SB171: SB171 Quality Basic Education Act; State Board of Education to develop an advanced mathematics pathway; require

26 SB 171/CSFA Senate Bill 171 By: Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Hickman of the 4th, Burns of the 23rd, Kemp of the 38th, Payne of the 54th and others AS PASSED SENATE A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Of ficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as2 to require the State Board of Education to develop an advanced mathematics pathway; to3 require the state board to adopt policies related to such advanced mathematics pathway; to4 authorize local school systems to offer the advanced mathematics pathway in grades three5 through five; to require local school systems to offer the advanced mathematics pathway in6 grades six through eight; to provide for reporting; to authoriz e local school systems to7 provide related supports and services; to provide for related m atters; to repeal conflicting8 laws; and for other purposes.9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10 SECTION 1.11 Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,12 relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Educa tion Act," is amended by13 adding a new Code section to read as follows:14 S. B. 171 - 1 - 26 SB 171/CSFA "20-2-159.6.15 (a) On or before January 1, 2027, the State Board of Education shall develop an advanced16 mathematics pathway for grades three through eight which culminates in students taking17 a high school level mathematics course in middle school and shall adopt policies for such18 advanced mathematics pathway. Such policies shall:19 (1) Provide for criteria for students to qualify for such advanced mathematics pathway;20 (2) Provide for the automatic enrollment of qualifying student s in such advanced21 mathematics pathway for grades six through eight;22 (3) Permit the parent or guardian of a student who qualifies for automatic enrollment to23 opt his or her child out of such automatic enrollment;24 (4) Permit the parent or guardian of a student who does not qu alify for automatic25 enrollment to enroll such student in such advanced mathematics pathway if such student26 scored above the fiftieth percentile statewide on the end-of-gr ade assessment in27 mathematics in the school year immediately preceding the school year in which such28 student intends to enroll in such advanced mathematics pathway; and29 (5) Require that information be provided to students and paren ts or guardians on the30 advanced mathematics pathway and enrollment in such advanced mathematics pathway.31 (b)(1) Each local school system shall be authorized to offer the advanced mathematics32 pathway developed by the State Board of Education in grades three through five. Such33 local school systems shall be authorized to offer additional su pports and services to34 students enrolled in such pathway and to teachers who provide instruction to students in35 the advanced mathematics pathway.36 (2) Each local school system shall offer the advanced mathematics pathway developed37 by the State Board of Education in grades six through eight.38 (3) Each local school system shall be authorized to offer additional supports and services39 to students enrolled in the advanced mathematics pathway.40 S. B. 171 - 2 - 26 SB 171/CSFA (c) The Department of Education shall submit a report by December 1 of each year to the41 Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the42 chairperson of the Senate Education and Youth Committee, and th e chairperson of the43 House Committee on Education. Such report shall include the following information from44 each local school system from the preceding school year disaggregated by ethnicity, sex,45 socioeconomic status, disability, language proficiency, grade l evel, and school, as46 applicable:47 (1) The number of students who qualified for automatic enrollm ent in the advanced48 mathematics pathway and were automatically enrolled in the adva nced mathematics49 pathway;50 (2) The number of students who qualified for automatic enrollm ent in the advanced51 mathematics pathway and opted out of such automatic enrollment;52 (3) The number of students who did not qualify for automatic enrollment and enrolled53 in the advanced mathematics pathway;54 (4) A list of courses offered as part of the advanced mathemat ics pathway and any55 related services or supports offered to students; and56 (5) The scores on the end-of-grade assessment in mathematics f or each category of57 students listed in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection."58 SECTION 2.59 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. 60 S. B. 171 - 3 -