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.
<ins>(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:
</ins>
<ins>(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.</ins> <del>Reserved."
</del> SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.