SB179: SB179 Education; the academic and disciplinary records of each transferring student shall be provided within five days; require

26 SB 179/AP Senate Bill 179 By: Senators Dixon of the 45th, Gooch of the 51st, Cowsert of the 46th, Kennedy of the 18th, Ginn of the 47th and others AS PASSED A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 elementary and secondary education, so as to provide that, begi nning in the 2031-20322 school year, a computer science course shall be a high school g raduation requirement; to3 provide for certain computer science courses to be substituted for units of credit graduation4 requirements in certain other subject areas; to provide for such exception; to revise legislative5 findings; to increase the allowable charge per student per semester for each Georgia Virtual6 School course from $250.00 to $350.00; to require local school systems to allow the7 representatives of certain organizations to speak with students during school hours; to require8 certain organizations to provide notice; to require local schoo l superintendents to provide9 approval of certain activities by certain organizations during school hours; to require local10 school superintendents to provide written explanation for denia l of certain activities; to11 provide for legislative intent; to provide for a definition; to include certain online schools in12 the definition of "private school"; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws;13 and for other purposes.14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:15 SECTION 1.16 S. B. 179 - 1 - 26 SB 179/AP Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and17 secondary education, is amended by revising Code Section 20-2-1 49.3, relating to18 requirements for computer science education, as follows:19 "20-2-149.3.20 (a) The General Assembly finds that:21 (1) Education in computer science is a critical need for the students of Georgia for the22 twenty-first century; and23 (2) Less than 0.5 percent of high school graduates have taken a computer science course;24 (3) There are thousands of unfulfilled computer science jobs in the state; and25 (4) The logical critical thinking skills taught by computer science are now very valuable26 in many noncomputer science jobs, as technology has become embe dded in most27 professions.28 (b) As used in this Code section, the term:29 (1) 'Computer science' means the study of computers, algorithm ic processes, coding,30 computer science ethics, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and logical critical31 thinking, including computer principles, their hardware and sof tware designs, their32 implementation, and their impact on society.33 (2) 'Computer science courses and content' means high school c ourses that teach34 computer science as stand-alone implementations and middle school courses that provide35 instruction in computer science in stand-alone implementations or by being embedded36 in other subjects and focus on how to create and understand technology, rather than by37 simply using technology.38 (3) 'High-quality professional learning' means professional development activities that:39 (A) Clarify the conceptual foundations of computer science;40 (B) Teach research based practices, including hands-on and inquiry based learning; and41 (C) Are intended for teachers with or without prior exposure to computer science.42 S. B. 179 - 2 - 26 SB 179/AP (4) 'High-quality professional learning providers' means institutions of higher education43 in this state, local school systems, nonprofit organizations, o r private entities that have44 successfully designed, implemented, and scaled high-quality pro fessional learning for45 teachers and are approved or recommended by the State Board of Education in46 coordination with the Department of Education.47 (5) 'Offer' means providing a course taught by a computer science teacher:48 (A) Who is onsite at the physical location of the school; or49 (B) Who is not onsite at the physical location of the school b ut conducts the course50 through virtual means with a proctor onsite at the physical location of the school.51 (c)(1) Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year:52 (A) Each local school system shall provide that at least one high school in its school53 system offer a course in computer science;54 (B) Each local school system shall provide that all middle schools in its school system55 offer instruction in exploratory computer science;56 (C) Each state charter school that serves high school students shall offer a course in57 computer science;58 (D) Each state charter school that serves middle school students shall offer instruction59 in exploratory computer science;60 (E) Each local school system may provide that all elementary s chools in its school61 system offer instruction in exploratory computer science; and62 (F) Each state charter school that serves elementary school st udents may offer63 instruction in exploratory computer science.64 (2) Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, each local school system shall provide that65 at least 50 percent of the high schools in its school system of fer a course in computer66 science.67 (3) Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each local school system shall provide that68 all high schools in its school system offer a course in computer science.69 S. B. 179 - 3 - 26 SB 179/AP (4)(A) Beginning in the 2031-2032 school year, each local boar d of education shall70 require all students who will graduate in 2037 or later, as a c ondition of graduation71 from high school, to complete a course in computer science or a career, technical, and72 agricultural education (CTAE) course embedded with computer science which meets73 the requirements provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.74 (B) The course required in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph may be earned by75 students in any of grades eight through 12 and shall:76 (i) Meet or exceed the content standards and any other require ments prescribed by77 the State Board of Education for such courses;78 (ii) Be made available in a traditional classroom setting, a b lended learning79 environment, or an online or other technology based format that is tailored to meet the80 needs of each participating student; and81 (iii) Not increase the number of credits required for graduation.82 (C)(i) Except as provided in division (ii) of this subparagraph, a full-credit computer83 science course that meets the requirements provided in subparag raph (B) of this84 paragraph shall be eligible to satisfy the course required in subparagraph (A) of this85 paragraph and one unit of credit graduation requirement for one of the following:86 (I) One unit of math credit; provided, however, that such unit of credit shall not be87 a substitute for Algebra: Concepts and Connections or its equiv alent, Geometry:88 Concepts and Connections or its equivalent, or Advanced Algebra : Concepts and89 Connections or its equivalent;90 (II) One unit of science credit; provided, however, that such unit of credit shall not91 be a substitute for Biology or an equivalent, Physical Science, Physics, Chemistry,92 Earth Systems, Environmental Science, or an advanced placement or international93 baccalaureate course;94 (III) One unit of CTAE credit;95 (IV) One unit of Modern Language or Latin credit;96 S. B. 179 - 4 - 26 SB 179/AP (V) One unit of Fine Arts credit; or97 (VI) One unit of elective credit.98 (ii) A student may be permitted to earn more than one unit of credit graduation99 requirement by completing more than one computer science course that implements100 a minimum course of instruction based on content standards prescribed by the State101 Board of Education and which is separate and distinct from such other computer102 science course completed by such student, and such student may be permitted to use103 multiple units of credit to offset other graduation requirement s as provided in this104 subparagraph; provided, however, that a student shall not be permitted to offset more105 than one unit of math credit and one unit of science credit; and, provided, further, that106 there shall be no limit to the number of offsets permitted for units of CTAE or elective107 credits.108 (D)(i) Except as provided in division (ii) of this subparagrap h, a full-credit CTAE109 course embedded with computer science that meets the requiremen ts provided in110 subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall be eligible to satisfy the full-credit course111 required in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph and one unit of credit graduation112 requirement for one of the following:113 (I) One unit of CTAE credit; or114 (II) One unit of elective credit.115 (ii) A student may be permitted to earn more than one unit of credit graduation116 requirement by completing more than one CTAE course embedded wi th computer117 science that implements a minimum course of instruction based on content standards118 prescribed by the State Board of Education and which is separat e and distinct from119 such other computer science course completed by such student, and such student may120 be permitted to use multiple units of credit to offset other graduation requirements as121 provided in this subparagraph.122 S. B. 179 - 5 - 26 SB 179/AP (E) The Department of Education shall establish, and the State Board of Education123 shall approve, the minimum criteria by which a CTAE course embedded with computer124 science may be approved.125 (d) The Department of Education shall ensure that the Georgia Virtual School operated126 pursuant to Code Section 20-2-319.1 has sufficient capacity to enable schools to utilize127 computer science courses to meet the needs of such schools as a result of this Code section.128 (e)(1) Subject to appropriations, grants shall be provided to eligible entities to deliver129 professional development programs for teachers providing instru ction in computer130 science courses and content.131 (2) Eligible entities shall include local school systems, consortia of local school systems,132 local charter schools, state charter schools, and high-quality professional learning133 providers working in partnership with local school systems.134 (3) Criteria for grant awards to eligible entities pursuant to this subsection shall include:135 (A) The number of teachers in a local school system that requi re training and the136 number of teachers in a local school system that have already received training; and137 (B) The willingness of local school systems to make available their teachers who have138 received training in computer science courses and content to provide computer science139 instruction in another local school system or systems.140 (4) The Department of Education shall submit a report on Decem ber 1 of each year to141 the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the142 chairperson of the Senate Education and Youth Committee, and th e chairperson of the143 House Committee on Education. Such report shall include the nu mber of teachers144 trained, the number of schools offering training, the number of students served and the145 demographics of such students, and a list of the eligible entit ies that provided the146 training."147 SECTION 2.148 S. B. 179 - 6 - 26 SB 179/AP Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 20-2-319.1, relating to the Georgia Virtual149 School, by revising paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b) as follows:150 "(2) The local school system shall pay to the department costs for tuition, materials, and151 fees directly related to the approved course taken by a student in its school system152 through the Georgia Virtual School; provided, however, that in no event shall the amount153 of tuition charged to and paid by the local school system on behalf of such student exceed154 $250.00 $350.00 per student per semester course; and provided, further, that, if a student155 participates in courses through the Georgia Virtual School that a r e i n e x c e s s o f t h e156 maximum number of courses a student may be enrolled in during a school day, such157 student shall be subject to the cost of tuition not to exceed $250.00 $350.00 per student158 per semester course.159 (3) Students in home study programs and private schools in thi s state may enroll in160 courses through the Georgia Virtual School at no cost, if appropriations are provided for161 such purpose in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection. If appropriations are162 not provided or if appropriations are provided but have been expended for such purpose,163 students in home study programs and private schools in this state may enroll in courses164 through the Georgia Virtual School based on availability of slots; provided, however, that165 such students shall be subject to the cost o f tuition not to ex ceed $250.00 $350.00 per166 student per semester course."167 SECTION 3.168 Said chapter is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:169 "20-2-324.10.170 (a) As used in this Code section, the term 'patriotic society' means a youth organization171 listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic soc iety that promotes good172 citizenship, civic education, and patriotism, including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts173 S. B. 179 - 7 - 26 SB 179/AP of America and its affiliated Georgia groups and councils and the Girl Scouts of the United174 States of America and its affiliated Georgia groups and councils.175 (b) To encourage local school systems to facilitate access for students to participate in176 citizenship, civic, and patriotic activities provided by a patriotic society, each local school177 system shall allow representatives of a patriotic society the o pportunity to speak with178 students to promote good citizenship, civic education, and patriotism during school hours.179 (c)(1) To speak with students during school hours pursuant to this Code section, a180 patriotic society shall submit a written request to a local school superintendent proposing181 a date and time to visit a school. Such notice shall be submitted at least 30 days before182 the proposed date and time.183 (2) Such notice shall also include the purpose of the visit, t he amount of time the184 patriotic society will be on school grounds, and the speakers and representatives of such185 patriotic society who will be in attendance.186 (3) Within seven days of receiving the request, the local scho ol superintendent shall187 provide verbal or written approval or denial of the specific date and time requested by the188 patriotic society. If the local school superintendent denies such request, the local school189 superintendent shall provide, in writing, a comparable, alternative date and time for the190 patriotic society to visit.191 (4) If the local school superintendent denies the request and does not provide an192 alternative date and time, the local school superintendent shal l provide the patriotic193 society with a written explanation of the reasoning for such denial without an alternative194 date and time.195 (d) It is the intent of the General Assembly that if any provi sion of this Code section is196 found invalid by a court of law, this Code section shall be void and repealed in its entirety."197 SECTION 4.198 S. B. 179 - 8 - 26 SB 179/AP Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 20-2-690, relating to educational entities,199 requirements for private schools and home study programs, and learning pod protection, by200 revising paragraph (3) of subsection (b) as follows:201 "(3) The institution provides instruction each 12 months for the equivalent of 180 school202 days of education with each school day consisting of at least f our and one-half school203 hours; provided, however, that a nonpublic institution which meets the requirements of204 paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) of this subsection and which solel y provides virtual205 instruction shall be deemed a pri vate school notwithstanding wh ether such institution206 provides instruction each 12 months for the equivalent of 180 school days of education207 with each school day consisting of at least four and one-half school hours;"208 SECTION 5.209 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.210 S. B. 179 - 9 -