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2018 Georgia Code 20-2-133 | Car Wreck Lawyer

TITLE 20 EDUCATION

Section 2. Elementary and Secondary Education, 20-2-1 through 20-2-2180.

ARTICLE 6 QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION

20-2-133. Free public instruction; exceptions; eligibility; custody of child; notification of local unit of administration of child's location; transfer and utilization of records; funding.

  1. Admission to the instructional programs funded under this article shall be free to all eligible children and youth who enroll in such programs within the local school system in which they reside and to children as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section. Therefore, a local school system shall not charge resident students tuition or fees, nor shall such students be required to provide materials or equipment except for items specified by the State Board of Education, as a condition of enrollment or full participation in any instructional program. However, a local school system is authorized to charge nonresident students tuition or fees or a combination thereof; provided, however, that such charges to a student shall not exceed the average locally financed per student cost for the preceding year, excluding the local five mill share funds required pursuant to Code Section 20-2-164; provided, further, that no child described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Code section shall be charged tuition, fees, or a combination thereof. A local school system is further authorized to contract with a nonresident student's system of residence for payment of tuition. The amount of tuition paid directly by the system of residence shall be limited only by the terms of the contract between systems. Local units of administration shall provide textbooks or any other reading materials to each student enrolled in a class which has a course of study that requires the use of such materials by the students.
      1. Any child, except as otherwise specifically provided in subparagraph (D) of this paragraph, who is:
        1. In the physical or legal custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Human Services or any of its divisions;
        2. In a placement operated by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities;
        3. In a facility or placement paid for by the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Human Services or any of its divisions, or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; or
        4. Placed in a psychiatric residential treatment facility by his or her parent or legal guardian pursuant to a physician's order, if such child is not a home study, private school, or out-of-state student

        and who is physically present within the geographical area served by a local unit of administration for any length of time is eligible for enrollment in the educational programs of that local unit of administration; provided, however, that the child meets the age eligibility requirements established by this article. Except for children who are committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice and receiving education services under Code Section 20-2-2084.1, the local unit of administration of the school district in which such child is present shall be responsible for the provision of all educational programs, including special education and related services, at no charge so long as the child is physically present in the school district.

      2. A child shall be considered in the physical or legal custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Human Services or any of its divisions if custody has been awarded either temporarily or permanently by court order or by voluntary agreement, or if the child has been admitted or placed according to an individualized treatment or service plan of the Department of Human Services. A child shall be considered in a facility or placement paid for or operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities if the child has been admitted or placed according to an individualized treatment or service plan of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities or its contractors.
      3. A facility providing educational services onsite to a child described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph who is unable to leave such facility shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the local unit of administration in which the facility is located. Such memorandum of understanding shall include, at a minimum, provisions regarding enrollment counting procedures, allocation of funding based on actual days of enrollment in the facility, and the party responsible for employing teachers. A memorandum of understanding shall be reviewed and renewed at least every two years.
      4. No child in a secure residential facility as defined in Code Section 15-11-2, regardless of his or her custody status, shall be eligible for enrollment in the educational programs of the local unit of administration of the school district in which such facility is located. No child or youth in the custody of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice and confined in a facility as a result of a sentence imposed by a court shall be eligible for enrollment in the educational programs of the local unit of administration of the school district where such child or youth is being held; provided, however, that such child or youth may be eligible for enrollment in a state charter school pursuant to Code Section 20-2-2084.1.
    1. Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, placement in a facility by another local unit of administration shall not create an obligation, financial or otherwise, on the part of the local unit of administration in which the facility is located to educate the child.
    2. For any child described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the custodian of or placing agency for the child shall notify the appropriate local unit of administration at least five days in advance of the move, when possible, when the child is to be moved from one local unit of administration to another.
    3. When the custodian of or placing agency for any child notifies a local unit of administration, as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, that the child may become eligible for enrollment in the educational programs of a local unit of administration, such local unit of administration shall request the transfer of the educational records and Individualized Education Programs and all education related evaluations, assessments, social histories, and observations of the child from the appropriate local unit of administration no later than ten days after receiving notification. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the custodian of the records has the obligation to transfer these records and the local unit of administration has the right to receive, review, and utilize these records. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, upon the request of a local unit of administration responsible for providing educational services to a child described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, or the Department of Human Services shall furnish to the local unit of administration all medical and educational records in the possession of the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, or the Department of Human Services pertaining to any such child, except where consent of a parent or legal guardian is required in order to authorize the release of any of such records, in which event the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, or the Department of Human Services shall obtain such consent from the parent or guardian prior to such release.
    4. Any local unit of administration which serves a child pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall receive in the form of annual grants in state funding for that child the difference between the actual state funds received for that child pursuant to Code Section 20-2-161 and the reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in educating that child, calculated pursuant to regulations adopted by the State Board of Education. Each local board of education shall be held harmless by the state from expending local funds for educating students pursuant to this Code section; provided, however, that this shall only apply to students who are unable to leave the facility in which they have been placed.
    5. Enrollment of an eligible child pursuant to this Code section shall be effectuated in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education.
    6. For purposes of the accountability program provided for in Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 14 of this title, all facilities serving children described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be, consistent with department rules and regulations, treated as a single local education agency; provided, however, that this paragraph shall not be construed to alleviate any responsibilities of the local unit of administration of the school district in which any such children are physically present for the provision of education for any such children.
    7. The Department of Education, the State Charter Schools Commission, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the local units of administration where Department of Education, State Charter Schools Commission, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, or Department of Human Services placements, facilities, or contract facilities are located shall jointly develop procedures binding on all agencies implementing the provisions of this Code section applicable to children and youth in the physical or legal custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice, under the care or physical or legal custody of the Department of Human Services, or under the physical custody of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

(Code 1981, §20-2-133, enacted by Ga. L. 1987, p. 1169, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 612, § 4; Ga. L. 1989, p. 1693, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 1825, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1983, § 20; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1453, § 1; Ga. L. 1998, p. 1582, § 1; Ga. L. 1999, p. 296, § 24; Ga. L. 2000, p. 618, § 96; Ga. L. 2006, p. 1052, § 1/SB 618; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 2-2/HB 228; Ga. L. 2010, p. 286, § 15/SB 244; Ga. L. 2013, p. 187, § 1/SB 115; Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 4-32/HB 242; Ga. L. 2016, p. 443, § 2-1/SB 367; Ga. L. 2018, p. 330, § 1/HB 853.)

The 2016 amendment, effective July 1, 2016, in paragraph (b)(1), substituted "Except for children who are committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice and receiving education services under Code Section 20-2-2084.1, the" for "The" at the beginning of the second sentence, made a minor capitalization change, and added the proviso at the end of the last sentence; and, in paragraph (b)(8), inserted "the State Charter Schools Commission," near the beginning and inserted "State Charter Schools Commission," near the middle.

The 2018 amendment, effective July 1, 2018, in subsection (a), substituted "described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Code section" for "in a placement operated by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities or for which payment is made by the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Human Services or any of its divisions, or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and no child who is in the physical or legal custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice, under the care or physical or legal custody of the Department of Human Services or any of its divisions, or under the physical custody of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities" in the middle of the third sentence; substituted the present provisions of paragraph (b)(1) for the former provisions, which read: "Any child, except a child in a secure residential facility as defined in Code Section 15-11-2, as specifically provided in this paragraph, who is in the physical or legal custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Human Services; in a placement operated by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; or in a facility or placement paid for by the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Human Services or any of its divisions, or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and who is physically present within the geographical area served by a local unit of administration for any length of time is eligible for enrollment in the educational programs of that local unit of administration; provided, however, that the child meets the age eligibility requirements established by this article. Except for children who are committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice and receiving education services under Code Section 20-2-2084.1, the local unit of administration of the school district in which such child is present shall be responsible for the provision of all educational programs, including special education and related services, at no charge so long as the child is physically present in the school district. A child shall be considered in the physical or legal custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Human Services or any of its divisions if custody has been awarded either temporarily or permanently by court order or by voluntary agreement, or if the child has been admitted or placed according to an individualized treatment or service plan of the Department of Human Services. A child shall be considered in a facility or placement paid for or operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities if the child has been admitted or placed according to an individualized treatment or service plan of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. No child in a secure residential facility as defined in Code Section 15-11-2, regardless of his or her custody status, shall be eligible for enrollment in the educational programs of the local unit of administration of the school district in which such facility is located. No child or youth in the custody of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice and confined in a facility as a result of a sentence imposed by a court shall be eligible for enrollment in the educational programs of the local unit of administration of the school district where such child or youth is being held; provided, however, that such child or youth may be eligible for enrollment in a state charter school pursuant to Code Section 20-2-2084.1."; deleted "by a parent or" following "in a facility" near the middle of paragraph (b)(2); and inserted "subparagraph (A) of" in paragraphs (b)(3) through (b)(5) and (b)(7). See Editor's notes for applicability.

Code Commission notes.

- Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1991, "The Department" was substituted for "The State Department" at the beginning of paragraph (b)(7) (now paragraph (b)(8)).

Editor's notes.

- Ga. L. 2000, p. 618, § 1, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "This Act shall be known and may be cited as the 'A Plus Education Reform Act of 2000.'"

Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 5-1/HB 242, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: "This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2014, and shall apply to all offenses which occur and juvenile proceedings commenced on and after such date. Any offense occurring before January 1, 2014, shall be governed by the statute in effect at the time of such offense and shall be considered a prior adjudication for the purpose of imposing a disposition that provides for a different penalty for subsequent adjudications, of whatever class, pursuant to this Act. The enactment of this Act shall not affect any prosecutions for acts occurring before January 1, 2014, and shall not act as an abatement of any such prosecutions."

Ga. L. 2018, p. 330, § 2/HB 853, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "This Act shall not be construed to create a precedent that state education funds always follow a student who leaves a public school to attend a private school or be admitted to a facility, if not already provided for by law."

Law reviews.

- For article on the 2016 amendment of this Code section, see 33 Georgia St. U.L. Rev. 139 (2016).

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Free education of school-age children.

- School-age children placed in facilities by the Department of Human Resources or the Department of Children and Youth Services (now the Department of Juvenile Justice) must be provided with a free education by the local school system in which the facility is located. 1996 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 96-23.

Withholding transferring of student's record due to unpaid charges not permitted.

- Local school boards are authorized to assess charges against students for lost and unnecessarily damaged textbooks or library materials, but local school boards may not withhold transferring a student's record to another school system when there are unpaid charges or student fees. 1990 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 90-29.

RESEARCH REFERENCES

ALR.

- AIDS infection as affecting right to attend public school, 60 A.L.R.4th 15.

PART 2 C OMPETENCIES AND CORE CURRICULUM

20-2-140. State Board of Education to establish uniformly sequenced content standards; college and career readiness competency standards.

  1. The State Board of Education shall establish uniformly sequenced content standards that each student is expected to master prior to completion of the student's public school education. The state board shall adopt content standards for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Each local unit of administration may expand and enrich the content standards to the extent it deems necessary and appropriate for its students and communities. Each local school system shall adopt its own curriculum which shall include appropriate instruction in the content standards.
  2. The State Board of Education, working with the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, shall establish college and career readiness standards to demonstrate competency in reading, writing, and mathematics aligned with the content standards adopted by the state board pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section with the level of performance necessary to meet college-readiness standards in the state's technical colleges, community colleges, state colleges, and universities and in other advanced training programs.
  3. The State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia shall require its institutions to accept core coursework completed by high school students for purposes of admission into its institutions.

(Code 1981, §20-2-140, enacted by Ga. L. 1985, p. 1657, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1169, § 1; Ga. L. 2011, p. 635, § 3/HB 186; Ga. L. 2012, p. 689, § 1/HB 713; Ga. L. 2015, p. 1376, § 4/HB 502.)

The 2015 amendment, effective July 1, 2015, substituted the present provisions of subsection (a) for the former provisions, which read: "The State Board of Education shall establish competencies that each student is expected to master prior to completion of the student's public school education. The state board shall also establish competencies for which each student should be provided opportunities, at the discretion of the student and the student's parents, to master. Based upon these foregoing competencies, the state board shall adopt a uniformly sequenced core curriculum for grades kindergarten through 12. Each local unit of administration shall include this uniformly sequenced core curriculum as the basis for its own curriculum, although each local unit may sequence, expand, and enrich this curriculum to the extent it deems necessary and appropriate for its students and communities."; and substituted "standards to demonstrate competency in reading, writing, and mathematics aligned with the core content standards" for "competency standards in reading, writing, and mathematics aligned with the core curriculum" near the middle of subsection (b).

Code Commission notes.

- Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2011, "the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia" was substituted for "the Board of Technical and Adult Education" in subsections (b) and (c).

Editor's notes.

- Ga. L. 2011, p. 635, § 1/HB 186, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "The General Assembly finds that:

"(1) Our state's long-term prosperity depends on supporting an education system that is designed to prepare our students for a global economy;

"(2) High school students and parents must understand that they have options for career pathway programs of study that join a college-ready academic core with quality career, technical, and agricultural education studies that result in a high school diploma and preparation for success in advanced training, an associate's degree, a baccalaureate degree, and a career;

"(3) Local school systems must provide every student with choices that are academically rigorous and aligned to opportunities in high-demand, high-skill, high-wage career fields and to postsecondary career and technical pathways leading to advanced credentials or degrees;

"(4) The State Board of Education, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the Board of Technical and Adult Education must work together so that academic courses that are embedded within career, technical, and agricultural education courses (CTAE) are given appropriate academic credit at the high school level and recognized at the postsecondary level;

"(5) Teachers should be provided with professional development opportunities that enforce the academically rigorous standards in relevant, project based coursework;

"(6) High school students should clearly understand the options for dual high school and postsecondary credit, and the state should properly fund these options;

"(7) Every state education agency, postsecondary institution, and local school system should provide all high school students with opportunities for accelerated learning through dual credit coursework leading to at least six postsecondary credits and have as a collective goal to graduate every student with postsecondary credit;

"(8) Georgia's strategic industries must be partners in our public education system (secondary and postsecondary) so that they are assured that our high school graduates are prepared for success in the workforce;

"(9) Georgia's public education system must incorporate many different types of assessments and certificates into their programs so that a student's skill level is assessed and that it also has meaning to them for postsecondary and career success; and

"(10) Georgia's students must understand that a high school diploma and some form of postsecondary credential are key to success in the workforce and earning a family living wage."

Law reviews.

- For article on the 2011 amendment of this Code section, see 28 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 115 (2011). For article, "Education: Elementary and Secondary Education," see 28 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 115 (2011).

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

Interscholastic sports not essential to prescribed curriculum.

- Although an important part of a school's program, interscholastic sports are extracurricular and are not essential to the prescribed curriculum which must be made available to all of Georgia's children. Smith v. Crim, 240 Ga. 390, 240 S.E.2d 884 (1977).

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

State board may require a lay advisory group's approval as to the textbooks the board selects, provided that in so doing the board continues to exercise the board's own independent judgment and responsibility in making the final decisions concerning the textbook selection and does not in fact attempt to delegate the board's decision-making powers to the advisory committees. 1977 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 77-13.

Teaching creationism.

- Teachers may teach only evolution or teachers may teach other theories concerning the origin of life, but the decision about what to teach must have a secular purpose and teachers may not intentionally endorse religion or a religious practice in the teachers' teachings. 1996 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 96-6.

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 68 Am. Jur. 2d, Schools, § 349 et seq.

C.J.S.

- 78A C.J.S., Schools and School Districts, § 1074 et seq.

Cases Citing Georgia Code 20-2-133 From Courtlistener.com

Total Results: 1

Gwinnett County School District v. Cox

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2011-05-16

Citation: 710 S.E.2d 773, 289 Ga. 265, 2011 Fulton County D. Rep. 1734, 2011 Ga. LEXIS 388

Snippet: education to such disabled students. See OCGA §§ 20-2-133; 20-2-152; 20-2-281; 20 USC § 1400 et seq. (the