Title 20

The board of education of each county school system is authorized to expend its educational funds for the purpose of providing uniforms for its school maintenance, food service, or custodial personnel. Expenditures for such purposes shall be for educational purposes by facilitati…

This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Georgia Professional Standards Act.” History. Ga. L. 1976, p. 966, § 1; Code 1981, § 20-2-981, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 836, § 2; Ga. L. 1991, p. 1546, § 1.

As used in this part, the term: (1) “Commission” means the Professional Standards Commission. (2) “Educator” means teachers and school or school system administrators and other education personnel of this state who hold certificates, permits, or other certification documents, inclu…

(a) The Professional Standards Commission existing June 30, 1991, is abolished and the term of office of the members of such abolished commission shall expire July 1, 1991. A new Professional Standards Commission is created and attached to the Office of Planning and Budget for ad…

(a) The commission shall create and implement standards and procedures for certifying educational personnel as qualified for a certificate to practice in the public schools of Georgia; provided, however, that such standards and procedures shall not require an individual to particip…

(a) It shall be the duty of the commission, by regulation, to adopt standards of performance and a code of ethics for educators. The standards of performance and code of ethics shall represent standards of performance and conduct which are generally accepted by educators of this …

(a) Superintendents, associate or assistant superintendents, or directors of personnel shall make an immediate written report to the local board of education upon receiving a written report from any identified school system personnel or parent or custodian of a child enrolled in t…

(a) Upon receipt of a written request from a local board, the state board, or one or more individual residents of this state, the commission shall be authorized to investigate: (1) Alleged violations by an educator of any law of this state pertaining to educators or the professio…

(a) If the commission agrees to investigate matters reported under Code Section 20-2-984.2 or Code Section 20-2-984.3, an investigator of the commission shall conduct a preliminary investigation of the reported matters to determine if probable cause exists to recommend disciplina…

(a) After a preliminary investigation authorized by Code Section 20-2-984.4, the commission shall review the report of the investigator and either determine that no further action need be taken or recommend that a particular disciplinary action be imposed. This determination shal…

(a) The Governor shall annually select a chairman from the membership of the commission. Meetings shall be held at the call of the chairman or upon the request in writing of a majority of the commission. A majority of such quorum shall have authority to act upon any matter proper…

Members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall, upon approval by the chairman, be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official commission business as provided by Code Section 45-7-20. No member of…

(a) The commission shall appoint an executive secretary who shall serve as the secretary and executive officer of the commission. Such executive secretary shall be compensated in an amount fixed by the commission. The executive secretary shall have the authority to employ such pro…

(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…