House Bill 192 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Gambill of the 15th, McDonald III of the 26th, Hong of the 103rd, Dubnik
of the 29th, and Wade of the 9th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to
include specific references to programs included in the High-demand Career List published
by the State Workforce Development Board with respect to the State Board of Education's
minimum course of study in career education for students in grades six through 12; to
establish an updated list of the state models and industry required content standards for
focused programs of study to be developed by the Department of Education and approved
by the State Board of Education and to require that such programs be aligned with programs
included in such High-demand Career List; to extend a final report deadline and an automatic
repealer for a program that allows certain students participating in the Dual Enrollment
program to access HOPE grant funds for eligible CTAE courses; to require that the annual
competitive grant program established by the State Board of Education for renovation,
modernization, replacement, or purchase of equipment for the enhancement of certain
programs shall also include programs that are included in such High-demand Career List; to
provide for individual college and career plans for students in grades six through 12; to
repeal a competitive grant program; to repeal requirements for certain grants; to repeal
certain powers of the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia relative to
reporting a list of the courses that have been approved by the Board of Regents of the
University System of Georgia and the State Board of the Technical College System of
Georgia to be transferrable between institutions of the university system and units of the
technical college system; to provide for rules and regulations; to make conforming changes;
to provide for definitions; to revise a short title; to amend Chapter 14 of Title 34 of the
Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the State Workforce Development Board,
so as to provide for evaluation methodology, reports, and purpose; to provide for a short title;
to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Top State for Talent Act."
SECTION 2.
Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, is amended by
revising Code Section 20-2-145.1, relating to career education, as follows:
"20-2-145.1.
The State Board of Education shall prescribe a minimum course of study in career
education for students in grades six through 12. Such minimum course of study shall be
age appropriate and shall include, but not be limited to, career exploration and career
oriented learning experiences <ins>in programs included in the High-demand Career List
published by the State Workforce Development Board as provided in Code Section
34-14-3.</ins> Career oriented learning experiences shall include, but not be limited to,
participation in work based learning programs such as internships, apprenticeships,
cooperative education, or employability skill development. The State Board of Education
shall ensure that career oriented learning experiences include rigorous industry
credentialing, as defined in Code Section 20-2-326, if such rigorous industry credentialing
has been created or endorsed by Georgia employers."
SECTION 3.
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-159.1, relating to focused
programs of study, as follows:
"20-2-159.1.
(a) The Department of Education shall develop, and the State Board of Education shall
approve, state models and industry required content standards, after consultation with
industries in Georgia and in collaboration with the Technical College System of Georgia
and the University System of Georgia to ensure alignment with postsecondary
opportunities, for the following focused programs of study, as defined in Code Section
20-2-326, <del>including, but not limited to:
(1) Agriculture, food, and natural resources;
(2) Architecture and construction;
(3) Arts, audio-video technology, and communications;
(4) Business, management, and administration;
(5) Education and training;
(6) Finance;
(7) Health science;
(8) Hospitality and tourism;
(9) Human services;
(10) Information technology;
(11) Law, public safety, and security;
(12) Manufacturing;
(13) Government and public administration;
(14) Marketing, sales, and service;
(15) Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;
(16) Transportation, distribution, and logistics;
(17) Energy; and
</del>
<del>(18) Lifeguarding and aquatic safety.
</del> <ins>(1) Advanced manufacturing;
(2) Construction;
(3) Supply chain and transportation;
(4) Arts, entertainment, and design;
(5) Hospitality, events, and tourism;
(6) Financial services;
(7) Education;
(8) Healthcare and human services;
(9) Public service and safety;
(10) Agriculture;
(11) Energy and natural resources;
(12) Digital technology;
(13) Marketing and sales; and
(14) Management and entrepreneurship.
</ins> <del>Such focused programs of study may be combined around these and other related clusters.
</del> (b) The focused programs of study established pursuant to this Code section may include
or be revised to include industry certifications or industry credentialing, as defined in Code
Section 20-2-326, pertinent to any such focused program of study. <ins>The</ins> <del>After consultation
with employers and industries in Georgia, the</del> Department of Education and the Technical
College System of Georgia shall jointly establish a list of industry credentials that are
required by Georgia employers, <ins>in alignment with programs included in the High-demand
Career List published by the State Workforce Development Board as provided in Code
Section 34-14-3.</ins> Such list shall be made available on the Department of Education and the
Technical College System of Georgia <ins>public</ins> websites. Such list shall be annually reviewed
and updated as appropriate and made available prior to the beginning of the annual
competitive grant application process provided for in subsection (j) of Code Section
20-2-260."
SECTION 4.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-2-161.3, relating to the "Dual Enrollment
Act," purpose, dual credit courses, eligibility for participation, eligibility for secondary
course credits, eligibility to meet high school graduation requirements, eligibility for award
of high school diploma, funding, limitations on total hours, exceptions, and eligibility for
payment, by revising subsection (d) as follows:
"(d) In consultation with and subject to approval by the commission, the department shall
develop appropriate forms and counseling guidelines for the program and shall make such
forms and guidelines available to eligible high schools and eligible postsecondary
institutions. No later than the first day of February each year, each eligible high school
shall provide general information about the program, including such forms, to all its
eligible high school students. An eligible high school shall also provide counseling
services to such students and their parents or guardians before the students enroll in the
program. Prior to participating in the program, the student and the student's parent or
guardian shall sign the form provided by the eligible high school or by an eligible
postsecondary institution stating that they have received the counseling specified in this
subsection and that they understand the responsibilities that shall be assumed in
participating in the program. Program information and materials shall be provided to each
eighth grade public school student at the time the student is developing his or her individual
<del>graduation</del> <ins>college and career</ins> plan as required by Code Section 20-2-327."
SECTION 5.
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-161.4, relating to accessing
HOPE scholarship funds for dual enrolled students and reports, as follows:
"20-2-161.4.
(a)(1) Beginning July 1, 2023, each student participating in the Dual Enrollment program
provided for in Code Section 20-2-161.3 who is eligible for a HOPE grant pursuant to
Code Section 20-3-519.5 shall be allowed to access HOPE grant funds for eligible CTAE
courses, as defined in Code Section 20-2-161.3, irrespective of whether such student has
reached any maximum credit hour cap provided for in Code Section 20-2-161.3.
(2) For three years beginning on July 1, 2023, the Georgia Student Finance Commission,
in collaboration with the Technical College System of Georgia, shall collect and report
data on:
(A) Student enrollment in and completion of at least one eligible CTAE course, as
defined in Code Section 20-2-161.3, as part of the Dual Enrollment program provided
for in Code Section 20-2-161.3;
(B) HOPE grant funding and Dual Enrollment program funding, including, but not
limited to, the number of students who received such funding and the maximum, mean,
median, and mode amounts of such funding received by students;
(C) Postsecondary credits earned by students who received such funding;
(D) The number of students who enrolled in a postsecondary degree program after
completing a program of study that includes at least one eligible CTAE course, as
defined in Code Section 20-2-161.3, as part of the Dual Enrollment program provided
for in Code Section 20-2-161.3; and
(E) The number of students employed in a high-demand field after completing a
focused program of study identified by the State Board of the Technical College System
of Georgia as part of the High Demand Apprenticeship Program provided for in Code
Section 20-4-152.
No later than January 1 each year, the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall provide
an interim report to the Governor, the <del>Lieutenant Governor</del> <ins>President of the Senate,</ins> the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the director of the Office of Planning and
Budget, and the chairpersons of the House Committee on Education, the Senate
Education and Youth Committee, the House Committee on Higher Education, and the
Senate Higher Education Committee. A final report shall be provided to the same no
later than December 1, <del>2027</del> <ins>2028.
</ins> (3) The Georgia Student Finance Commission, in consultation with the State Board of
Education, the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Office
of Workforce Development, shall establish rules and regulations to implement the
provisions of this subsection.
(b) This Code section shall stand repealed on June 30, <del>2027</del> <ins>2028."
</ins> SECTION 6.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-2-260, relating to capital outlay funds
generally under the "Quality Basic Education Act," by revising subsection (j) as follows:
"(j) The State Board of Education shall establish an annual competitive grant program for
renovation, modernization, replacement, or purchase of equipment for the enhancement of
programs that are <del>currently certified or in the process of achieving industry certification in
educational facilities that align with industry credentials on the list developed pursuant to
Code Section 20-2-159.1 or have been (1) linked to an occupation that addresses a critical
local or state-wide workforce need, (2) linked to an occupation that is identified as part of
the skilled trade industry, or (3) linked to an occupation that is identified in an emerging
field or technology</del> <ins>aligned with the priority areas identified by the State Workforce
Development Board and included in the High-demand Career List published by the State
Workforce Development Board as provided in Code Section 34-14-3.</ins> The State Board of
Education in awarding grants shall give priority to local programs that demonstrate local
industry support and postsecondary partnerships that are linked to the verified industry
need."
SECTION 7.
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-325, relating to the short title
relevant to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy Act," as
follows:
"20-2-325.
This part shall be known and may be cited as the <del>'Building Resourceful Individuals to
Develop Georgia's Economy Act.'</del> <ins>'Top State for Talent Act.'"
</ins> SECTION 8.
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-326, relating to definitions
relevant to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy Act," as
follows:
"20-2-326.
For purposes of this part, the term:
(1) 'Articulation' means agreement between a high school and a postsecondary institution
regarding the awarding of both secondary and postsecondary credit for a dual enrollment
course.
<del>(2) 'Choice technical high school' means a high school, other than the high school to
which a student is assigned by virtue of his or her residence and attendance zone, which
is designed to prepare a high school student for postsecondary education and for
employment in a career field. A choice technical high school may be operated by a local
school system or a technical school or college. A choice technical high school may also
be operated as a charter school under a governance board composed of parents,
employers, and representatives from the local board of education.
(3) 'Chronically low-performing high school' means a public high school in this state that
has a graduation rate of less than 60 percent for three consecutive years, as determined
in accordance with methodology established by the National Governors Association's
</del>
<del>Compact on High School Graduation Data, or that has received an unacceptable rating
for three consecutive years, as defined by the Office of Student Achievement.
(4)(2)</del> 'College and career academy' means a specialized school established as a charter
school or pursuant to a contract for a strategic waivers school system or charter system,
which formalizes a partnership that demonstrates a collaboration between business,
industry, and community stakeholders to advance work force development between one
or more local boards of education, a private individual, a private organization, or a state
or local public entity in cooperation with one or more postsecondary institutions.
<del>(5)(3)</del> 'Focused program of study' means a <ins>program of study with a</ins> rigorous academic
core combined with a focus in mathematics and science; a focus in humanities, fine arts,
and foreign language; or a coherent sequence of career pathway courses that is aligned
with graduation requirements established by the State Board of Education and content
standards established pursuant to Part 2 of this article that prepares a student for
postsecondary education or immediate employment after high school graduation.
<ins>(4) 'GAfutures.org' means the public website managed by the Georgia Student Finance
Commission to provide students with tools and information for higher education planning
and financial aid.
(5) 'Georgia MATCH' means the college admissions program for Georgia high school
students that is located at GAfutures.org.
</ins> (6) <ins>'Individual college and career plan'</ins> <del>'Graduation plan'</del> means a student specific plan
developed in accordance with subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-327 detailing the
courses necessary for a high school student to graduate from high school and to
successfully transition to postsecondary education and the work force.
(7) 'Industry certification' means a process of program evaluation that ensures that
individual programs meet state, national, or international industry standards in the areas
of curriculum, teacher qualification, lab specifications, equipment, and industry
involvement.
<del>(7.1)(8)</del> 'Industry credentialing' means a process through which students are assessed by
an independent third-party certifying entity using predetermined standards for knowledge,
skills, and competencies, resulting in the award of individual certification or state
licensure or an occupational competency that is state, nationally, or internationally
recognized.
<del>(8)(9)</del> 'Public college or university' means a two-year or four-year college, university, or
other institution under the auspices of the Board of Regents of the University System of
Georgia.
<del>(9) 'Small learning community' means an autonomous or semiautonomous small learning
environment within a large high school which is made up of a subset of students and
teachers for a two-year, three-year, or four-year period. The goal of a small learning
community is to achieve greater personalization of learning with each community led by
a principal or instructional leader. A small learning community blends academic studies
around a broad career or academic theme where teachers have common planning time to
connect teacher assignments and assessments to college and career readiness standards.
Students voluntarily apply for enrollment in a small learning community but must be
accepted, and such enrollment must be approved by the student's parent or guardian. A
small learning community also includes a college and career academy organized around
a specific career theme which integrates academic and career instruction, provides work
based learning opportunities, and prepares students for postsecondary education and
employment, with support through partnerships with local employers, community
organizations, and postsecondary institutions.
</del> (10) 'Teacher adviser <del>system'</del> means <del>a system where</del> an <del>individual professional</del> educator
in the school <ins>who</ins> assists a small group of students and their parents or guardians
throughout the students' high school careers to set postsecondary goals and help them
prepare programs of study, utilizing assessments and other data to track academic
progress on a regular basis; communicates frequently with parents or guardians; and
provides advisement, support, and encouragement as needed.
(11) 'Technical school or college' means a college, institution, or <del>other branch</del> <ins>unit</ins> of the
Technical College System of Georgia."
SECTION 9.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-2-327, relating to recognition of advanced
proficiency/honors courses and counseling and development of individual graduation plans
relevant to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy Act," by
revising subsection (c) as follows:
"(c)(1) Students in <del>the sixth, seventh, and eighth</del> grades <ins>six through 12</ins> shall be provided
counseling, advisement, career awareness, career interest and career demand inventories,
and information to assist them in evaluating their academic skills, career oriented
aptitudes, and career interests. Before the end of the second semester of the eighth grade,
students shall develop an individual <del>graduation</del> <ins>college and career</ins> plan based on their
academic skills, career oriented aptitudes, and career interests in consultation with their
parents, guardians, or individuals appointed by the parents or guardians to serve as their
designee. A student's individual <del>graduation</del> <ins>college and career</ins> plan shall be taken into
consideration when scheduling a student's courses in ninth grade. High school students
shall be provided guidance, advisement, and counseling annually that will enable them
to successfully update and implement their individual <del>graduation</del> <ins>college and career
</ins> plans, preparing them for a seamless transition to postsecondary study, further training,
or employment, including information regarding occupations, degrees, industry
credentials, certifications, and technical skills; work-ready skills in demand by Georgia
employers through the department's career pipeline website; and other career related
<del>inventories made available through the Technical College System of Georgia or the
Office of Student Achievement. Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, such
</del>
<del>guidance, advisement, and counseling for high school students shall include providing
career oriented aptitude and career interest guidance</del> <ins>information.</ins> An individual
<del>graduation</del> <ins>college and career</ins> plan shall:
(A) Include rigorous academic core subjects and focused coursework in mathematics
and science or in humanities, fine arts, and foreign language or sequenced career
pathway coursework;
(B) Incorporate provisions of a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP),
where applicable;
(C) Align educational and broad career goals and a student's course of study;
(D) Be based on the student's selected academic and career focus area as approved by
the student's parent or guardian;
(E) Include experience based, career oriented learning experiences which may include,
but not be limited to, participation in work based learning programs such as internships,
apprenticeships, cooperative education, and employability skill development;
(F) Include any applicable industry credentialing that pertains to the student's focused
program of study;
(G) Include opportunities for postsecondary studies through articulation, dual
enrollment, and joint enrollment;
(H) Be flexible to allow change in the course of study but be sufficiently structured to
meet graduation requirements and qualify the student for admission to postsecondary
education; <del>and
</del> (I) Be approved by the student and the student's parent or guardian with guidance from
the student's school counselor or teacher adviser;
<ins>(J) Include, beginning in the ninth grade, the creation and utilization of a GAfutures
account at GAfutures.org; and
(K) Include the utilization of Georgia MATCH.
</ins>
(2) An individual <del>graduation</del> <ins>college and career</ins> plan shall be reviewed annually, and
revised, if appropriate, upon approval by the student and the student's parent or guardian
with guidance from the student's school counselor or teacher adviser. An individual
<del>graduation</del> <ins>college and career</ins> plan may be changed at any time throughout a student's
high school career upon approval by the student and the student's parent or guardian with
guidance from the student's school counselor or teacher adviser.
<ins>(3) The Georgia Student Finance Commission and the Department of Education shall
annually collect and report on information to verify compliance with this Code section."
</ins> SECTION 10.
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-327.1, relating to industry
credentialing for career, technical, and agricultural education programs and reporting relevant
to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy Act," as follows:
"20-2-327.1.
(a) The State Board of Education, in collaboration with the Technical College System of
Georgia, shall facilitate and encourage industry credentialing for career, technical, and
agricultural education programs utilizing existing career pathways and individual
<del>graduation</del> <ins>college and career</ins> plans. Further, local school systems are authorized and
encouraged to align competency based career education, along with enhanced work based
learning experiences, as provided for in Code Section 20-2-161.2, to facilitate and make
available to students opportunities to receive industry credentialing in <del>critical and emerging
occupations in Georgia</del> <ins>programs included in the High-demand Career List published by
the State Workforce Development Board as provided in Code Section 34-14-3.
</ins> (b) No later than December 31, 2018, and annually thereafter, the Department of
Education shall produce a <ins>return-on-investment</ins> report <del>identifying the industry
credentialing attainment levels for the previous calendar year</del> <ins>to the State Workforce
Development Board and the Office of Planning and Budget as related to grant funds
</ins>
<ins>provided for in subsection (j) Code Section 20-2-260.</ins> Such report shall include the current
and projected regional business and industry needs for the purpose of establishing annual
goals and strategies to increase attainment rates of industry credentialing, including the
development of additional industry credentials to enhance current industry certified
programs."
SECTION 11.
Said title is further amended by repealing and reserving Code Section 20-2-328, relating to
a competitive grant program relevant to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop
Georgia's Economy Act."
SECTION 12.
Said title is further amended by repealing Code Section 20-2-329, relating to requirements
for high schools that receive reform grants as chronically low-performing high schools
relevant to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy Act," and
enacting a new Code section to read as follows:
<ins>"20-2-329.
The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out
the provisions of this part."
</ins> SECTION 13.
Said title is further amended by repealing Code Section 20-2-329.1, relating to rules and
regulations relevant to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy
Act."
SECTION 14.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-2-2065, relating to waiver of provisions of
this title, requirements for operating, and control and management relevant to the "Charter
Schools Act of 1998," by revising paragraph (14) of subsection (b) as follows:
"(14) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-327 relating to
individual <del>graduation</del> <ins>college and career</ins> plans; and"
SECTION 15.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-4-11, relating to powers of the State Board
of the Technical College System of Georgia, by inserting "and" at the end of subparagraph
(A) of paragraph (3), replacing the semicolon at the end of subparagraph (B) of such
paragraph with a period, and repealing subparagraph (C) of such paragraph.
SECTION 16.
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-4-20, relating to authority of Board
of Regents of University System of Georgia unabridged, agreements with the State Board of
the Technical College System of Georgia, and awarding transferable postsecondary course
credits, as follows:
"20-4-20.
(a) Nothing in this article shall abridge the authority of the Board of Regents of the
University System of Georgia to establish or operate colleges or of local boards of
education to operate schools.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (a) of this Code section to the contrary:
(1) The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, <ins>the State Board of
Education,</ins> and local boards of education are encouraged and expected:
(A) To work continuously with the State Board of the Technical College System of
Georgia to develop and implement policies, programs, and practices that promote and
advance the objectives of serving student needs, avoiding duplication of mission, using
state resources efficiently, and expanding opportunities for postsecondary degree
attainment in Georgia; and
(B) Consistent with the objectives stated in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, to enter
into and amend existing agreements with the Technical College System of Georgia for
awarding postsecondary course credits that are transferable between <del>units</del> <ins>institutions
</ins> of the university system, <del>and</del> <ins>units of</ins> the technical college system, <ins>and the State Board
of Education;</ins> and
(2) The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, <del>and</del> the State Board of
the Technical College System of Georgia, <ins>and the State Board of Education</ins> are
encouraged and expected to promote and allow <del>units</del> institutions of the university system
and <ins>units of</ins> the technical college system to enter into and amend existing agreements:
(A) For awarding postsecondary course credits that are transferable between such <del>units
</del> <ins>institutions</ins> of the university system, <del>and</del> <ins>units of</ins> the technical college system, <ins>and the
State Board of Education;</ins> and
(B) That are consistent with the objectives stated in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1)
of this subsection."
SECTION 17.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-14-26, relating to duties relevant to the
Office of Student Achievement, by inserting "and" at the end of paragraph (3) of subsection
(a), replacing "; and" at the end of paragraph (4) of such subsection with a period, and by
repealing paragraph (5) of such subsection.
SECTION 18.
Chapter 14 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the State
Workforce Development Board, is amended by revising Code Section 34-14-3, relating to
High-demand Career List, as follows:
"34-14-3.
(a) The State Workforce Development Board shall develop and approve a High-demand
Career List that shall identify those careers most critical to the state's current and future
workforce needs. <del>The State Workforce Development Board, in consultation with the
Office of Workforce Development, shall assess current labor market information and other
employment data sources and determine which careers merit inclusion on such list,
regionally or state wide, and shall implement a data-driven process to assess present and
future growing and declining industries, occupations, skills, and credentials.</del> <ins>As directed
by the Governor, the State Workforce Development Board shall coordinate and collaborate
with the Office of Student Achievement, the Department of Education, the Technical
College System of Georgia, the University System of Georgia, and the Georgia Student
Finance Commission to develop and implement a data-driven methodology to determine
which careers merit inclusion on High-demand Career List, regionally or state wide.</ins> The
High-demand Career List shall:
(1) Include the skills, certificates, licenses, diplomas, degrees, or other credentials <del>of
value</del> required by employers for the high-demand careers included on the list; and
(2) Be <del>published</del> <ins>approved</ins> annually on or before December 31 <del>on</del> <ins>by</ins> the State
Workforce Development <del>Board's public website.</del> <ins>Board;
(3) Be submitted annually on or before December 31 by the State Workforce
Development Board to the Governor; the President of the Senate; the Speaker of the
House of Representatives; the respective chairs of the House Committee on Higher
Education, the Senate Education and Youth Committee, the House Committee on
</ins>
<ins>Education, the Senate Higher Education Committee; and the Office of Planning and
Budget; and
(4) Be published annually on or before December 31 on the public websites of the State
Workforce Development Board, the Office of Student Achievement, the Department of
Education, the Technical College System of Georgia, the University System of Georgia,
and the Georgia Student Finance Commission.
</ins> (b) All state agencies and political subdivisions of the state, including local school
systems, shall utilize the High-demand Career List to inform their use of federal and state
funding for secondary, postsecondary, and adult education programs that lead to
certificates, licenses, diplomas, degrees, or other credentials <del>of value</del> in careers on the list
to ensure alignment with such list and effective use of funding by such entities."
SECTION 19.
Said chapter is further amended by adding new Code sections to read as follows:
<ins>"34-14-4.
(a) The State Workforce Development Board shall be responsible for oversight of a return
on investment analysis to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of secondary and
postsecondary programs aligned with the priority areas identified by the State Workforce
Development Board and included on the High-demand Career List published by the State
Workforce Development Board as provided in Code Section 34-14-3.
(b) As directed by the Governor, the State Workforce Development Board shall coordinate
and collaborate with the Office of Student Achievement, the Department of Education, the
Technical College System of Georgia, the University System of Georgia, and the Georgia
Student Finance Commission to develop the return on investment methodology utilizing
an analysis of data sources that include, but are not limited to, existing federal and state
resources, longitudinal outcome tracking of student information, enrollment and program
outcomes, and labor market analysis.
</ins>
<ins>(c) The evaluation and report required by this Code section shall include a comprehensive
review of student participation and outcomes, program alignment with labor market needs,
and recommendations for programmatic adjustments to better meet the needs of Georgia's
businesses, industries, and workforce and shall address, at a minimum, the following:
(1) The percentage of program graduates employed including retention rates and wage
growth over time;
(2) Comparison of graduates' average wages to state, national, and industry benchmarks,
with wage growth assessed at two-year, five-year, and ten-year intervals post-completion;
(3) The extent to which skills, certificates, licenses, diplomas, degrees, or other
credentials offered by the State Board of Education, the University System of Georgia,
and the Technical College System of Georgia align with the High-demand Career List
published by the State Workforce Development Board as provided in Code Section
34-14-3;
(4) The percentage of students, at both the secondary and post-secondary levels, that are
obtaining any credentials identified in paragraph (3) of this subsection; and
(5) Transparent information to stakeholders regarding program availability and
outcomes.
(d) The evaluation and report required by this Code section shall be:
(1) Approved by the State Workforce Development Board on or before December 1 of
each even-numbered year;
(2) Submitted by the State Workforce Development Board to the Governor; the President
of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the respective chairs of the
House Committee on Education, the Senate Education and Youth Committee, the House
Committee on Higher Education, and the Senate Higher Education Committee; and the
Office of Planning and Budget; and
(3) Published on the public websites of the State Workforce Development Board, the
Office of Student Achievement, the Department of Education, the University System of
</ins>
<ins>Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Georgia Student Finance
Commission on or before December 31 of each even-numbered year.
(e) All state agencies and political subdivisions of the state, including postsecondary
education institutions and local school systems, shall cooperate in collecting and sharing
all data and other pertinent information necessary for the implementation of the evaluation
and preparation of the report required by this Code section, subject to applicable privacy
protections, within a predetermined time frame as set by the State Workforce Development
Board. Such agencies and political subdivisions shall use the findings of the report to
recommend continuation, modification, or discontinuation of programs to better align with
workforce needs.
(f) The purpose of this Code section is to ensure the effective use of state resources,
prepare Georgians for high-demand career pathways, and support the state's economic
development by fostering a workforce aligned with employer needs.
34-14-5.
(a) The State Workforce Development Board shall develop and approve a report detailing
the alignment of policies, programs, and practices of the State Board of Education, the
Department of Education, the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System
of Georgia, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission that promotes and advances the
objectives of serving student needs, avoiding duplication of mission, using state resources
efficiently, and expanding opportunities for postsecondary credential attainment.
(b) As directed by the Governor, the State Workforce Development Board shall coordinate
and collaborate with the Department of Education, the University System of Georgia, and
the Technical College System of Georgia to create the report required by this Code section
that shall include the following:
</ins>
<ins>(1) A list of the courses articulated from the State Board of Education to the University
System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and HOPE-eligible private
institutions;
(2) A list of the courses approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of
Georgia and the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to be
transferrable between institutions of the university system and units of the technical
college system;
(3) Of the courses listed as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, identification
of the university system baccalaureate degree program or programs for which each such
course has been approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
to be a degree prerequisite;
(4) Of the courses listed as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, identification
of the technical college system degree program or programs for which each such course
has been approved by the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to be
degree prerequisites;
(5) A summary of efforts undertaken by the Technical College System of Georgia in
collaboration with the University System of Georgia to reduce barriers to degree
completion by students who have earned course credits in the University System of
Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, or both;
(6) A list of the courses approved by HOPE-eligible private institutions and the State
Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to be transferrable between units of
the HOPE-eligible private institution and the technical college system;
(7) A list of the courses approved by HOPE-eligible private institutions and the Board
of Regents of the University System of Georgia to be transferrable between units of the
HOPE-eligible private institution and the university system;
(8) A summary of efforts undertaken to develop plans and procedures for reverse
transfers. As used in this paragraph, the term 'reverse transfer' means the process of
</ins>
<ins>transferring the credits a student has earned from a four-year institution to any unit of the
Technical College System of Georgia from which a student has transferred so that such
credits will be available to such student for purposes of his or her enrollment in or
completion of programs offered by the Technical College System of Georgia;
(9) A summary of the efforts undertaken on behalf of the Technical College System of
Georgia, the University System of Georgia, and the State Board of Education to comply
with the requirements of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-4-20;
(10) A summary of efforts undertaken to align articulated, transferrable courses and
degree completion to the High-demand Career List published by the State Workforce
Development Board as provided in Code Section 34-14-3, including the total number of
articulation agreements aligned to the state's high-demand list for the State Board of
Education, the University System of Georgia, and the Technical College System of
Georgia;
(11) The number of students enrolled in programs of study provided for in subsection (a)
of Code Section 20-2-159.1 receiving articulated credit with the University System of
Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia and which credits those students
receive; and
(12) Of the articulation agreements listed as provided for in paragraph (1) of this
subsection, identification of the number of articulated credits awarded, which institutions
awarded which credits, and the local school system or public school represented by the
students who earned such credits.
(c) The report required by this Code section shall be:
(1) Approved by the State Workforce Development Board on or before December 1 of
each even-numbered year;
(2) Submitted by the State Workforce Development Board to the Governor; the President
of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the respective chairs of the
House Committee on Education, the Senate Education and Youth Committee, the House
</ins>
<ins>Committee on Higher Education, and the Senate Higher Education Committee; and the
Office of Planning and Budget; and
(3) Published on the public websites of the State Workforce Development Board, the
Office of Student Achievement, the Department of Education, the University System of
Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Georgia Student Finance
Commission on or before December 31 of each even-numbered year.
(d) All relevant state agencies and educational institutions included in this process shall
cooperate in collecting and sharing data necessary for the preparation of the report required
by this Code section, subject to applicable privacy protections, within a predetermined time
frame as set by the State Workforce Development Board."
</ins> SECTION 20.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.