---
title: SB 595. State Board of Education; establish a student personal development and career readiness program; authorize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb595
cite_as: SB 595, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb595
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb595.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb595/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73661
date: 2026-02-26
status: introduced
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: 95
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb595.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 595
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-25
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Donzella James
- Michael Rhett
- Jaha Howard
- Randal Mangham
- RaShaun Kemp
- Kim Jackson
- Tonya Anderson
- Elena Parent
- Kenya Wicks
- Gail Davenport
- Sally Harrell
- Sonya Halpern
- Nan Orrock
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB595/2025
upstream_id: 2124827
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- student mental health
- career readiness
- public education funding
- school programs
- education policy
---
# SB 595. State Board of Education; establish a student personal development and career readiness program; authorize
## Text
Senate Bill 595
By: Senators James of the 28th, Rhett of the 33rd, Howard of the 35th, Mangham of the 55th,
Kemp of the 38th and others
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 authorize the State Board of Education to
establish a student personal development and career readiness program; to provide for the
selection of third-party providers to administer the program; to provide requirements for
approved program providers; to provide for disbursement of funds to approved program
providers; to provide for reporting; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters;
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 by adding a new article to read as follows:
"ARTICLE 35
20-2-2140.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) 'Academic improvement rate' means the academic improvement rate calculated in
accordance with Code Section 20-2-2142.
(2) 'Average cost per student' means the average cost per student calculated in accordance
with Code Section 20-2-2142.
(3) 'Public school' means any public elementary or secondary school in this state.
(4) 'State board' means the State Board of Education.
(5) 'Student personal development and career readiness program' and 'program' mean the
program provided for in this article.
20-2-2141.
(a) The state board shall be authorized to establish a student personal development and
career readiness program to allow public schools to participate in such program for the
purpose of enhancing academic growth, career preparedness, and overall personal
development for students.
(b) The state board shall be authorized to approve program providers to administer the
program. Such approved program providers shall be selected through an application
process as follows:
(1) Not later than August 15 of each year, the state board shall make available an
application for third-party entities to apply to become approved program providers;
(2) Not later than September 15 of each year, the state board shall review applications,
approve program providers that meet the requirements set forth in this article, and make
available a list of approved program providers on the state board's public website; and
(3) Approved program providers shall be authorized to begin enrolling public schools
upon being approved by the state board as an approved program provider.
(c) The state board shall be authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to
implement the provisions of this article.
20-2-2142.
(a) Approved program providers shall:
(1) Offer the following to public schools at no cost to students:
(A) On-site mental health support for students, including regular coordination with
teachers, case managers, and interns to ensure students receive consistent care;
(B) Instruction in essential soft skills, including self-awareness, managing emotions,
clear communication, responsible decision making, and resolving conflicts;
(C) Life skills and academic support, including help with setting goals, building
confidence and personal responsibility, and developing strategies to stay on track in
school and prepare for careers;
(D) Additional case management support to connect students and families with
community services and other resources that reduce barriers to attendance and academic
success;
(E) Training and implementation support for participating schools, including
on-boarding assistance and guidance for teachers to effectively integrate the program
into existing school operations; and
(F) One or more programs which public schools may choose to participate in;
(2) Have an academic improvement rate of not less than 50 percent; and
(3) Have an average cost per student of not more than $1,500.00.
(b)(1) The average cost per student shall be calculated by dividing the total program
funding, including expenditures for materials, staffing, training, evaluation, and
administrative expenses disbursed to an approved program provider annually, by the
anticipated number of students served in the program annually.
(2) The academic improvement rate shall be calculated by dividing the number of
students served in the program that have shown an improvement in course grades
annually by the number of students for which such approved program provider has
received program funding.
20-2-2143.
(a) The state board shall be authorized to establish a grant program to provide financial
assistance to public schools for the implementation of the program by an approved program
provider. The grant program shall include funding, subject to appropriations by the
General Assembly, for grants to program providers to purchase curricula materials, and to
fund staffing, training, evaluation, and administrative expenses.
(b) The state board shall establish and administer:
(1) Eligibility and selection criteria for grant applicants;
(2) Grant application procedures;
(3) Guidelines relating to grant amounts;
(4) Procedures for evaluation of grant applications; and
(5) Procedures for monitoring the use of a grant awarded under the program and ensuring
compliance with any conditions of a grant.
(c) Funds received by approved program providers pursuant to this Code section shall be
used for providing and preparing for instruction, instructional materials, and support
services for students and teachers, including coaching and mentoring.
(d) An approved program provider receiving a grant under this Code section shall, as soon
as practicable after spending the grant money, provide to the state board proof of purchase,
as applicable, of curricula materials, staffing, training, evaluation, and administrative
expenses.
20-2-2144.
(a) Beginning in 2027, no later than August 15 of each year, each approved program
provider shall submit a report to the state board which shall include:
(1) The number of public schools participating in the program;
(2) The academic improvement rate of the program; and
(3) The average cost per student.
(b) Beginning in 2027, no later than December 1 of each year, the state board shall provide
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 with a report that includes:
(1) The information reported to the state board pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code
section; and
(2) The amount of funds disbursed to each approved program provider."
SECTION 2.
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.
Senate Bill 595 would let the Georgia State Board of Education create a statewide student personal development and career readiness program, run through approved outside providers, that offers free mental health and life skills support in public schools.
### Plain-language summary
Currently Georgia law does not set up a formal statewide program combining mental health support, soft skills instruction, and career readiness services in public schools through third-party providers. This bill would authorize the State Board of Education to create such a program and to approve outside organizations, called program providers, to run it in schools that choose to participate.
Providers would have to offer on-site mental health support, soft skills and life skills instruction, case management, and staff training, all at no cost to students. Providers must show at least a 50 percent academic improvement rate among served students and keep average per-student costs at $1,500 or less. The bill also creates a grant program, subject to money the General Assembly decides to appropriate, to help pay for materials, staffing, training, and administration. Starting in 2027, providers and the state board must file annual reports on participation, results, and funding with state leaders.
### What it does
- Authorizes the State Board of Education to establish a student personal development and career readiness program that public schools may voluntarily join.
- Creates an annual application process where the state board approves third-party program providers by September 15 each year and posts the approved list publicly.
- Requires approved providers to offer free on-site mental health support, soft skills instruction, life skills coaching, case management, and staff training to participating schools.
- Sets minimum performance and cost standards for providers: at least a 50 percent academic improvement rate and no more than $1,500 average cost per student.
- Establishes a grant program, funded only if the General Assembly appropriates money, to help pay providers' curricula, staffing, training, and administrative costs.
- Requires providers to report yearly starting in 2027 on participation and results, with the state board then reporting that data to the Governor and legislative leaders by December 1.
### Who it affects
Public elementary and secondary schools and their students statewide, the State Board of Education, which runs the approval and grant process, third-party organizations seeking to become approved program providers, and state leaders including the Governor and legislative education committees who receive annual reports.
### Why it matters
If schools opt in, students could gain access to free mental health support, soft skills coaching, and career readiness help delivered by outside providers rather than school staff alone. Because funding depends on future legislative appropriations, the program's actual reach and impact would hinge on how much money lawmakers choose to allocate.
### Key provisions
- Code Section 20-2-2140 defines key terms such as 'academic improvement rate,' 'average cost per student,' and 'approved program provider.'
- Code Section 20-2-2141 lets the state board create the program and sets an annual approval cycle: applications available by August 15, approvals and public listing by September 15.
- Code Section 20-2-2142 requires providers to offer free mental health support, soft skills and life skills instruction, case management, and teacher training, and sets minimum performance standards (50 percent academic improvement rate, $1,500 average cost per student cap).
- Code Section 20-2-2143 creates a grant program, contingent on legislative appropriations, to fund curricula, staffing, training, and administrative expenses, with the state board setting eligibility and monitoring rules.
- Code Section 20-2-2144 requires providers to submit annual reports starting in 2027 on participation, academic improvement rate, and per-student cost, which the state board must then relay to the Governor and legislative leaders by December 1 each year.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-25)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-02-26)
- Sponsors: Donzella James, Michael Rhett, Jaha Howard, Randal Mangham, RaShaun Kemp, Kim Jackson, Tonya Anderson, Elena Parent, Kenya Wicks, Gail Davenport, Sally Harrell, Sonya Halpern, Nan Orrock
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73661
> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb595.md?full=1