Georgia CommonsHB 1123: Quality Basic Education Act; require certain schools that offer after-school programs to make such programs available to pre-kindergarten students
Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action May 5, 2026 · Passed
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
House Bill 1123 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Jones of the 47th, Erwin of the 32nd, Hilton of the 48th, Ballard of the 147th, Donatucci of the 105th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to require certain schools that offer after-school programs to make such programs available to pre-kindergarten students on the same basis as the school's other students; to provide for limited waivers of such requirement; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by revising Code Section 20-2-308, which is reserved, as follows:
"20-2-308.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'After-school program' means any program conducted after regular school hours.
(2) 'Qualifying school' means a public school that:
(A) Has students enrolled in any of the following programs identified in subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-161:
(i) Kindergarten program;
(ii) Primary grades program; or
(iii) Upper elementary grades program; and
(B) Provides for and operates one or more pre-kindergarten programs as part of Georgia's Pre-K Program.
(b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each qualifying school that offers one or more after-school programs shall make such after-school programs available to students enrolled in such school's pre-kindergarten programs on the same basis as other students enrolled in such school.
(c) Upon receiving a written request from a qualifying school that includes an explanation detailing the extenuating circumstances which support such request, the Department of Early Care and Learning shall be authorized to waive the requirements of subsection (b) of this Code section for such qualifying school for a period not to exceed one school year per written request. A qualifying school seeking such a waiver for more than one school year shall be required to submit a new request to the Department of Early Care and Learning for each school year. Reserved."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.