---
title: HB 200. State Board of Education; establish a three-year pilot immersive writing program for eligible public elementary schools; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb200
cite_as: HB 200, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb200
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb200.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb200/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69716
date: 2026-01-12
status: engrossed
corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb199.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb201.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 733
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb200.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 200
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-03-04
last_action: Senate Recommitted
sponsors:
  - Debra Bazemore
  - Bethany Ballard
  - Carolyn Hugley
  - Tanya Miller
  - Todd Jones
  - Matt Dubnik
  - John Kennedy
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB200/2025
upstream_id: 1949620
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - school playgrounds
  - elementary education funding
  - literacy programs
  - school facility access
  - accessibility standards
---

# HB 200. State Board of Education; establish a three-year pilot immersive writing program for eligible public elementary schools; provide

## Text

25 LC 62 0204S
The Senate Committee on Education and Youth offered the following
substitute to HB 200:
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 for the us e of local school system2
facilities by certain youth groups; to provide for a definition ; to require that each new3
elementary school constructed on or after July 1, 2027, shall include a playground meeting4
certain standards; to provide playground design standards and m inimum guidelines; to5
provide for the State Board of Education to establish a three-y ear pilot immersive writing6
program for eligible public elementary schools; to provide for eligibility; to provide for grant7
funds for eligible public elementary schools to develop and imp lement immersive writing8
programs for students in grades two through five; to provide for applications and selection9
to participate in the pilot program; to provide for assessment and reporting on the impacts10
of the pilot program; to authorize the State Board of Education to promulgate rules and11
regulations to implement the pilot program; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for12
related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal co nflicting laws; and for other13
purposes.14
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:15
- 1 -
25 LC 62 0204S
SECTION 1.16
Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and17
secondary education, is amended in Code Section 20-2-261, relating to common minimum18
facility requirements, by revising subsection (a) as follows:19
"(a) The State Board of Education shall establish common minimum facility requirements20
which each public school facility must shall meet in order to be certified for use in any21
component of the educational or recreational program of that such school. Such minimum22
requirements shall:23
(1) Include such include those provisions of law or state board policy on matters that24
relate to:25
(A) Fire fire and physical safety;26
(B) Sanitation sanitation and health, including temperature and ventilation;27
(C) Minimum minimum space, size, and configuration for the various components of28
the instructional program; and29
(D) Construction construction stability, quality, and suitability for intended uses;. Such30
minimum requirements shall not31
(2) Not prohibit wood construction that is otherwise in compliance with state minimum32
standard codes as they existed on January 1, 2014. As used in this subsection, the term33
'state minimum standard codes' shall have the same meaning as in paragraph (9) of Code34
Section 8-2-20; and35
(3) Provide that the construction of each new elementary school commenced on or after36
July 1, 2027, shall include a playground which meets the following design standards:37
(A) Provides a sensory-diverse environment that enables childr en of all abilities to38
develop physically, socially, and emotionally;39
(B) Provides an engaging play space with age and ability-appro priate levels of40
challenge and offers opportunities for children of all abilities to succeed, regardless of41
physical and intellectual attributes;42
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25 LC 62 0204S
(C) Enables all students to benefit from state mandated recess time for elementary43
students;44
(D) Capable for use as an outdoor classroom that is open to all students; and45
(E) Meets the following minimum guidelines:46
(i) Playground is accessible via a sidewalk or pathway from the school;47
(ii) Playground is a minimum of 10,000 square feet in area;48
(iii) Fencing surrounds and encloses the entire playground area;49
(iv) A minimum of 20 percent of the total playground area shall be shaded; provided,50
however, that such shaded area may comprise more than one area so long as the total51
shaded area meets or exceeds 20 percent of the total playground area; and, provided,52
further, that such shading may be provided by natural means, such as existing mature53
trees, or man-made means, such as sun canopies;54
(v) Unitary surfacing shall be used throughout at least 80 percent of the playground55
area. Examples of unitary surfacing include, but are not limit ed to, turf, bonded56
rubber, and poured in place rubber; and57
(vi) Components that are installed on a portion of the playgro und with the unitary58
surfacing and accessible for all users that address the physica l, sensory, cognitive,59
social, emotional, imaginative, and communication needs of those who will visit the60
playground, including, but not limited to:61
(I) One communication board;62
(II) One learning American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet panel or one learning63
Braille alphabet panel;64
(III) One roller slide;65
(IV) A minimum of two pieces of equipment that make music, suc h as chimes,66
drums, and bells;67
(V) A minimum of two adaptive or accessible swings;68
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25 LC 62 0204S
(VI) A minimum of one play piece accessible to a child remaining in a wheelchair69
that allows such child to play with other children;70
(VII) A minimum of four sensory panels; and71
(VIII) A minimum of one wheelchair accessible raised structure or wheelchair72
accessible slide."73
SECTION 2.74
Said chapter is further amended by designating Code Sections 20-2-330 through 20-2-33475
as Part 1 and by adding a new part to read as follows:76
"Part 277
20-2-335.78
(a)(1) The State Board of Education shall establish a pilot immersive writing program79
for students in grades two through five in order to:80
(A) Provide funding for all public school students in grades t wo through five to81
participate in programs that provide for immersive writing experiences that are aligned82
with writing standards established by the State Board of Educat ion and can be83
integrated into existing curricula;84
(B) Improve literacy skills of elementary school students and motivate them to engage85
in writing projects; and86
(C) Study the impacts of such pilot writing program.87
(2) Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the pilot program shall include88
funding for up to $2 million in grants each school year, for up to three school years89
beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, to participating public elementary schools.90
(3) To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, a public elementary school shall:91
(A) Serve students in any grades two through five; and92
- 4 -
25 LC 62 0204S
(B) By January 1, 2026, submit an application to participate i n the pilot program,93
which application shall include such school's statement of inte nt for the use of grant94
funds.95
(4) The State Board of Education shall establish pilot program requirements and criteria96
for selecting eligible public schools to participate in the pilot program in accordance with97
the provisions of this Code section.98
(5) The State Board of Education shall be authorized to establish reporting requirements99
for the public schools participating in the pilot program.100
(6) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and re gulations necessary to101
carry out the provisions of this Code section.102
(b)(1) By October 1, 2025, the Department of Education shall d evelop an application103
process and seek applications from eligible public schools for the pilot program to be104
submitted no later than January 1, 2026.105
(2)(A) The Department of Education shall monitor and annually assess the status of the106
pilot program with cooperation and input from the public school s and local school107
systems participating in the pilot program.108
(B) Beginning no la ter than June 1, 2027, and by June 1 of eac h year thereafter, the109
Department of Education shall provide to the State Board of Education a report of the110
annual assessment provided for in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.111
(c) This Code section shall stand repealed in its entirety on July 1, 2029."112
SECTION 3.113
Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-1 2, which is reserved, as114
follows:115
"20-2-12.116
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'patriotic society' means a youth group listed in117
Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society, incl uding the Boy Scouts of118
- 5 -
25 LC 62 0204S
America and its affiliated Georgia groups and councils and the Girl Scouts of the United119
States of America and its affiliated Georgia groups and councils.120
(b) To encourage schools to facilitate access for students to participate in activities121
provided by a patriotic society for the purposes of encouraging civic education, each local122
school system that uses state funds to implement programs pursu ant to this chapter is123
encouraged to permit the use of such local school system's facilities by a patriotic society. 124
When a local school system denies a patriotic society access to a facility of such system,125
the principal of the school where such facility is located shal l provide in writing reasons126
for the denial to a requesting entity. Reserved."127
SECTION 4.128
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025.129
SECTION 5.130
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.131
- 6 -

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House bill would require new public elementary schools built after July 1, 2027 to include accessible playgrounds, create a three-year grant program for immersive writing instruction in grades two through five, and encourage schools to let patriotic youth groups like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts use school facilities.

### Plain-language summary

This bill changes several parts of Georgia's laws on public school facilities and programs. It adds detailed design rules for playgrounds at any new elementary school whose construction starts on or after July 1, 2027, requiring features like shade coverage, wheelchair-accessible equipment, sensory panels, and communication boards so children of all abilities can use them.
The bill also directs the State Board of Education to run a three-year pilot program giving grants, up to $2 million per year starting in the 2026-2027 school year, to public elementary schools that want to build immersive writing programs for students in grades two through five. Schools apply by January 1, 2026, and the Department of Education must report yearly on results starting June 1, 2027. That 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 a school denies such a group access. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

### What it does

- Requires any new elementary school whose construction starts on or after July 1, 2027 to include a playground meeting detailed accessibility, size, shading, and equipment standards.
- Creates a three-year pilot grant program, funded up to $2 million per year starting in the 2026-2027 school year, for public elementary schools to build immersive writing programs for grades two through five.
- Sets an application deadline of January 1, 2026 for schools to apply to the pilot writing program and requires annual state reports on its results starting June 1, 2027.
- Automatically repeals the pilot writing program's authorizing law on July 1, 2029 unless the General Assembly acts again.
- Encourages local school systems that use state funds for their programs 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.

### Who it affects

The bill affects local school districts and the State Board of Education, which must set playground and grant program rules; elementary school students in grades two through five and their teachers; school building planners and architects designing new elementary schools; and youth groups like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts that seek access to school facilities.

### Why it matters

New elementary schools built after mid-2027 would need to provide playgrounds usable by children with a range of physical and sensory needs, and some elementary schools could receive new state money to develop writing programs for younger students, while schools would face more paperwork if they deny facility access to groups like scouting organizations.

### Key provisions

- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-261 to require new elementary schools built on or after July 1, 2027 to include a playground of at least 10,000 square feet, fully fenced, with at least 20 percent shaded area.
- Section 1 also requires at least 80 percent of the playground to use unitary surfacing (such as turf or rubber) and lists specific accessible equipment, including a communication board, ASL or Braille panel, adaptive swings, and wheelchair-accessible structures.
- Section 2 adds a new Code Section 20-2-335 creating a State Board of Education pilot immersive writing program for grades two through five, funded through state appropriations up to $2 million per year for up to three school years starting 2026-2027.
- Section 2 requires eligible schools to apply by January 1, 2026 and requires the Department of Education to develop the application process by October 1, 2025 and report assessments to the State Board by June 1, 2027 and annually after that.
- Section 2 provides that the pilot program law stands automatically repealed on July 1, 2029.
- Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 20-2-12 to define 'patriotic society' and encourage local school systems using state funds to let such groups use school facilities, requiring written reasons if access is denied.
- Section 4 sets the effective date of the Act as July 1, 2025.

## Status

- Status: Engrossed (2025-03-04)
- Last action: Senate Recommitted (2026-01-12)
- Sponsors: Debra Bazemore, Bethany Ballard, Carolyn Hugley, Tanya Miller, Todd Jones, Matt Dubnik, John Kennedy
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69716

> The history, votes, and amendments (733 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb200.md?full=1