Title 20

(a) The Professional Standards Commission shall evaluate transcripts and issue certificates for all educational personnel seeking certification. (b) The commission shall follow policies consistent with general education objectives established under Georgia statutes. (c) The commiss…

The funds necessary for the operation of the commission shall come from funds specifically appropriated or otherwise made available to the Professional Standards Commission. History. Ga. L. 1976, p. 966, §§ 10, 11; Code 1981, § 20-2-989, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 836, § 2; Ga. L.…

(a) The classifications established by the State Board of Education pursuant to Code Section 20-2-200 shall remain in effect until such time as the commission creates classifications for certificated personnel under the terms of this part. Such new classifications will clearly descri…

Nothing in this part shall be construed to permit or foster collective bargaining as part of the state rules or local unit of administration policies. History. Code 1981, § 20-2-989.10, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 3303, § 1.

Appeals from the decision of the local unit of administration to the State Board of Education shall be governed by state board policy and Code Section 20-2-1160. History. Code 1981, § 20-2-989.11, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 3303, § 1; Ga. L. 2012, p. 775, § 20/HB 942. PART 12 GRA…

(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. This subsection shall not apply when a teacher has failed to comply …

(a) It is the intent of this part to resolve problems at the lowest possible organizational level with a minimum of conflict and formal proceedings so that good morale may be maintained, effective job performance may be enhanced, and the citizens of the community may be better ser…

As used in this part, the term: (1) “Administrator” means the individual at each level designated by the local unit of administration to preside over and make decisions with respect to complaints. (2) “Central office administrator” means the local school system superintendent or …

(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the performance ratings contained in personnel evaluations conducted pursuant to Code Section 20-2-210, professional development plans, and job performance shall not be subject to complaint under the provisi…

Local units of administration shall establish a complaint policy that shall include the following: (1) A statement that a complaint by the certified employee at the initial level shall be in writing and shall clearly state the intent of the employee to access the complaints policy…

Nothing in this part shall be construed to prevent a local unit of administration from adopting supplemental rules and policies not inconsistent with this part that grant additional substantive and procedural rights to the complainant with respect to this part. History. Code 1981…

(a) As used in this Code section, the term “educator” means any principal, school administrator, teacher, school counselor, paraprofessional, school bus driver, volunteer assisting teachers in the classroom, tribunal members, or certificated professional personnel. (b) No educator…

(a) As used in this Code section, the term “educator” means any principal, school administrator, teacher, school counselor, paraprofessional, school bus driver, volunteer assisting teachers in the classroom, tribunal members, or certificated professional personnel. (b) An educator…

The General Assembly finds that an urgent crisis confronts public education in Georgia. Evolving constitutional principles established by recent judicial decisions impose increased burdens upon school administrators and boards of education and subject them to personal liability un…

In addition to other compensation paid to members of the State Board of Education, the State School Superintendent, and employees of the state board, and to members of boards of education, school superintendents, teachers, principals, officers, and employees of boards of control …

A policy of liability insurance or contract of indemnity purchased pursuant to Code Section 20-2-991 by a board of education of a county, city, or independent school system may, in the board’s discretion, include provisions insuring nonprofit organizations, their members, and scho…

Nothing in this article shall be construed as waiving any immunity or privilege now or hereafter enjoyed by the State Board of Education, by the board of control of any cooperative educational service agency, by any local board of education, by any member of any such board, or by…

In lieu of obtaining the insurance or indemnity referred to in Code Section 20-2-991 or in addition thereto, such boards may, as part of the compensation and terms of employment of the members thereof and of the officials and employees thereof, adopt policies whereby the board wi…

In addition to other compensation paid to board members, officers, officials, administrators, and other employees referred to in this part, whether under this part or otherwise, the State Board of Education, local boards of education, or boards of control of cooperative education…

(a) The State Board of Education is authorized to prescribe, by regulation, the definition of the term “instructional materials and content” to include but not be limited to systematically designed material in any medium, including digital instructional materials and content and a…

The State Board of Education may provide for the selection, acquisition, or purchase of instructional materials and content either by multiple listings or uniform adoption or by any other method that will enable the acquiring of acceptable instructional materials and content at t…

(a)(1) The State Board of Education may select a committee or committees of educators actually engaged in public school work in this state to examine instructional materials and content and make recommendations thereon to the state board. Such committee or committees may consist …

(a) The State Board of Education is authorized and directed to inaugurate and administer a system of free instructional materials and content for the public schools of this state. The state board shall have authority to promulgate and enforce such rules and regulations as may be …

All purchases or contracts for purchases shall be made subject to the condition that the price paid by the state shall not exceed the price which may be offered by the publisher to any other school or school authority for substantially the same instructional materials and content…

(a) Local boards of education are strongly encouraged on and after July 1, 2020, to: (1) Purchase all instructional materials and content in digital or electronic format; and (2) Provide a laptop, tablet, or other wireless electronic device to each of its students in grades three…

This article shall not apply to students in home study programs or virtual courses. History. Code 1981, § 20-2-2016, enacted by Ga. L. 2015, p. 1031, § 2-2/SB 89.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term “locally approved instructional materials and content” means instructional materials and content, as defined by the State Board of Education pursuant to Code Section 20-2-1010, which constitute the principal source of study for a state fu…

(a) To educate students about the sacrifices made for freedom in the founding of this country and the values, principles, and philosophies on which this country was founded, it is strongly encouraged that the full week in September which includes Constitution Day, September 17, is…

(a) To increase student understanding of, and familiarity with, American historical documents, public schools may display historically important excerpts from, or copies of, those documents in school classrooms and common areas as appropriate. Local boards of education and charte…

To increase student understanding of, and familiarity with, American historical documents and to provide curriculum support to classroom teachers of United States history, American government and civics, economics, and social studies, the Department of Education is strongly encou…

(a) In each public school classroom, the teacher in charge shall, at the opening of school upon every school day, conduct a brief period of quiet reflection for not more than 60 seconds with the participation of all the pupils therein assembled. (b) The moment of quiet reflection a…

No teacher, principal, school board, or any other person may require or prescribe any particular method or manner in which a child shall participate in any period of silent prayer or meditation, but each child shall be absolutely free to participate therein or not, in such manner…

The State Board of Education is authorized to use a part of the public school fund to pay the salaries of bus drivers employed by the several county boards of education. The state board is authorized to administer any and all appropriations that may be made by the United States C…

Whenever the county board of education deems it for the best interest of the schools of the county, it shall also have the right and power to contract with individuals or corporations for the transportation of pupils and school employees to and from school. History. Ga. L. 1947, …

No member of the Department of Education or county school superintendent or member of the county board of education shall be financially interested in procuring and operating means or facilities for school bus transportation or in selling school buses, school bus equipment, or sch…

It shall be unlawful to transport any student to or from any public school in this state if a physician, licensed to practice medicine in this state, shall have certified to the superintendent of the county or independent school system, in writing, that the transportation of such …

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, includ841 ing Code Sections 20-2-188 and 20-2-411, county and independent school systems may use school buses to provide transportation to students and others to attend summer camps or to participate in other recreation…

(a) Local boards of education may authorize the use of vehicles other than school buses for the transport of students who are documented in an Individualized Education Program as recipients of special education services or as currently lacking, or during the previous academic yea…

Co. v. Nelson, 282 Ga. App. 488, 639 S.E.2d 365, 2006 Ga. App. LEXIS 1428 (2006). Waiver of sovereign immunity not included in statute. — Trial court erred in finding that O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1090 waived the school district’s sovereign immunity from the negligence claim brought by a s…

Where a bus is owned by the school board, the board shall pay the premium for insurance issued under Code Section 20-2-1090. Where the bus is not owned by the board, the premium shall be paid by the owner. History. Ga. L. 1949, p. 1155, § 2.

The various school boards are authorized to cause a provision to be inserted in policies issued under Code Section 20-2-1090 insuring the members of the general public against personal injury or death or damage to property resulting from the negligent operation of the school buse…

Any policy authorized by this part, when issued by a mutual insurance company, shall be nonassessable as to further premiums, and the policy shall so state. History. Ga. L. 1949, p. 1155, § 4; Ga. L. 1992, p. 6, § 20.

Policies issued under Code Section 20-2-1090 shall be filed with and retained by the respective school boards for the benefit of the school children patronizing the school buses and for the benefit of the general public. History. Ga. L. 1949, p. 1155, § 5; Ga. L. 1985, p. 149, § 20.

(a) Each person employed as a school bus driver in any public school of this state shall be entitled to sick leave with full pay computed on the basis of one and one-fourth working days for each completed school month of service, such leave to be cumulative over each school year;…

During any school year, a school bus driver may utilize up to a maximum of three days of any accumulated sick leave for the purpose of absenting himself from his duties for any personal reason if prior approval of his absence is given by the local school superintendent or his aut…

No school bus driver utilizing sick leave under this part shall be required to pay the cost of employing a substitute school bus driver to serve in his absence on such sick leave. History. Ga. L. 1962, p. 670, § 3.