Georgia CommonsHouse · Engrossed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 200: State Board of Education; establish a three-year pilot immersive writing program for eligible public elementary schools; provide
Last action January 12, 2026 · Senate Recommitted
A Georgia House bill would require new public elementary schools built after July 1, 2027 to include accessible playgrounds, create a three-year pilot grant program for immersive writing instruction, and encourage schools to let groups like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts use school facilities.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This bill changes several parts of Georgia's education code (Title 20, Chapter 2). It updates the state's minimum school facility standards so that any new elementary school construction started on or after July 1, 2027 must include a playground meeting specific accessibility and design rules, such as minimum size, shaded area, wheelchair-accessible equipment, sensory panels, and communication boards for children of all abilities. The bill also directs the State Board of Education to run a three-year pilot immersive writing program for students in grades two through five, funded by up to $2 million a year in grants starting with the 2026-2027 school year, subject to the legislature actually providing the money. Schools must apply by January 1, 2026, and the Department of Education must report yearly on results starting in 2027; the program automatically ends July 1, 2029. Separately, the bill encourages local school systems to let patriotic youth groups such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts use school facilities, and requires a written explanation if access is denied. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.
What the bill does
- Requires new elementary schools built starting July 1, 2027 to include a playground meeting detailed accessibility and design standards, including size, shading, fencing, and adaptive equipment.
- Creates a three-year pilot program letting eligible elementary schools apply for grants (up to $2 million per year total) to fund immersive writing programs for grades two through five.
- Sets a January 1, 2026 application deadline for schools wanting to join the writing pilot program and requires annual state reports on its results.
- Automatically repeals the writing pilot program's authorizing law on July 1, 2029 unless renewed.
- Encourages local school systems to allow patriotic youth groups, such as the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA, to use school facilities, and requires a written reason if access is denied.
- Makes minor wording updates to the state's existing minimum school facility requirement law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-261).
Who it affects
Elementary school students in grades two through five, public school districts planning new elementary school construction, the State Board of Education and Department of Education, school principals who must respond to facility use requests, and youth groups like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts seeking access to school buildings.
Why it matters
Future elementary schools would have to build more inclusive, accessible playgrounds, and some schools could receive new state grant money to try immersive writing programs aimed at boosting literacy. Local school systems would also get a clearer, written process when denying youth groups access to facilities.
Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-261 to require any new elementary school construction started on or after July 1, 2027 to include a playground meeting listed design standards, such as a minimum 10,000 square feet, fencing, at least 20 percent shaded area, and specific adaptive equipment like accessible swings and sensory panels.
- Section 2 adds new O.C.G.A. § 20-2-335, creating a State Board of Education pilot immersive writing program for grades two through five, funded by up to $2 million per year for up to three school years starting 2026-2027, contingent on legislative funding.
- Section 2 requires eligible schools to apply by January 1, 2026, and directs the Department of Education to develop an application process by October 1, 2025 and to report annual assessments to the State Board starting no later than June 1, 2027.
- Section 2 provides that the pilot program law will automatically repeal on July 1, 2029.
- Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 20-2-12 to define 'patriotic society' and encourage local school systems to permit such groups, including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, to use school facilities, requiring written reasons if access is denied.
- Section 4 sets the effective date of the Act as July 1, 2025.
From the bill
“Provide that the construction of each new elementary school commenced on or after July 1, 2027, shall include a playground which meets the following design standards”
“Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the pilot program shall include funding for up to $2 million in grants each school year, for up to three school years beginning with the 2026-2027 school year”
“This Code section shall stand repealed in its entirety on July 1, 2029.”
Discussed in meetings (1)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate Education and Youth Committee, February 24, 2026
From 0:43:52 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute establishing a three-year immersive writing pilot for grades two through five, intended to improve literacy and interest in writing. Using a student-written book as an example, the sponsor argued that letting children develop their own ideas could encourage writing and entrepreneurship. The sponsor said the program that inspired the proposal had helped more than 200 students write and publish books. According to the sponsor, schools would opt in, contribute funds and apply by January 1, 2027, explaining their intended use of grants. The sponsor requested $2 million annually. The sponsor said the State Board of Education would establish participation rules and reporting requirements, develop the application process by October 1, 2026, and oversee annual assessments and reports beginning January 1, 2028. A member asked whether an outside vendor would provide the program. The sponsor said that was possible, but the provider remained to be selected, and recommended the outside program that inspired the bill. The committee heard the proposal without voting.
Status timeline
- Senate Recommitted (Senate)
- Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
Show full history (12 actions)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Debra Bazemore (D, HD-69)
- Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)
- Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
- Tanya F. Miller (D, HD-62)
- Todd Jones (R, HD-25)
- Matt Dubnik (R, HD-29)
- John F. Kennedy (R, SD-18)
Votes
- House voteMarch 4, 2025
167 yea, 2 nay (7 not voting, 4 excused)
Topics
- school playgrounds
- elementary education
- literacy programs
- school facilities
- youth groups access