07 LC 33
1758
Senate
Bill 68
By:
Senators Weber of the 40th, Carter of the 13th, Douglas of the 17th, Moody of
the 56th, Thomas of the 54th and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to technical and adult education, so as to enact the "Career
Academies Act of 2007"; to provide for legislative intent; to provide for
definitions; to provide for the disbursement of funds by the State Board of
Technical and Adult Education for career academies established as charter
schools; to provide for a matching requirement; to provide for eligibility
criteria; to provide for an annual report; to provide for an effective date; to
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
2 of Chapter 4 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to technical and adult education, is amended by adding a new Code section to
read as follows:
"20-4-37.
(a)
This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the 'Career Academies Act
of 2007.'
(b)
It is the intent of the General Assembly to increase graduation rates, potential
job opportunities, and educational opportunities for students by establishing
and providing start-up funds for career academies through the partnership of
technical colleges and local boards of education.
(c)
As used in this Code section, the term:
(1)
'Board' means the State Board of Technical and Adult Education.
(2)
'Career academy' means a specialized charter school established by a partnership
between a local board of education, or a group of local boards of education in
cooperation, and a local technical college as charter petitioners and approved
by the State Board of Education in accordance with Article 31 of Chapter 2 of
this title.
(3)
'Charter petitioner' means a local board of education, or a group of local
boards of education in cooperation, and a local technical college which have
partnered to establish a career academy as a charter school pursuant to Article
31 of Chapter 2 of this title.
(4)
'Charter school' shall have the same meaning as in paragraph (3) of Code Section
20-2-2062.
(5)
'Local technical college' means a local technical school, college, or institute
under the auspices of the Department of Technical and Adult Education.
(d)
The board shall be authorized to disburse funds, subject to appropriations or
other available funding, to career academies for start-up costs.
(e)
A charter petitioner for a career academy which has submitted or which has
drafted for submission a charter petition for a career academy to the State
Board of Education for approval shall be authorized to submit to the board an
application for start-up funds. The board shall approve applications for
start-up funds for career academies which meet the criteria and requirements,
subject to appropriations or other available funding, established pursuant to
subsection (h) of this Code section. Funds shall not be released to an approved
applicant unless the charter petition is approved by the State Board of
Education pursuant to Article 31 of Chapter 2 of this title.
(f)
The board shall also be authorized to disburse funds, subject to appropriations
or other available funding, to existing charter academies which demonstrate a
need for supplemental funding.
(g)
The board shall establish a matching requirement for recipients of funds under
this Code section.
(h)
The board shall establish eligibility criteria, requirements, and procedures for
the disbursement of funding to charter academies pursuant to this Code section.
Such criteria, requirements, and procedures shall provide that the board shall
consider the strength of the proposed partnership between the local board of
education and the local technical college as well as the active support of the
local business community for the career academy.
(i)
A career academy receiving funds pursuant to this Code section shall submit an
annual report to the board regarding the expenditure of the funds received
pursuant to this Code section."
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.