SB 4: Education; fundamental roles of local boards of education and local school superintendents; revise provisions

Georgia law already spells out that local school boards set policy and superintendents carry it out, and requires a state model code of ethics and a training program for board members. This bill revises those rules. It removes language saying boards should not "micromanage" superintendents and the note that requesting financial records is not micromanaging, while keeping the board's duty to hold the superintendent accountable. It bars individual board members from discussing personnel matters directly with the superintendent or staff, except in specific legal situations, though simply referring a personnel matter is still allowed. The bill also directs the State Board of Education to issue an updated model code of ethics by October 1, 2025, and lets residents 18 or older file ethics complaints against local board members with the Professional Standards Commission. It requires a revised statewide training program by the same date, listing more than a dozen required topics and several topics the training may not include, such as urging boards to act unanimously. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Removes the current statement that boards should not "micromanage" superintendents and the note that requesting financial data isn't micromanaging, while keeping the board's duty to hold superintendents accountable.
• Prohibits individual local board members from discussing personnel matters directly with the superintendent or school staff except in specific legally listed circumstances.
• Requires the State Board of Education to issue an updated model code of ethics for local board members by October 1, 2025, that cannot alter boards' or superintendents' existing powers.
• Creates a formal complaint process letting residents 18 or older file ethics complaints against local board members with the Professional Standards Commission.
• Requires a new statewide training program for local board members by October 1, 2025, with a detailed list of required topics and a list of statements or recommendations the training must not include.
• Bars any outside training provider found to include prohibited content from being an approved provider for three years.

Local school board members and local school superintendents across Georgia, residents of local school districts who may file ethics complaints, the State Board of Education and Professional Standards Commission, which set and enforce the rules, and outside organizations that provide board member training.

The changes would reshape day-to-day interactions between school board members and superintendents, particularly around personnel discussions, and give residents a formal path to challenge a board member's ethics through a state commission. Training providers would face real consequences for including certain political or advocacy content.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 20-2-61 to remove the explicit anti-micromanaging language and the financial-records exception, while restricting individual board members from discussing personnel matters with the superintendent or staff outside listed legal exceptions.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 20-2-72 to require a new model code of ethics by October 1, 2025, that must stay consistent with boards' and superintendents' existing roles, and adds a complaint process through the Professional Standards Commission.
• Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 20-2-230 to require a new statewide training program for board members by October 1, 2025, listing 16 required topics including budgeting, ethics, open meetings law, and superintendent evaluation.
• Section 3 also lists prohibited training content, such as suggesting boards should act unanimously or defer to superintendents on budget and tax matters, or take positions on pending legislation.
• Section 3 bars any non-state training provider found to violate the prohibited-content rules from being an approved provider for three years.
• Section 3 limits mandatory training participation mainly to newly elected board members and members of districts designated high-risk by the Department of Audits and Accounts.
• Section 4 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law.

1. 2025-03-11House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-10House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-04Senate Notice to Reconsider (Senate)
4. 2025-03-04Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
5. 2025-03-04Senate Third Read (Senate)
6. 2025-02-24Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
7. 2025-02-21Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
8. 2025-01-14Senate Read and Referred (Senate)

• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-27)Primary sponsor
• Brandon Beach (R, SD-21)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
• Larry Walker, III (R, SD-20)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-1)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-52)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-13)
• John Albers (R, SD-56)
• John F. Kennedy (R, SD-18)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-46)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-47)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-8)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-19)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-49)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-11)
• Max Burns (R, SD-23)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-30)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-24)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-48)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-31)
• Colton Moore (R, SD-53)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 4, 2025

   36 yea, 11 nay (8 not voting, 1 excused)

   PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE: Senate Vote #143

2. FailedSenate voteMarch 6, 2025

   20 yea, 32 nay (4 not voting, 0 excused)

   MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION: Senate Vote #158

• school board governance
• education ethics
• school board training
• local superintendents
• open meetings and records