06 SB
288/HCSFA
HOUSE
SUBSTITUTE TO SENATE BILL 288
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to teachers and other school personnel, so as to enact the
"Grade Integrity Act of 2006"; to provide that no classroom teacher shall be
required, coerced, intimidated, or disciplined in any manner to change the grade
of a student; to provide for an ethical violation reportable to the Professional
Standards Commission; to provide for construction; to provide for the adjustment
of grades received in advanced placement and honors courses; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
This
Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Grade Integrity Act of
2006."
SECTION
2.
Article
17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to teachers and other school personnel, is amended by inserting at the end
thereof a new Part 12 to read as follows:
"Part
12
20-2-989.20.
(a)
No classroom teacher shall be required, coerced, intimidated, or disciplined in
any manner by the local board of education, superintendent, or any local school
administrator to change the grade of a student. A violation of this Code
section shall constitute an ethics violation reportable to the Professional
Standards Commission pursuant to Part 10 of this article.
(b)
Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prevent a principal or other
local school administrator from discussing the grade of a student with a
classroom teacher.
(c)
Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prevent a central office
administrator, superintendent, or local school administrator from changing a
student́s
grade. Any grade change made by a person other than the classroom teacher must
be clearly indicated in the
student́s
school records and must indicate the person responsible for making such grade
change."
SECTION
2A.
Code
Section 20-2-157 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to uniform
reporting system for high school grades for certain purposes, is amended by
striking subsection (b) and inserting in lieu thereof a new subsection (b) to
read as follows:
"(b)
Beginning May 1,
2007
2008,
each school system and private school shall adopt the reporting system described
in this subsection for purposes of identifying and qualifying graduating seniors
for the HOPE scholarship program and other programs identified in this Code
section:
(1)
Each school system and private school shall transmit, in a manner and at times
prescribed by the Georgia Student Finance Commission, an electronic transcript
of courses and course grades for each graduating senior that reflects the
complete high school academic record of the student, including scores on any
state tests required for graduation, the grading scales used by the school
system or private school for the time periods referenced by the transcripts, and
any other pertinent information as determined by the Georgia Student Finance
Commission. Each grade reported by a school system or private school to the
commission for the purpose of calculating the grade point average for HOPE
scholarship eligibility shall be the actual grade earned by the student, with no
weighting or addition of points by the local school system or private
school;
(2)
The Georgia Student Finance Commission shall calculate a grade point average for
the purpose of determining eligibility for the HOPE scholarship from these
electronic transcripts and shall notify students of their eligibility and high
schools as to the eligibility of students;
(3)
For students otherwise qualified and enrolling as freshmen students in eligible
public or private postsecondary institutions for the first time on May 1,
2007
2008,
or thereafter, the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall calculate grade
point averages for determining eligibility for the HOPE scholarship and other
scholarships referenced in this Code section as follows:
(A)
For students receiving a college preparatory diploma, each grade for a student
in attempted coursework in English, mathematics, science, social studies, and
foreign language that would, if successfully completed, satisfy a core
graduation requirement for the college preparatory curriculum shall be equated
to a grade on a 4.0 scale, such that a grade of 'A' = 4.0, a grade of 'B' = 3.0,
a grade of 'C' = 2.0, a grade of 'D' = 1.0, and a grade of 'F' = 0;
or
(B)
For students receiving a career/technical diploma, each grade for a student in
attempted coursework in English, mathematics, science, and social studies that
would, if successfully completed, satisfy a core graduation requirement for the
career/technical curriculum shall be equated to a grade on a 4.0 scale, such
that a grade of 'A' = 4.0, a grade of 'B' = 3.0, a grade of 'C' = 2.0, a grade
of 'D' = 1.0, and a grade of 'F' = 0.
Grades
for coursework that is classified as advanced
placement,
honors, or international baccalaureate
shall be weighted by the Georgia Student Finance Commission in calculating the
overall grade point averages for students, provided that the weighting of such
course grades is uniformly applied to all students in the state taking the
specified coursework. The sum of the equated grades shall be divided by the
number of course grades, adjusted for term length, to yield a grade point
average on a 4.0 scale;
(4)
Qualification for the HOPE scholarship shall be determined from the grade point
average calculated as set out in paragraph (3) of this subsection. Beginning
May 1,
2007
2008,
students with grade point averages equal to or in excess of 3.0 on the 4.0 scale
with a college preparatory diploma shall meet achievement standards for the HOPE
scholarship; students receiving a career/technical diploma shall meet
achievement standards for the HOPE scholarship with a grade point average equal
to or in excess of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. This paragraph shall apply regardless of
when a student graduated from high school and regardless of such
student́s
eligibility status prior to May 1,
2007
2008;
and
(5)
Beginning May 1,
2007
2008,
only the reporting system as indicated in this subsection shall be used to
determine eligibility for all grants, scholarships, or loans to attend colleges
or universities which are administered pursuant to Article 7 of Chapter 3 of
this title and eligibility for enrollment in postsecondary courses pursuant to
Code Section
20-2-161.1."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.