HB48: HB48 Quality Basic Education Act; Refugee and International Students Equalization (RISE) program; establish

25 LC 56 0224 House Bill 48 By: Representatives Davis of the 87th, Scott of the 76th, and Schofield of the 63rd A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the1 "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to establish the Refugee a nd International Students2 Equalization (RISE) program to provide for funding and wraparou nd services for eligible3 students; to provide for the definition of "international stude nt"; to establish a program4 weight and teacher-student ratio for the RISE program in the QB E funding formula; to5 provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date a nd applicability; to repeal6 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, the "Quality10 Basic Education Act," is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:11 "20-2-156.1.12 (a)(1) As used in this Code section, the term 'international student' means any school-age13 child, regardless of his or her citizenship or immigration status, who:14 (A) Was born outside of the United States;15 (B) Currently resides in this state;16 H. B. 48 - 1 - 25 LC 56 0224 (C) Is currently enrolled in a public school in this state; and17 (D) Within the previous 36 months, enrolled for the first time in a public school in this18 state.19 (2) Such term shall include, but shall not be limited to, unac companied alien, asylum20 seeking, and refugee children, as defined under federal immigration law, who meet the21 criteria set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1) of this subsection.22 (b) The State Board of Education shall create a program for international students, subject23 to appropriation by the General Assembly. The purpose of such program is to provide24 wraparound services, including education, housing, medical, cou nseling, nutrition, and25 transportation services, directly to international students to support such students'26 elementary and secondary education. The State Board of Education shall prescribe such27 rules and regulations regarding eligibility criteria and standards as may be needed to carry28 out the provisions of this Code section. This program may also be referred to as the29 Refugee and International Students Equalization (RISE) program."30 SECTION 2.31 Said article is further amended in Code Section 20-2-161, relat ing to the Quality Basic32 Education Formula, by revising subsection (b) as follows:33 "(b) As the cost of instructional programs varies depending upon the teacher-student ratios34 and specific services typically required to address the special needs of students enrolled,35 state authorized instructional programs shall have the followin g program weights and36 teacher-student ratios:37 (1) Kindergarten program ......................................38 39 40 41 1.6901 weight and 1 to 15 ratio H. B. 48 - 2 - 25 LC 56 0224 (2) Kindergarten early intervention program .......................42 43 44 45 2.0951 weight and 1 to 11 ratio (3) Primary grades program (1-3) ................................46 47 48 49 1.3029 weight and 1 to 17 ratio (4) Primary grades early intervention program (1-3) .................50 51 52 53 1.8388 weight and 1 to 11 ratio (5) Upper elementary grades program (4-5) ........................54 55 56 57 1.0417 weight and 1 to 23 ratio (6) Upper elementary grades early intervention program (4-5) . ........58 59 60 61 1.8340 weight and 1 to 11 ratio (7) Middle school program (6-8) .................................62 63 64 65 1.1439 weight and 1 to 20 ratio H. B. 48 - 3 - 25 LC 56 0224 (8) High school general education program (9-12) ..................66 67 68 69 1.0000 weight and 1 to 23 ratio (9) Career, technical, and agricultural education70 laboratory program (9-12) ......................................71 72 73 74 1.1762 weight and 1 to 20 ratio (10) Program for persons with disabilities:75 C a t e g o r y I...................................................76 77 78 79 2.4763 weight and 1 to 8 ratio (11) Program for persons with disabilities:80 C a t e g o r y I I ..................................................81 82 83 84 2.9213 weight and 1 to 6.5 ratio (12) Program for persons with disabilities:85 C a t e g o r y I I I .................................................86 87 88 89 3.7151 weight and 1 to 5 ratio H. B. 48 - 4 - 25 LC 56 0224 (13) Program for persons with disabilities:90 C a t e g o r y I V .................................................91 92 93 94 6.0106 weight and 1 to 3 ratio (14) Program for persons with disabilities:95 C a t e g o r y V ..................................................96 97 98 99 2.5307 weight and 1 to 8 ratio (15) Program for intellectually gifted students:100 C a t e g o r y V I .................................................101 102 103 104 1.7340 weight and 1 to 12 ratio (16) Remedial education program ...............................105 106 107 1.3698 weight and 1 to 15 ratio (17) Alternative education program ..............................108 109 110 111 1.5026 weight and 1 to 15 ratio H. B. 48 - 5 - 25 LC 56 0224 (18) English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) program . ........112 113 114 115 2.6313 weight and 1 to 7 ratio (19) Refugee and International Students Equalization (RISE) program ...116 117 118 119 1.2000 weight and 1 to 7 ratio" SECTION 3.120 This Act shall become effective July 1, 2025, and shall be appl icable beginning in121 the 2026-2027 school year and each school year thereafter.122 SECTION 4.123 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.124 H. B. 48 - 6 -