Georgia General Assembly · Full text

SB 171: Quality Basic Education Act; State Board of Education to develop an advanced mathematics pathway; require

Engrossed version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action February 26, 2026 · Engrossed

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Senate Bill 171

By: Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Hickman of the 4th, Burns of the 23rd, Kemp of the 38th, Payne of the 54th and others

AS PASSED SENATE

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

To amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to require the State Board of Education to develop an advanced mathematics pathway; to require the state board to adopt policies related to such advanced mathematics pathway; to authorize local school systems to offer the advanced mathematics pathway in grades three through five; to require local school systems to offer the advanced mathematics pathway in grades six through eight; to provide for reporting; to authorize local school systems to provide related supports and services; 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 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"20-2-159.6.

(a) On or before January 1, 2027, the State Board of Education shall develop an advanced mathematics pathway for grades three through eight which culminates in students taking a high school level mathematics course in middle school and shall adopt policies for such advanced mathematics pathway. Such policies shall:

(1) Provide for criteria for students to qualify for such advanced mathematics pathway;

(2) Provide for the automatic enrollment of qualifying students in such advanced mathematics pathway for grades six through eight;

(3) Permit the parent or guardian of a student who qualifies for automatic enrollment to opt his or her child out of such automatic enrollment;

(4) Permit the parent or guardian of a student who does not qualify for automatic enrollment to enroll such student in such advanced mathematics pathway if such student scored above the fiftieth percentile statewide on the end-of-grade assessment in mathematics in the school year immediately preceding the school year in which such student intends to enroll in such advanced mathematics pathway; and

(5) Require that information be provided to students and parents or guardians on the advanced mathematics pathway and enrollment in such advanced mathematics pathway. (b)(1) Each local school system shall be authorized to offer the advanced mathematics pathway developed by the State Board of Education in grades three through five. Such local school systems shall be authorized to offer additional supports and services to students enrolled in such pathway and to teachers who provide instruction to students in the advanced mathematics pathway.

(2) Each local school system shall offer the advanced mathematics pathway developed by the State Board of Education in grades six through eight.

(3) Each local school system shall be authorized to offer additional supports and services to students enrolled in the advanced mathematics pathway.

(c) The Department of Education shall submit a report by December 1 of each year to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the chairperson of the Senate Education and Youth Committee, and the chairperson of the House Committee on Education. Such report shall include the following information from each local school system from the preceding school year disaggregated by ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, disability, language proficiency, grade level, and school, as applicable:

(1) The number of students who qualified for automatic enrollment in the advanced mathematics pathway and were automatically enrolled in the advanced mathematics pathway;

(2) The number of students who qualified for automatic enrollment in the advanced mathematics pathway and opted out of such automatic enrollment;

(3) The number of students who did not qualify for automatic enrollment and enrolled in the advanced mathematics pathway;

(4) A list of courses offered as part of the advanced mathematics pathway and any related services or supports offered to students; and

(5) The scores on the end-of-grade assessment in mathematics for each category of students listed in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection."

SECTION 2.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.