
Postsecondary |
Signed into law 07/2002 |
Postsec. |
A BILL to amend Chapters 3 and 4 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating respectively to postsecondary education and vocational, technical, and adult education, so as to provide that each publisher of a textbook shall provide an electronic format of such textbook; and for other purposes.
Title: H.B. 1342
Source: State website |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Changes the method for calculating funding for certain after-school programs for students who have previously dropped out of school and students who have previously failed courses in a regular day time school; provides for related matters. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/sb384.htm
Title: S.B. 384
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Governance |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Relates to services to member local school systems by regional educational service agencies; provides that a regional educational service agency shall be authorized to sell or provide at reasonable costs goods and services to private schools located in the State. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb136.htm
Title: H.B. 136
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Creates the Atlanta Board of Education Charter Review Commission to undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues and problems arising from the creation of the Atlanta Board of Education to examine the length of terms of officers, the board's reporting relationship of the Comptroller and internal audit financing and the structure of investigations for alleged ethics violations. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/sr608.htm
Title: S.R. 608
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Changes the compensation of the members of the board of education. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb1676.htm
Title: H.B. 1676
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Authorizes local boards to pay additional costs imposed on certain members as a result of the board's decision to provide certain state health insurance benefits to school board members; provides for the use of local tax funds for such purpose. Permits spouses and dependents of board members to be included in members' plans. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb1121.htm
Title: H.B. 1121
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Health |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Requires local boards to adopt a policy authorizing the self-administration of asthma medication by a student who has asthma, provided that any student who is authorized for self-administration of asthma medication under such policy may possess and use his or her asthma medication in specified locales. Provides an exception from liability to school districts or their employees. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/sb472.htm
Title: S.B. 472
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
High School |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Provides that each local board of education shall issue high school diplomas to certain veterans who failed to receive diplomas due to an interruption of their education by service in the Korean Conflict or the Vietnam Conflict; provides certain requirements relating to attendance in high school. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb1068.htm
Title: H.B. 1068
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
No Child Left Behind |
Active 05/2002 |
P-12 |
2002 Consolidated Plan (marked draft, dated May 6, 2002): http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/sla/documents/esea_plan.pdf
Source: Georgia Department of Education Web site |
P-3 |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Creates the voluntary Georgia's Pre-K Program; requires all printed materials relating to the program to refer to it as Georgia's Pre-K Program. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb97.htm
Title: H.B. 97
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
P-3 |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Creates the Joint Study Committee on Early Childhood Education. Mandates the committee to undertake a study of the importance of early childhood education in Georgia´s future and any and all issues related to its success. Such issues include the impact of this system on families, employers, welfare reform, pre_k programs, and the future education of children; funding concerns; general management and oversight issues related to creating the most efficient and effective model to manage and stimulate this system; and innovative programs from other states. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hr1105.htm
Title: H.R. 1105
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Rredefines the term "eligible high school" for HOPE scholarships to include schools accredited by The Accrediting Commission for Independent Study. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb961.htm
Title: H.B. 961
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Students--Disabled |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
States that colleges and universities in this state have made diligent efforts to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities requiring alternative formats for textbooks and other printed instructional materials used in postsecondary courses of study, but that colleges and universities are confronted with many practical problems in obtaining or producing these texts in alternative formats. Practical problems in obtaining these texts in alternative formats include the wide variety of texts used in postsecondary courses of study, a lack of bargaining power with publishers of postsecondary textbooks in comparison with publishers of textbooks for elementary and secondary education, and hesitation among postsecondary institutions to share alternative formats because of concern about copyright law. Practical problems in producing such materials in alternative formats include the labor intensive and technical nature of the work, the frequent need for expertise in the subject matter of the texts, and the expense and time required for production. The General Assembly further finds that students with disabilities, colleges, universities, and publishers would benefit from cooperative development of a system for sharing those texts produced in alternative formats while adequately protecting the intellectual property rights of publishers. Amend code relating respectively to postsecondary education and vocational, technical, and adult education, so as to provide that each publisher of a textbook shall provide an electronic format of such textbook. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb1342.htm
Title: H.B. 1342
Source: http://www.state.ga.us/legis |
School Safety |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Requires local boards to adopt policies prescribing and governing student conduct and safety rules on all public school buses. Requires policies to include specified prohibitions. Students found guilty of committing physical acts of violence are to be disciplined as set out in code, as are students committing physical assault or battery of another person on the school bus. Modifies section defining physical act of violence and actions to be taken against students accused of such. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/sb291.htm
Title: S.B. 291
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
School Safety |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Requires that anyone entering an elementary or secondary school who is not a student at such school, an employee of the school or school system, a school board member, an approved volunteer following the established guidelines of the school, or a person who has been invited to or otherwise authorized to be at the school by a principal, teacher, counselor, or other authorized employee of the school to promptly check in at a designated location; provides for exceptions. Permits a school administrator or his or her designee ask any visitor to explain his or her presence in the school building at any time when the school is in official session. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb161.htm
Title: H.B. 161
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
School Safety |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Requires the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to notify all elementary and secondary schools and the Office of School Readiness and the Department of Social Services to notify day-care and group day- care centers within a county of the names and addresses of all registered sex offenders residing within such county and how to obtain such information on the bureau's Web site. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb1054.htm
Title: H.B. 1054
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Students |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Provides that students enrolled in home study programs are to be eligible to participate in any extracurricular program offered in the public school which that student would otherwise be authorized to attend. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb1590.htm
Title: H.B. 1590
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Permits retired teachers to work as full-time teachers or improvement specialists in low-performing schools. Limits number of retired teachers district may hire, number of years a retired teacher may be re-employed. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb210.htm
Title: H.B. 210
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Relates to service creditable toward retirement benefits under the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia; provides that any member of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia may obtain creditable service for years employed in certain early childhood development programs or certain private schools. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb765.htm
Title: H.B. 765
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Retirement/Benefits |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Increases maximum benefit amount for public school employee retirees. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/sb138.htm
Title: S.B. 138
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Retirement/Benefits |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Relates to teacher retirement; allows members who have completed a minimum of 25 years of crediable service to obtain up to three additional years creditable service if stipulations are met. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/versions/hb955_LC_21_6510_a_2.htm
Title: H.B. 955
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Background Checks |
Signed into law 04/2002 |
P-12 |
Modifies language relating to teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Modifies language relating to duties, membership, compensation and preliminary investigations of violations by the Professional Standards Commission. Permits the Professional Standards Commission to access criminal histories of educators through the Georgia Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information Center. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/sb368.htm
Title: S.B. 368
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Signed into law 04/2002 |
P-12 |
Amend Article 31 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Charter Schools Act of 1998," so as to revise extensively and comprehensively; to delete the legislative intent; to change and add definitions; to clarify differences between local charter schools and state chartered special schools and between conversion charter schools and start-up charter schools. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/versions/hb1200_HB_1200_AP_11.htm
Title: H.B. 1200
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 04/2002 |
P-12 |
Provides for the compensation of the members of the Schley County board of education and reimbursement of related expenses. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/versions/hb1593_LC_28_0649_a_2.htm
Title: H.B. 1748
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Prepd/College Savings Plans |
Signed into law 04/2002 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Amends Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, so as to change certain provisions regarding the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan; to change certain provisions regarding definitions; to change certain provisions regarding the board of directors of such plan. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/versions/hb1434_LC_18_1645_a_2.htm
Title: H.B. 1434
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us |
Finance--Facilities |
Signed into law 02/2002 |
P-12 |
Authorizes supplementary appropriation, by issuance of general obligation bonds, to the State of Georgia General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund for educational facilities for county and independent schools, through the State Board of Education and the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission.
Title: H.B. 1000
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) |
Signed into law 04/2001 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Act No. 29., Relates to elementary and secondary education; creates early intervention programs for kindergarten, primary grades, and upper elementary grades, in place of the special instructional assistance program to assist students with certain identified developmental deficiencies; relates to postsecondary education; changes the eligibility requirements for HOPE scholarships for seniors attending private postsecondary institutions.
Title: H.B. 656
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education |
Signed into law 04/2001 |
P-12 |
Act No. 33., Relates to obesity in children; creates the Joint Study Committee on Physical Activity (recess) in Schools.
Title: S.R. 252
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Finance--Facilities |
Signed into law 04/2001 |
P-12 |
Act No. 212., Provides supplementary appropriations for public school capital outlay for the state fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, in addition to the appropriation made by the General Appropriations Act and any other appropriations.
Title: H.B. 139
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
P-16 or P-20 |
Signed into law 04/2001 |
P-12 |
Reverses the decision of the P-16 Council which eliminates agricultural courses and other courses on the list of state funded courses for grades 9-12 approved by the State Board of Education (Act No. 38).
Title: H.R. 217
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
Signed into law 04/2001 |
P-12 |
Act No. 169., Relates to sick leave for teachers and other public school personnel; provides that sick leave shall not be charged for certain periods of absence due to certain injuries sustained during the performance of duties which are caused by physical assault.
Title: H.B. 164
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Textbooks and Open Source |
Signed into law 04/2001 |
P-12 |
Act No. 321., Relates to textbooks; requires publishers of textbooks which are purchased by the State Board of Education to make such textbooks available in an electronic format for the use of students with visual disabilities.
Title: H.B. 228
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Prepd/College Savings Plans |
Signed into law 03/2001 |
Postsec. |
Enacts the Higher Education Savings Plan; provides a program of savins trust agreements to apply distributions toward qualified higher education expenses at eligible educational institutions; assists in financing costs of attending institutions of higher education; encourages timely financial planning for higher education by creating savings trust accounts; provides program for those who wish to save to meet postsecondary educational needs, including postgraduate needs.
Title: H.B. 417
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Finance--Taxes/Revenues |
Approved by voters 11/2000 |
P-12 |
QUESTION C (HB 446-2000) Provides that any person who is a citizen and resident of Georgia and who is an unremarried surviving spouse of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who was killed in any war or armed conflict in which the Armed Forces engaged shall be granted a homestead exemption from all ad valorem taxation for state, county, municipal and school purposes.
Title: V. 10
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
School Safety |
Approved by voters 11/2000 |
P-12 |
Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 4 (HR 971-2000). Authorizes the General Assembly to provide by law for indemnification with respect to public school teachers, administrators, and employees who are killed or permanently disabled by an act of violence in the line of duty; a nonlapsing indemnification fund for such purposes; provides that dedication of revenue from special and distinctive motor vehicle license plates honoring Georgia educators to such fund.
Title: V. 4
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Health |
Signed into law 05/2000 |
P-12 |
Act No. 80., Creates the Commission on Psychiatric Medication of School-Age Children.
Title: H.R. 1079
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
State Longitudinal Data Systems |
Signed into law 05/2000 |
Postsec. |
Act No. 856., Provides that any person or agency required to submit to the director of the University of Georgia Libraries copies of documents shall also submit such documents in electronic form if available.
Title: H.B. 1358
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
P-3 |
Signed into law 04/2000 |
P-12 |
Act No. 655., Creates the Peachcare for Kids Program (children's health insurance); changes the provisions relating to eligibility; provides for Department of Education and local boards of education cooperation and assistance regarding the program.
Title: H.B. 1214
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 04/2000 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Act No. 690., Relates to definitions applicable to HOPE Scholarships and grants; changes the definition of the term eligible high school.
Title: H.B. 1306
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality |
Signed into law 04/2000 |
P-12 |
Act No. 688., Creates a program of indemnification with respect to public school personnel who are killed or permanently disabled by an act of violence in the line of duty; provides for a special and distinctive license plate honoring Georgia educators with revenues derived from the sale of such plates dedicated to a fund for such program of indemnification.
Title: H.B. 1388, H.R. 971
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Signed into law 04/2000 |
P-12 |
Provides that the Professional Standards Commission shall grant a renewable certificate in a teaching field to an applicant whom meets certain conditions; specifies such conditions for the granting of a renewable certificate at the 4-year level.
Title: S.B. 336
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Accountability--Reporting Results |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
The Governor may appoint study commissions as he deems appropriate to study education questions, issue findings and make recommendations to the Education Coordinating Council. This provision will go into effect upon signature to allow the current Education Reform Commission to continue. The Education Coordinating Council (ECC) is created. The ECC is assigned 15 duties, some of which include exercising oversight of accountability systems in other departments and coordinating the activities of state, regional, and local cooperative public education agencies, offices, or councils. The Office of Education Accountability (OEA) is also created. The OEA is directed to establish accountability policies and standards for the state and establish the "official" report card. The Governor and the OEA will give rewards to successful schools. The State Board of Education is given the task of mandating interventions for failing schools, including appointing special masters, mandating school improvement teams, removal of school personnel, allow for a state charter school, mandating the complete reconstitution of the school and hiring all new staff and mandating that parents have the option to relocate to another public school in the district. The OEA develops and both the Council and the State Board of Education adopt a definition for which students are performing "below grade level" and the definition of "dropout." It is charged with setting the pass score for the CRCT and end of course tests.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
The state will reduce funding for all administrative salaries of schools which are deemed to be failing for three years and who have not implemented interventions. However, these schools shall continue to earn funds for nurses, secretaries, visiting teachers, school psychologists, and accountants
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
If a school is consistently underperforming, the local board of education may request from a RESA an instructional care team. RESAs must develop a registry of potential instructional care team members. Each RESA shall provide rules and regulations for the purchase of the services of an instructional care team. If the money is appropriated, RESAs may be provided grants for the purpose of facilitating the development and implementation of instructional care teams.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Assessment |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Mandates Criterion Reference Competency Tests (CRCT's) in grades 1-8. English, language arts, math and reading will be assessed in grades 1-8. Science and social studies will be added for grades 3-8. End-of-course tests in high school for core subject areas will be developed. Georgia shall participate in a norm-referenced test and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Georgia may also participate in any other national or international performance tests. (This might include Achieve and International TMSS.) A student's IEP may serve as the alternative assessment. The questions and answers for the end-of –course and criterion reference competency tests are to be released each year. Any possible funding for locally developed assessments is eliminated. The State Board of Education may grant waivers until FY 2003 to local school boards exempting those boards from administration of the state criterion-reference competency tests at any or all of the subject areas and grade levels for which the local school board implements locally developed criterion referenced competency tests based on the Quality Core Curriculum which increases expectations for student achievement beyond the state criterion reference competency tests.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Assessment |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
A student's IEP may serve as the alternative assessment.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Assessment--End-of-Course |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
The High School Graduation Tests will be eliminated when the end of course tests are put in place. Local boards of education shall have the option of allowing scores on end-of-course assessments to be counted as part of a student's grade in the course.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Relates to elementary and secondary education; changes certain provisions regarding special instructional assistance programs for students with developmental deficiencies; provides for the application of mandatory education requirements to children between ages seven and 16 apply who are assigned to alternative public school programs and to the parents, guardians, or other persons having control or charge of such children.
Title: H.B. 114
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
In-school suspension and alternative schools have been combined to create alternative programs. In-school suspension may be included as a type of alternative program. The Office of Educational Accountability determines what is an acceptable performance of alternative education programs. The intent of the alternative education program is to meet the education needs of a student suspended from his or her regular classroom and also of a student who is eligible to remain in his or her regular classroom but is more likely to succeed in a nontraditional setting. Funding for the alternative education program shall be based on 2.5 percent of the full-time equivalent count for grades 6 through 12. For the 2001-2002 school year and thereafter, the funds shall be allocated based on the actual count of students served not to exceed 2.5 percent of the full-time equivalent count.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Attendance |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
The compulsory attendance age is lowered from seven to six.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Attendance |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Allows parents or guardians of students who live closer to a school other than the one to which they are assigned to request to attend the closer school, even if the school is across county lines. The State Board of Education decides if the school is actually closer. If crossing county lines, the receiving system can bill the sending system for the costs of the student. The receiving system may petition the state to pay any difference between what that system expends to educate the child and the amount paid by the sending system.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Background Checks |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Background checks are required of all school personnel and are required of all certificated personnel upon any application for certificate renewal.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Geogia Department of Education |
Bilingual/ESL |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program is no longer a grant. That funding is rolled into the general formula. The teacher-pupil funding ratio for ESOL classes is 1:7. The State Board of Education will establish the maximum class size for this program.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Allows the State Board of Education to grant a charter school petition if the local board of education refuses. The State Board of Education can call for a local tax referendum to support the charter school. Charter schools shall be subject to all the provisions of chapter 14 of Title 20, the accountability system.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Class Size |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
The new class sizes are funded as follows: Kindergarten – 1:15; Kindergarten Early Intervention Program – 1:11; Grades 1-3 – 1:17; Grades 1-3 Early Intervention Program – 1:11
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Curriculum |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
The law is clarified so that Physical Education is no longer mandatory by law. Rather the State Board of Education can set the standard requirements for Physical Education.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Equity |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Relates to other educational programs under the Quality Basic Education Act; prohibits discrimination based on gender in elementary and secondary school athletic programs; provides for operation or sponsorship of separate athletic teams for members of each gender under certain circumstances; requires local school systems to provide equal athletic opportunity for members of both genders.
Title: H.B. 1308
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Finance--Funding Formulas |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Changes equalization funding up to the 75th percentile instead of the 90th percentile. Equalization funding "may be adjusted" to allow for systems who lose money as a result of the change. Any adjustment shall not be in place for more than five years. Beginning with FY 2002, a midterm adjustment in a local school system's equalization grant shall be made if the system increases its actual millage rate and ranks at or below the 75th percentile.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Finance--Resource Efficiency |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Requires local school superintendents to make reports to their local boards and to the public in response to financial deficits or budget irregularities. The State Board of Education shall require local boards to do corrective action plans.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: |
Finance--Resource Efficiency |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Allotment sheets will be issued for each school rather than for each system. Each school shall spend a minimum of 90 percent of funds designated for direct instructional costs at the school site. However, funds earned for special education programs shall be summed. One hundred percent of funds earned for direct instructional salaries shall be expended on teachers and aides. Ninety percent of the funds designated for media center costs must be spent at each school site where the funds are earned.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Finance--Taxes/Revenues |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Relates to the allotment of homeowner tax relief funds to counties and local school districts; changes the manner in which ad valorem tax credit amounts are calculated.
Title: H.B. 1403
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Governance |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Removes the current requirements of a state strategic plan and reporting by the Georgia Department of Education. Also removes the current requirement for complying with Public School Standards. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accredited schools will no longer be exempt.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Governance |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Mandates all school systems, as well as all technical schools and colleges and universities, belong to a Regional Educaiton Service Agency. Also, each RESA board of control must contain a public library director. RESAs will be responsible for training school councils, training and assisting in the school subjects being assessed, providing assistance for schools designated as failing schools, and assisting the RESA members in complying with the rules of the Educational Coordinating Council and State Board of Education.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Local boards of education may not employ or promote any person who is a member of the immediate family of any board member, unless a public, recorded vote is taken on such employment or promotion as a separate matter from any other personnel matter. The board member whose family member is being considered may not vote.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Governance--Site-Based Management |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Mandates school councils at each school. The councils must be made up of the principal of the school, two parents, two teachers, and two businesspersons. The duties of the councils are to provide advice, recommendations, and assistance to the local board.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Leadership |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Requires local school superintendents to make reports to their local boards and to the public in response to financial deficits or budget irregularities. The State Board of Education shall require local boards to do corrective action plans.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Leadership |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Principals and assistant principals must be evaluated by a trained evaluator and may be evaluated by the teachers in the school , if required by the local school superintendent. All certificated personnel must be evaluated by a trained evaluator.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Middle School |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
The requirements for the middle school program stay exactly the same for the next school year, with 85 minutes of common planning time.
Beginning with the 2001-2002 school year, local boards of education shall schedule each middle school so as to give a minimum of 5 hours of instruction in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and other academic subjects as defined by the state board. There has to be a common planning time of between 55 and 85 minutes for the interdisciplinary team of academic teachers. The local board of education shall have the authority to schedule exploratory and physical education classes for the remainder of the school day. For students below grade level, any additional time shall be used for academic instruction. Until the accountability system is in place, any middle school with a combined total of 65% scoring good or very good in the previous school year on the first administration of the Eighth Grade Writing Test and at the 65th percentile or above on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills eighth grade composite score, the local board is only required to have 4 ˝ hours of academic instruction. After the implementation of the accountability system, for any middle school scoring and A or B on the absolute standard, the local board is only required to have 4 ˝ hours of academic instruction.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
P-3 |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
There is created an Early Intervention Program in kindergarten and a Primary Grades Early Intervention Program in grades 1-3. These programs are for students performing below grade level. The Office of Education Accountability and the State Board of Education both have responsibility for administering and setting the definitions for who qualifies for the Early Intervention Programs. The Education Coordinating Council also must adopt the standards and definitions for these programs. Special education students are eligible for this program, but may only be counted for funding for either the early intervention program or a special education category. The school must provide timely notice and an opportunity for a conference with the student and his or her parents or guardians to discuss the student's developmental deficiencies and options for addressing those deficiencies. Delivery models may include, but are not limited to, class augmentation, pull-out or self-contained classes, and the Reading Recovery Program.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
P-3 |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
There is created voluntary pre-enrollment of two-year-olds in local school systems. Parents must include a certification of immunization as a condition of pre-enrollment.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
P-3 Grades 1-3 |
Signed by governor 03/2000 |
P-12 |
There is created an Early Intervention Program in kindergarten and a Primary Grades Early Intervention Program in grades 1-3. These programs are for students performing below grade level. The Office of Education Accountability and the State Board of Education both have responsibility for administering and setting the definitions for who qualifies for the Early Intervention Programs. The Education Coordinating Council also must adopt the standards and definitions for these programs. Special education students are eligible for this program, but may only be counted for funding for either the early intervention program or a special education category.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Parent/Family |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Allows juvenile courts to fine parents for failing to attend parent-teacher conferences. Gives juvenile courts the authority to order parents to participate in "programs or treatment" that the court determines necessary to improve student behavior.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education (www.doe.k12.us) |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Relates to definitions applicable to HOPE scholarships and grants; changes the definition of the term eligible high school; changes conditions of eligibility for HOPE scholarships and grants; provides for an effective date; repeals conflicting laws.
Title: S.B. 452
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
The extended day program for students in grades 9-12 has been reinstated and funded. There are additional funds for an extra 20 days which local systems may use to either extend the school day or school year. However, these days are to be used for remediation of low performing students.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
School Safety |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Act No. 475., Relates to certain educational programs; requires the Department of Education to develop a rape prevention and personal safety education program for grade 8 through grade 12; provides that local boards of education may implement such programs; requires the State Board to make information regarding such program available to the Board of Regents of the University of Georgia.
Title: H.B. 171
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
School Safety |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Relates to public school disciplinary tribunals; requires local school system receiving certain State education funds to suspend a student who commits any act of violence resulting in substantial injury to a teacher for the remainder of the school year; provides for a disciplinary hearing regarding the suspension to provide that such a student shall not be eligible for enrollment in public education programs.
Title: S.B. 401
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
School Safety |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Relates to warrants for arrest; provides that any warrant for the arrest of a teacher or school administrator for any offense alleged to have been committed while in the performance of his or her duties may be issued only by a judge of a superior court, a judge of a state court, or a judge of a probate court.
Title: S.B. 27
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
School Safety--Expulsion/Suspension |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
In-school suspension is eliminated as a separate program
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Special Education |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
The new class sizes are funded as follows:
Category I Special Education - 1:8
Category II Special Education - 1:6.5
Category III Special Education - 1:5
Category IV Special Education - 1:3
Category V Special Education - 1:8
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Special Education |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
There is created an Early Intervention Program in kindergarten and a Primary Grades Early Intervention Program in grades 1-3. These programs are for students performing below grade level. Special education students are eligible for this program, but may only be counted for funding for either the early intervention program or a special education category. The school must provide timely notice and an opportunity for a conference with the student and his or her parents or guardians to discuss the student's developmental deficiencies and options for addressing those deficiencies. Students should be "moved into this program, provided assistance, and moved out of this program." Delivery models may include, but are not limited to, class augmentation, pull-out or self-contained classes, and the Reading Recovery Program.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
State Longitudinal Data Systems |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
A steering committee for hardware/software specifications and updates is created. This committee will establish the specifications for a statewide student information system to be created by 2003. The State Data and Research Center shall develop and collect data for and operate the student information system, and the fund accounting system and the salary data system. According to the Office of Planning and Budget, this center will become the hub of the instructional technology system. Local school systems will send data directly to this Center. The Office of Planning and Budget shall collect from local school systems information to verify the proper expenditure of funds and employment of positions funded in the Quality Basic Education formula and categorical grants.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
State Longitudinal Data Systems |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
In connection with the statewide educational information system, there must also be a uniform budget and accounting system established with input from the Office of Educational Accountability and the Education Coordinating Council.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Guidance counselors are required to spend at least five of six periods counseling or advising students and parents. Funding for middle school counselors has been changed to 1:624. Funding for elementary school counselors has been decreased. The exact ratio has yet to be determined.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Student Supports--Mentoring/Tutoring |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Relates to the powers and duties of the Governor; enacts the Georgia Mentoring Act of 2000; makes legislative findings; authorizes the office of the Governor to develop and implement a State-wide strategy to provide academic support and guidance, to award grants to local school systems, to administer academic volunteer and mentor service programs; provides for the use of such funds; provides for awards for outstanding academic mentors; repeals conflicting laws.
Title: S.B. 290
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
Postsec. |
Relates to the regulation of the profession of athlete agents; provides for additional grounds for refusing to register or for disciplining an athlete agent, including prohibiting contacts with an athlete, accepting as a client an athlete referred by an employee of an institute of higher education in exchange for consideration, offering anything of value to induce an athlete to enter into an agent contract, or postdating an agent contract.
Title: H.B. 1323
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Duty-free lunches for teachers are mandated and are no longer dependent on funding from the General Assembly.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Mandates that holders of a renewable certificate must pass a computer skills competency test before they can receive certification renewal. Successful completion of the phase one InTech model training at a state educational technology training center or a State Board of Education approved redelivery team shall be acceptable for certificate renewal purposes.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Teachers receiving National Board Certification will receive a 10 percent increase in salary
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Teaching Quality--Evaluation and Effectiveness |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Teacher evaluations must include evaluation of student achievement and communication skills with parents, students, teachers, administrators and others. The State Board of Education will set standards and specifications for teacher evaluations. All certificated personnel must be evaluated by a trained evaluator. If student assessments have not been administered and scored at the time of evaluation, the evaluation shall be performed on the basis of information available at the time. As results of student assessments subsequently become available. An addendum to the initial report shall be completed and become part of the teacher's cumulative evaluative record, and these cumulative student assessment results may be used in a teacher's subsequent annual evaluations.
Teachers will not advance a step on the salary schedule if they receive an unsatisfactory evaluation. A person who has received two unsatisfactory annual performance evaluations in a five-year period shall not be entitled to a renewable certificate.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Teaching Quality--Professional Development |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Funding for staff and professional development has been lowered from 1 ˝% of salaries to 1%.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Creates Promise Scholarships in teacher education for paraprofessionals and instructional aides who were employed in a public school in Georgia throughout the 1999-2000 school year.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Creates Promise Scholarships in teacher education for paraprofessionals and instructional aides who were employed in a public school in Georgia throughout the 1999-2000 school year.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
Postsec. |
Relates to PROMISE teacher's scholarships; changes the requirements for eligibility for the scholarship; defines certain terms.
Title: H.B. 1619
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
In schools and school systems where there is an insufficient supply of qualified teachers in mathematics, science, special education, or foreign language, teachers may be advanced an additional step on the salary schedule if they agree to teach in these areas. The Office of Educational Accountability shall decide whether a school or a system is experiencing a shortage. This program is dependent on funding from the General Assembly.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Enacts the A Plus Education Reform Act of 2000. A portion of this act abolishes tenure: All contracts must be in writing. Any teacher or other certificated professional employee may be notified that his/her contract will not be renewed. The notice must be given by April 15 of the current school year. No reason must be given, but the employee can ask for one, and it must be provided. There is no right to a hearing. Teachers currently teaching in Georgia are not affected. Teachers hired on or after July 1, 2000, "shall not acquire any rights . . . to continued employment with respect to any position as a teacher."
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
Mandates that holders of a renewable certificate must pass a computer skills competency test before they can receive certification renewal. Successful completion of the phase one InTech model training at a state educational technology training center or a State Board of Education approved redelivery team shall be acceptable for certificate renewal purposes.
Title: H.B. 1187
Source: Georgia Department of Education |
Civic Education |
Signed into law 02/2000 |
P-12 |
Provides for instructional activity relating to Veterans Day.
Title: H.B. 68
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |