05 LC 33
0941
House
Bill 897
By:
Representatives Freeman of the
140th,
Keown of the
173rd,
Tumlin of the
38th,
Jamieson of the
28th,
Benton of the
31st,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic
Education Act," so as to change the provisions relating to the dates by which a
child must reach a certain age in order to be eligible for enrollment in certain
educational programs; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education
Act," is amended by striking subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-150, relating
to eligibility for enrollment, and inserting in lieu thereof the
following:
"(a)
Except as otherwise provided by subsection (b) of this Code section, all
children and youth who have attained the age of five years by
July
1
September
1 shall be eligible for enrollment in the
appropriate general education programs authorized in this part unless they
attain the age of 20 by
July
1
September
1 or they have received high school
diplomas or the equivalent. This shall specifically include students who have
reenrolled after dropping out and who are married, parents, or pregnant. Special
education students shall also be eligible for enrollment in appropriate
education programs through age 21 or until they receive high school or special
education diplomas or the equivalent; provided, however, they were enrolled
during the preceding school year and had an approved Individualized Education
Program (IEP) which indicated that a successive year of enrollment was needed.
Other students who have not yet attained age 21 by
July
1
September
1 or received high school diplomas or the
equivalent shall be eligible for enrollment in appropriate education programs,
provided they have not dropped out of school for one quarter or more. Each local
unit of administration shall have the authority to assign students who are
married, parents, or pregnant or who have reenrolled after dropping out one
quarter or more to programs of instruction within its regular daytime
educational program, provided that a local unit of administration may develop
and implement special programs of instruction limited to such students within
the regular daytime educational program or, at the option of the student, in an
alternative program beyond the regular daytime program; provided, further, that
such programs of instruction are designed to enable such students to earn course
credit toward receiving high school diplomas. These programs may include
instruction in prenatal care and child care. Each local unit of administration
shall have the authority to provide alternative programs beyond the regular
daytime educational program. Unless otherwise provided by law, the State Board
of Education shall have the authority to determine the eligibility of students
for enrollment. It is declared to be the policy of this state that general and
occupational education be integrated into a comprehensive educational program
which will contribute to the total development of the
individual."
SECTION
2.
Said
part is further amended in Code Section 20-2-151, relating to general and career
education programs, by striking subsection (b) and inserting in lieu thereof
the following:
"(b)
The following general and career education programs are authorized for purposes
of funding under this article:
(1)(A)
All local school systems shall offer a full-day kindergarten program. For
purposes of this subsection, the term 'full-day basis' means a student is
provided classroom instruction for a minimum of four and one-half hours daily
for a 180 day school year.
(B)
It is the policy of this state that the purposes of the kindergarten program
shall be to provide all children with an equal opportunity to become prepared
for a successful first grade experience and to acquire the foundation for
academic progress throughout the
studentś
educational careers. To be eligible for enrollment in a state supported
kindergarten program, a child must attain the age of five by
July 1
September
1, except as otherwise provided by
subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-150;
(2)
It is the policy of this state that the purpose of the primary grades program
shall be mastery by enrolled students of the essential basic skills and
knowledge which will enable them to achieve more advanced skills and knowledge
offered at the higher grade levels. For purposes of funding under this article,
the primary grades program shall include grades one, two, and three. To be
eligible for enrollment in the first grade of a state supported primary grades
program, a child must attain the age of six by
July
1
September
1, except as otherwise provided by
subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-150. The State Board of Education shall
adopt an instrument or instruments, procedures, and policies necessary to assess
the first grade readiness of children enrolled in
Georgiás
public school kindergarten programs pursuant to Code Section 20-2-281. Readiness
information obtained by the instrument or instruments adopted by the state board
shall be used by local school systems in concert with teacher recommendations
and other relevant information to make appropriate student grade placement
decisions. The Department of Education shall develop guidelines for utilization
of the instrument or instruments in grade placement decisions and shall provide
such guidelines to local school systems. The guidelines shall include
information pertinent to consideration of the placement of students who have
been identified as being disabled or limited-English-proficient. Whenever the
decision is made not to promote a child to the first grade, the local school
system shall document the reasons for the decision not to promote, according to
guidelines established by the board. The State School Superintendent shall
annually provide a report summarizing the results of the readiness of first
grade Georgia public school kindergarten children. No student shall remain in
kindergarten for more than two years;
(3)
It is the policy of this state that the primary purposes of the middle grades
program shall be assuring the mastery of essential basic skills and knowledge,
assisting students in the transition from childhood to adolescence, and
preparing students for the selection of programs and courses consistent with
their abilities and interests when they enter high school, as well as providing
an opportunity for mastery of essential but more advanced skills and knowledge.
For purposes of funding under this article, the middle grades program shall
include grades four, five, six, seven, and eight; and
(4)(A)
It is the policy of this state that the primary purposes of the high school
programs shall be to prepare students for the continuation of their education
beyond high school and for entry into their chosen career fields as well as to
prepare them to take their places in society as young adults. The following high
school programs for grades nine, ten, 11, and 12 are authorized for purposes of
funding under this article:
(i)
The high school education program; and
(ii)
The vocational laboratory program.
(B)
As a reflection of the reduced teacher-student ratios and more extensive
material and equipment needed for effective laboratory courses compared to
courses with no or only limited laboratory experiences, the vocational
laboratory program shall be funded at a higher level than the high school
general education program. The state board shall adopt criteria which courses
must meet in order to qualify for the vocational laboratory
program."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.