---
title: SB 369. "Charter Schools Act of 1998"; completion charter schools; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb369
cite_as: SB 369, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb369
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb369.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb369/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71940
date: 2026-05-11
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
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.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 1235
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb369.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 369
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-05-11
last_action: Effective Date 2026-07-01
sponsors:
  - Shawn Still
  - Jason Esteves
  - RaShaun Kemp
  - Matt Brass
  - Jan Jones
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB369/2025
upstream_id: 2017597
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - charter schools
  - virtual schools
  - school sports eligibility
  - education funding
  - school technology
---

# SB 369. "Charter Schools Act of 1998"; completion charter schools; provide

## Text

Senate Bill 369
By: Senators Still of the 48th, Esteves of the 35th, Kemp of the 38th and Brass of the 6th
AS PASSED
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
elementary and secondary education, so as to require the State Board of Education to adopt
definitions, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to govern the operation of
nontraditional education programs; to revise the "Dexter Mosely Act" to allow for virtual
school students from qualifying virtual schools to participate in specified extracurricular and
interscholastic activities under the sponsorship, direction, and control of the student's resident
public school or resident public school system; to provide for requirements of such virtual
school student participation; to provide for virtual school qualifications; to provide for
definitions; to provide for related matters; to require local boards of education and other
public school governing bodies to consider the total cost of ownership and related factors
when purchasing school technology devices; to provide for reports; to provide for locally
authorized dropout recovery charter schools; to provide for the conversion of existing charter
schools to dropout recovery charter schools; to provide for measurable objective performance
standards; to provide for separate principles, standards, and reports for dropout recovery
charter schools; to revise provisions for incentive grants for local boards of education to
approve charter school petitions; to revise provisions for the Office of Charter School
Compliance; to revise provisions relative to charter petitions by existing charter schools; to
revise provisions relative to state charter school records; to provide for definitions; to provide
for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and
secondary education, is amended in Part 3 of Article 6, relating to educational programs
under the "Quality Basic Education Act," by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
<ins>"20-2-154.4.
(a)(1) By July 1, 2027, the State Board of Education shall establish definitions, rules,
regulations, policies, and procedures to govern the operation of nontraditional education
programs and services, including, but not limited to:
(A) Dropout prevention and academic intervention programs;
(B) Programs for high school credit recovery; and
(C) Opportunities for students to schedule classes outside of the traditional school day,
school week, and school year.
(2) The definitions, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures provided for under
paragraph (1) of this subsection shall require that a nontraditional education program or
school provide an explanation of:
(A) The special education services to be provided pursuant to Code Section 20-2-152,
the remedial education program services to be provided pursuant to Code
Section 20-2-154, and other nontraditional education programs and services to be
provided;
(B) The measurable objective performance standards in the areas of academic
achievement, student growth, and student retention to be established, monitored,
evaluated, and reported; and
</ins>
<ins>(C) The monitoring, evaluating, and reporting procedures in meeting such performance
standards.
(b) In the annual report required by paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code
Section 20-14-27, the Office of Student Achievement shall separately report on the
performance of nontraditional education programs and services in local school systems."
</ins> SECTION 2.
Said chapter is further amended in Part 14 of Article 6, relating to other educational programs
under the "Quality Basic Education Act," by revising Code Section 20-2-319.6, relating to
home study student participation in resident school system extracurricular and interscholastic
activities, short title, definitions, requirements for participation, impact of student
withdrawal, and reporting requirements, as follows:
"20-2-319.6.
(a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the 'Dexter Mosely Act.'
(b) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Athletic association' means any association of schools or any other similar
organization which acts as an organizing, sanctioning, scheduling, or rule-making body
for interscholastic activities in which public schools in this state participate.
(2) 'Extracurricular activities' means public <del>school-sponsored</del> <ins>school sponsored</ins> activities
in which students take part on a voluntary basis; which do not offer or provide school or
course credits; which are generally conducted outside regular school hours or, if
conducted in whole or in part during regular school hours, at times agreed to by the
participants and approved by a school official; and which are managed and operated
under the guidance of a teacher, other school employee, or other adult approved by a
school official. Examples of extracurricular activities include but are not limited to
intramural and interscholastic athletics; band, chorus, and other musical activities; drama
and other theatrical activities; and clubs and organizations as defined in subsection (a) of
Code Section 20-2-705.
(3) 'Home study student' means any student in grades six through 12 who is in a home
study program that meets the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690.
(4) 'Interscholastic activities' means extracurricular activities, public <del>school-sponsored
</del> <ins>school sponsored</ins> athletic programs, and other public school-sponsored <ins>school sponsored
</ins> programs that are sanctioned or supported by a state-wide interscholastic activities
governing body, including but not limited to an athletic association.
(5) 'Qualifying course' means a course facilitated by the home study student's resident
school system:
(A) By applying one or more of the mechanisms provided for in paragraphs (1)
through (4) of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-319.4;
(B) By way of a dual credit course as provided for in Code Section 20-2-161.3; or
(C) By way of an on-site course required for participation in designated extracurricular
and interscholastic activities.
<ins>(6) 'Qualifying virtual school' means a public school in this state that provides solely
virtual instruction and that does not offer to students enrolled in grades six through 12
one or more school sponsored interscholastic athletic programs or other school sponsored
programs that are sanctioned or supported by a state-wide interscholastic activities
governing body.
</ins> <del>(6)(7)</del> 'Resident school' means the public school in which a home study student <ins>or virtual
school student</ins> would be enrolled based on his or her residence.
<del>(7)(8)</del> 'Resident school system' means the public school system in which a home study
student <ins>or virtual school student</ins> would be enrolled based on his or her residence.
<ins>(9) 'Virtual school student' means a student in grades six through 12 enrolled full-time
in a qualifying virtual school.
</ins>
(c) A home study student shall be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities and
interscholastic activities under the sponsorship, direction, and control of the resident school
or resident school system, provided that each of the following requirements is met:
(1) At least 30 calendar days before the first school day of the semester in which a home
study student will enroll in a qualifying course as provided in paragraph (2) of this
subsection, a parent or guardian of the home study student provides to the principal of the
resident school and the superintendent of the resident school system:
(A) Written notice that the home study student intends to participate in one or more
specified extracurricular or interscholastic activities as a representative of the resident
school or resident school system; and
(B) A copy of the home study student's most recent annual progress assessment report,
as provided for in paragraph (8) of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690, along with
written verification by the home study program instructor that the home study student
is currently receiving a passing grade in each home study program course, is
maintaining satisfactory progress toward advancement, and meets the requirements for
participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity;
(2) For each semester of the regular school year during any part of which the home study
student participates in an extracurricular or interscholastic activity, the home study
student enrolls in and attempts to complete one qualifying course;
(3) The home study student meets established age, academic, behavioral, conduct,
disciplinary, residence, zoning, and other rules and requirements applicable to all students
for participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity and provides
any supporting documentation required by the resident school;
(4) The home study student abides by the same student code of conduct and disciplinary
measures and transportation policies as students enrolled at the resident school who are
participating in the same extracurricular or interscholastic activity as the home study
student;
(5) The home study student completes the tryout process or the equivalent for
participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity applicable to all
students for participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity and
provides any supporting documentation required by the resident school; and
(6) For an extracurricular or interscholastic activity which involves a competitive
selection process, the home study student is selected.
<ins>(c.1) Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, a virtual school student shall be eligible
to participate in extracurricular activities and interscholastic activities under the
sponsorship, direction, and control of the resident school or resident school system,
provided that each of the following requirements is met:
(1) At least 30 calendar days before the first school day of the semester in which a virtual
school student intends to participate in one or more extracurricular or interscholastic
activities, a parent or guardian of the virtual school student provides to the principal of
the resident school and the superintendent of the resident school system:
(A) Written notice that the virtual school student intends to participate in one or more
specified extracurricular or interscholastic activities as a representative of the resident
school or resident school system; and
(B) A copy of the virtual school student's most recent report card or its equivalent,
along with written verification by the virtual school that the virtual school student is
currently receiving a passing grade in each course and meets the requirements for
participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity;
(2) The virtual school student meets established age, academic, behavioral, conduct,
disciplinary, residence, zoning, and other rules and requirements applicable to all students
for participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity and provides
any supporting documentation required by the resident school;
(3) The virtual school student abides by the same student code of conduct and
disciplinary measures and transportation policies as students enrolled at the resident
</ins>
<ins>school who are participating in the same extracurricular or interscholastic activity as the
virtual school student;
(4) The virtual school student completes the tryout process or the equivalent for
participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity applicable to all
students for participation in the specified extracurricular or interscholastic activity and
provides any supporting documentation required by the resident school; and
(5) For an extracurricular or interscholastic activity which involves a competitive
selection process, the virtual school student is selected.
</ins> (d) A student who withdraws from a public school to participate in a home study program
<ins>or enroll in a qualifying virtual school</ins> shall be ineligible for participation in any
extracurricular or interscholastic activity for 12 months from the date of the declaration of
intent to utilize a home study program provided to the Department of Education as
provided under paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690 <ins>or enrollment in
the qualifying virtual school.
</ins> (e) For purposes of this Code section, participation in an extracurricular or interscholastic
activity includes participation in the following <del>school-sponsored</del> <ins>school sponsored
</ins> activities related to the extracurricular or interscholastic activity: tryouts; off-season
practice, rehearsal, or conditioning; summer and holiday practice, rehearsal, or
conditioning; in-season practice, rehearsal, or conditioning; and all exhibitions, contests,
and competitions, including scrimmage, preseason, regular season, postseason, and
invitational.
(f) A resident school, a resident school system, or an athletic association shall not deny a
home study student <ins>or a virtual school student</ins> the opportunity to try out and participate if
selected in any extracurricular or interscholastic activities available at the resident school
or in the resident school system if the student meets the requirements contained in
subsection (c) <ins>or (c.1)</ins> of this Code section, <ins>respectively,</ins> and is not ineligible under
subsection (d) of this Code section.
(g) No public high school which receives funding under this article shall participate in,
sponsor, or provide coaching staff for interscholastic activities which are conducted under
the authority of, conducted under the rules of, or scheduled by any athletic association that
does not deem eligible for participation a home study student <ins>or virtual school student</ins> who
meets the requirements contained in subsection (c) <ins>or (c.1)</ins> of this Code section,
<ins>respectively,</ins> and is not ineligible under subsection (d) of this Code section.
(h) Home study students <ins>and virtual school students</ins> shall participate in extracurricular or
interscholastic activities, <ins>as authorized under this Code section,</ins> on behalf of such <del>home
study</del> student's resident school.
(i) The specific assigned program of each home study student enrolled in a qualifying
course shall be included for a one-sixth segment of the school day, or the block scheduling
equivalent, by the home study student's resident school system in reports made to the
Department of Education as provided in subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-160.
<ins>(j) The provisions of this Code section relating to qualifying virtual schools and virtual
school students shall apply beginning with the 2027-2028 school year."
</ins> SECTION 3.
Said chapter is further amended in Article 19, relating to instructional materials and content,
is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
<ins>"20-2-1018.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Break/fix rate' means the number of school technology devices reported as
malfunctioning or needing repair prior to the end of the device's life cycle as stated by the
manufacturer due to physical damage, hardware failure, or other breakage incidents
which are not covered by insurance or a policy plan period during a school year divided
by the total number of school technology devices in operation during the same school
year.
</ins>
<ins>(2) 'Department' means the Department of Education.
(3) 'School technology device' or 'device' means electronic or computerized equipment
greater than $100.00 in value provided for educational purposes in a public school,
including, but not limited to, computers, tablets, and interactive whiteboards, and
associated hardware, software, and technical equipment.
(b) When purchasing school technology devices, each local board of education and other
public school governing body shall take into consideration the following factors:
(1) The long-term cost of ownership of such devices, including the costs of repairs;
(2) The flexibility for innovation during the life of such devices; and
(3) The anticipated resale or salvage value of such devices compared to the initial
purchase cost of such devices.
(c) Beginning in 2027, no later than October 15 of each year, each local board of education
and other public school governing body shall submit a report to the department which
includes the following information for the respective local school system or public school
for the preceding school year:
(1) The total number of school technology devices in operation;
(2) The break/fix rate of school technology devices;
(3) The total number of school technology devices which required repair and the number
of such devices that underwent repair or were out of service; and
(4) The total amount spent to repair or replace school technology devices.
(d) Beginning in 2027, no later than December 31 each year, the department shall submit
a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and the chairpersons of the House Committee on Education and the Senate
Education and Youth Committee which shall include the information provided to the
department pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section."
</ins>
SECTION 4.
Said chapter is further amended in Article 31, the "Charter Schools Act of 1998," by adding
a new paragraph to Code Section 20-2-2062, relating to definitions, to read as follows:
<ins>"(4.01)(A) 'Dropout recovery charter school' means a charter school authorized by a
local board of education and the State Board of Education that enrolls students in any
of grades six through 12 and provides:
(i) Special education services as provided for in Code Section 20-2-152;
(ii) Remedial education program services as provided for in Code Section 20-2-154;
and
(iii) Nontraditional education programs and services, including, but not limited to:
(I) Dropout prevention and academic intervention programs;
(II) Programs for high school credit recovery; and
(III) Opportunities for students to schedule classes outside of the traditional school
day, school week, and school year.
(B) Such term shall not include a school that serves students in any of grades
kindergarten through five."
</ins> SECTION 5.
Said article is further amended in Code Section 20-2-2063, relating to charter petitions, by
adding a new subsection to read as follows:
<ins>"(e)(1) The State Board of Education shall establish rules, regulations, policies, and
procedures to govern the contents of a charter petition for a dropout recovery charter
school.
(2) The State Board of Education shall establish rules, regulations, policies, and
procedures to provide for charter petitions for a dropout recovery charter school. Such
rules, regulations, policies, and procedures shall require that a charter petition and the
charter contain an explanation of:
</ins>
<ins>(A) The special education services to be provided pursuant to Code Section 20-2-152,
the remedial education program services to be provided pursuant to Code
Section 20-2-154, and other nontraditional education programs and services to be
provided; and
(B) The measurable objective performance standards in the areas of academic
achievement, student growth, and student retention that will be established, monitored,
evaluated, and reported.
(3) The State Board of Education shall establish policies, rules, and regulations to
provide for an existing charter school to convert its current charter to a dropout recovery
charter school charter, which shall be subject to the initial term restriction provided for
in subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-2067.1."
</ins> SECTION 6.
Said article is further amended in Code Section 20-2-2063.3, relating to code of principles
and standards for charter school authorizers, by revising subsection (a) as follows:
"(a)(1) The State Board of Education and the State Charter Schools Commission shall
jointly establish a code of principles and standards of charter school authorizing to guide
local boards of education, the state board, and the State Charter Schools Commission in
meeting high-quality authorizing practices. The principles and standards established by
the state board and the State Charter Schools Commission shall, <ins>as applicable,</ins> include:
<ins>(1)(A)</ins> Maintaining high standards for approving charter petitions;
<ins>(2)(B)</ins> Establishing high academic, financial, and operational performance standards
for charter schools;
<ins>(3)(C)</ins> Annually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting charter school progress in
meeting academic, financial, and operational performance standards, including ensuring
that a local school system has not been designated as a high-risk local school system
by the Department of Audits and Accounts pursuant to Code Section 20-2-67, or if it
has been designated as a high-risk local school system, that it has a written corrective
action plan in place and that local school system board members and appropriate
personnel participate in required training to address the deficiencies;
<ins>(4)(D)</ins> Upholding charter school autonomy in school governance, instructional
program implementation, personnel, and budgeting;
<ins>(5)(E)</ins> Protecting students and holding charter schools accountable for their obligations
to all students; and
<ins>(6)(F)</ins> Protecting the public interest and holding charter schools accountable for their
obligations of governance, management, and oversight of public funds.
<ins>(2) Notwithstanding any provision of paragraph (1) of this subsection to the contrary, the
principles and standards established by the state board and the State Charter Schools
Commission shall establish separate principles and standards for dropout recovery charter
schools, which may include the same or similar principles and standards provided for in
paragraph (1) of this subsection, but which shall include provisions for:
(A) Establishing measurable objective performance standards in the areas of academic
achievement, student growth, and student retention; and
(B) Monitoring, evaluating, and reporting progress in meeting such performance
standards.
(3) In the annual report required by paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code
Section 20-14-27, the Office of Student Achievement shall separately report on the
performance of dropout recovery charter schools."
</ins> SECTION 7.
Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-2064.2, relating to promotion
of approval of new local charter school petitions and incentive grants, as follows:
"20-2-2064.2.
(a) The <del>State Board of Education</del> <ins>state board,</ins> in collaboration with the <del>State Charter
Schools Commission</del> <ins>Office of Charter School Compliance,</ins> shall establish a program for
the purposes of promoting and supporting the approval of new local charter school petitions
by local boards of education and to provide incentive grants to local boards of education
that approve new local charter school petitions. The <del>State Charter Schools Commission
</del> <ins>state board</ins> shall promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to carry out
the provisions and intent of this Code section.
(b)(1) Subject to appropriations, for each new local charter school petition approved by
a local board of education after June 30, 2025, such local board of education shall receive
an incentive grant of $250,000.00 by <del>August 1</del> <ins>September 1</ins> of each of the <ins>first</ins> three
years <ins>of such local charter school's operation</ins> following such approval, provided that such
local charter school remains authorized by such local board of education. In the event
that available appropriations are not sufficient to cover the total amount of <del>such</del> <ins>the
</ins> incentive grants provided for in this subsection, the amount of each such grant shall be
reduced proportionally, providing incentive grants in equal amounts to each such local
board of education.
(2) Incentive grants provided for in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be provided
only for the approval of new local charter school petitions and not for the approval or
renewal of an existing local charter school.
<ins>(3) The total amount of incentive grants provided under this subsection shall not
exceed $2.25 million in any fiscal year.
</ins> (c) Incentive grants awarded pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section may be used
by the receiving local board of education for expenses incurred by the local board of
education in its role as a local charter school authorizer, which may include, but shall not
be limited to, hiring qualified personnel and providing for oversight, compliance
monitoring, and professional development related to local charter school authorization.
(d) The Department of Education shall <del>implement and administer</del> <ins>distribute</ins> the incentive
<del>grant program provided for in</del> <ins>grants authorized pursuant to</ins> subsection (b) of this Code
section and the Office of Charter School Compliance shall provide <ins>any</ins> technical assistance
necessary to local school systems <del>in</del> <ins>to</ins> support <del>of</del> compliance with the requirements of this
Code section.
(e) This Code section shall stand automatically repealed on July 1, 2035."
SECTION 8.
Said article is further amended by revising paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of Code
Section 20-2-2065, relating to waiver of provisions of this title, requirements for operating,
and control and management, as follows:
"(4) Organized and operated as a nonprofit corporation <ins>or company</ins> under the laws of this
state; provided, however, that this paragraph shall not apply to any charter petitioner that
is a local school, local school system, or state or local public entity;"
SECTION 9.
Said article is further amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-2069, relating
to the Office of Charter School Compliance and Office of District Flexibility, as follows:
"(a) There is established within the State Charter Schools Commission an Office of Charter
School Compliance, which shall be staffed with personnel as provided for in
subsection (d.1) of Code Section 20-2-2082, who shall report directly to the <del>State Board
of Education</del> <ins>state board</ins> for purposes of this subsection. The responsibilities of such office
shall be to:
(1) Prepare charter school guidelines to be approved by the state board;
(2) Distribute charter school petition information to inquiring parties;
(3) Process all charter school petitions and coordinate with the Charter Advisory
Committee established pursuant to Code Section 20-2-2063.1 to facilitate <del>its</del> <ins>such
committee's</ins> review and recommendations to the state board;
(4) Administer <del>any state or federal</del> charter school <del>implementation grant program</del> <ins>grant
programs;
</ins> (5) Contract with an independent party to evaluate the performance of charter schools,
as such performance relates to fulfilling the terms of their charters;
(6) Compile information necessary to produce the annual report required by Code
Section 20-2-2070, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, information regarding
the effectiveness of the <del>incentives</del> <ins>incentive grants</ins> and the adherence of local school
systems to the requirements provided for in Code Sections 20-2-2064 and 20-2-2064.2;
(7) Prepare guidelines for local boards of education for the evaluation of charter school
petitions. Such guidelines shall be published on the <del>public</del> website of the Department of
Education and shall include:
(A) Criteria for evaluating the academic, operational, and financial plans of the charter
petitioner;
(B) Best practices for conducting a thorough and objective review of charter petitions;
(C) Procedures for public hearings and community input on charter petitions; and
(D) A standardized evaluation rubric for use by local boards of education during the
evaluation of charter petitions; and
(8) Provide technical assistance to local school systems as charter school authorizers,
support local school systems as needed to implement best practices in charter school
authorization, and regularly engage with local school systems to promote charter school
authorization at the local level."
SECTION 10.
Said chapter is further amended in Article 31A, relating to state charter schools, by revising
paragraph (4) of Code Section 20-2-2081, relating to definitions, as follows:
"(4) 'Governing board' means the governing board of the nonprofit organization, <ins>or the
parent corporation of such nonprofit organization if such parent corporation is the sole
member of such nonprofit organization,</ins> which is the charter petitioner for a state charter
school and which is the same as the governing board of the state charter school which is
involved in <del>school-level</del> <ins>school level</ins> governance of the state charter school."
SECTION 11.
Said chapter is further amended in said article by revising Code Section 20-2-2085, relating
to petitions by existing charter schools, as follows:
"20-2-2085.
A petition may be submitted pursuant to this Code section by an existing charter school
approved by a local board of education or the State Board of Education, provided that the
obligations of its charter with the local board of education or State Board of Education will
expire prior to entering into a new charter with the commission. <ins>The commission shall not
act on a petition submitted pursuant to this Code section unless the local board of education
that authorizes the charter school has voted to terminate or nonrenew the charter contract
or otherwise fails to renew the charter contract by a date established by the State Board of
Education.</ins> Upon the existing charter school's request, a local board of education or the
State Board of Education in the case of a state chartered special school may agree to
rescind or waive the obligations of a current charter to allow a petition to be submitted by
an existing charter school pursuant to this Code section. An existing charter school that is
established as a state charter school pursuant to this Code section shall be allowed to
continue the use of all facilities, equipment, and other assets it used prior to the expiration
or rescission of its charter with a local board of education; provided, however, that the local
board <ins>of education</ins> shall be authorized to charge or continue to charge a reasonable fee for
use of the facilities."
SECTION 12.
Said chapter is further amended in said article by revising subsection (b) of Code
Section 20-2-2088.1, relating to ownership and maintenance of state charter school records,
as follows:
"(b) In the event that a state charter school ceases operations for any reason, including, but
not limited to, the termination, nonrenewal, or abandonment of the state charter school's
charter, the nonprofit entity which held the charter contract shall retain ownership,
including all incumbent responsibilities of an operational state charter school, of all records
for a period of <del>one year</del> <ins>180 days</ins> from the later of the date the charter contract expired, the
date the charter contract was terminated, or the date the state charter school ceased
operations. Incumbent responsibilities include, but are not limited to, transferring student
records to public or private schools, schools operated by the Department of Juvenile
Justice, and the local school system or schools from which the records are requested. After
the <del>one-year</del> <ins>180 day</ins> period, the nonprofit entity which held the charter contract shall
transfer all records, including student records, to the commission in the format and manner
specified by the commission."
SECTION 13.
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026.
SECTION 14.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## 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 Senate bill would let virtual school students join their local public school's sports and clubs starting in 2027, create a new type of charter school for dropout recovery, and update rules for charter school incentive grants and record-keeping.

### Plain-language summary

Georgia already lets home study students try out for sports and activities at their local public school under the 'Dexter Mosely Act.' This bill extends that same option to students enrolled full time in certain online-only public schools, called qualifying virtual schools, starting with the 2027-2028 school year, as long as they meet grade, conduct and residency rules similar to those for home study students.

The bill also directs the State Board of Education to write rules by July 1, 2027 for nontraditional programs like credit recovery and flexible scheduling, and to create a new category of charter school, called a dropout recovery charter school, for grades six through 12 with its own performance standards. It revises the charter school incentive grant program (capping it at $2.25 million a year), updates duties of the Office of Charter School Compliance, requires school districts to weigh long-term costs when buying technology devices and report on device repairs starting in 2027, and shortens how long a closed state charter school's nonprofit must keep student records, from one year to 180 days. The law would take effect July 1, 2026.

### What it does

- Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules by July 1, 2027 governing nontraditional education programs such as credit recovery and flexible scheduling.
- Extends the Dexter Mosely Act so that full-time students at qualifying virtual (online-only) public schools can try out for their resident school's sports and activities starting in the 2027-2028 school year.
- Requires local school boards to weigh long-term cost, repair costs, and resale value when buying school technology devices, and to report device data to the state starting in 2027.
- Creates a new 'dropout recovery charter school' category for grades six through 12 that combines special education, remedial education, and nontraditional programs, with its own performance standards.
- Caps the charter school incentive grant program at $2.25 million per year and extends grant payments to the first three years of a new charter school's operation.
- Shortens the time a closed state charter school's nonprofit must retain student records before transferring them to the state, from one year to 180 days.

### Who it affects

Public school students and families, especially those in home study or virtual school programs, local school boards, the State Board of Education, the State Charter Schools Commission and its Office of Charter School Compliance, existing and prospective charter school operators, and district technology purchasing staff.

### Why it matters

Students who take classes entirely online would gain a path to play sports or join clubs at their neighborhood school, something currently limited mostly to home study students. Districts would also face new charter school options and grant rules, and new reporting requirements meant to track technology spending and repair costs.

### Key provisions

- Section 1 adds O.C.G.A. § 20-2-154.4, requiring the State Board of Education to set rules for nontraditional education programs by July 1, 2027 and requiring annual state reporting on their performance.
- Section 2 revises the Dexter Mosely Act (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-319.6) to add 'qualifying virtual school' and 'virtual school student' definitions and let such students join resident-school extracurricular activities beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, under conditions similar to home study students.
- Section 3 adds O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1018, requiring districts to consider total cost of ownership when buying school technology devices and to report device counts, repair rates, and repair costs to the Department of Education starting in 2027.
- Sections 4 and 5 create the 'dropout recovery charter school' category for grades six through twelve and direct the State Board of Education to set petition and conversion rules for such schools.
- Section 6 requires the State Board and State Charter Schools Commission to establish separate performance principles and standards for dropout recovery charter schools and to report on them annually.
- Section 7 revises the charter school incentive grant program (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2064.2), paying $250,000 for each of a new charter school's first three years of operation, capped at $2.25 million total per fiscal year, and shifts administration from the State Board in collaboration with the Office of Charter School Compliance.
- Section 9 expands duties of the Office of Charter School Compliance, including administering charter school grant programs and publishing standardized evaluation guidance for local boards.
- Section 12 shortens the record retention period for closed state charter schools from one year to 180 days before records must transfer to the State Charter Schools Commission.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-05-11)
- Last action: Effective Date 2026-07-01 (2026-05-11)
- Sponsors: Shawn Still, Jason Esteves, RaShaun Kemp, Matt Brass, Jan Jones
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71940

> The history, votes, and amendments (1,235 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb369.md?full=1