HB1048: HB1048 Quality Basic Education Act; State Board adopt criteria for assessment and placement of students who are eligible for initial public school enrollment in first grade

26 LC 49 2491 House Bill 1048 By: Representatives Hilton of the 48th, Efstration of the 104th, Jones of the 47th, Donatucci of the 105th, Reeves of the 99th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the1 "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to require the State Board of Education to adopt criteria2 for assessment and placement of students who are eligible for initial public school enrollment3 in first grade; to provide for parents and guardians of such students to elect for their children4 to be enrolled in kindergarten rather than first grade; to require the State Board of Education5 to adopt a model policy; to require local boards of education a nd other public school6 governing bodies to adopt placement and promotion policies; to provide for implementation;7 to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and8 applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10 SECTION 1.11 Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, the "Quality12 Basic Education Act," is amended in Part 3, relating to educati onal programs, by revising13 Code Section 20-2-151, relating to general and career education programs, purpose, and14 authorized programs, as follows:15 H. B. 1048 - 1 - 26 LC 49 2491 "20-2-151.16 (a) The primary purpose for the general and career education programs is to provide the17 children and youth of Georgia with a quality opportunity to master uniformly sequenced18 content standards adopted by the State Board of Education.19 (b) The following general and career education programs are authorized for purposes of20 funding under this article:21 (1)(A) All local school systems may offer a full-day kindergar ten program. For22 purposes of this subsection, the term 'full-day kindergarten program' means a student23 is provided classroom instruction for a minimum of four and one-half hours daily for24 a 180 day school year, or the equivalent thereof as determined in accordance with State25 Board of Education guidelines.26 (B) It is the policy of this state that the purposes of the kindergarten program shall be27 to provide all children with an equal opportunity to become prepared for a successful28 first grade experience and to acquire the foundation for academic progress throughout29 the students' educational careers. To be eligible for enrollme nt in a state supported30 kindergarten program, a child must attain the age of five by Se ptember 1, except as31 otherwise provided by subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-150;32 (2) It is the policy of this state that the purpose of the primary grades program shall be33 mastery by enrolled students of the essential basic skills and knowledge which will34 enable them to achieve more advanced skills and knowledge offered at the higher grade35 levels. For purposes of funding under this article, the primar y grades program shall36 include grades one, two, and three. To be eligible for enrollment in the first grade of a37 state supported primary grades program, a child must attain the age of six by38 September 1, except as otherwise provided by subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-150. 39 The State Board of Education shall adopt an instrument or instruments, procedures, and40 policies necessary to assess the first grade readiness of child ren enrolled in Georgia's41 public school kindergarten programs pursuant to Code Section 20 -2-281. Readiness42 H. B. 1048 - 2 - 26 LC 49 2491 information obtained by the instrument or instruments adopted by the state board shall43 be used by local school systems in concert with teacher recomme ndations and other44 relevant information to make appropriate student grade placemen t decisions. The45 Department of Education shall develop guidelines for utilizatio n of the instrument or46 instruments in grade placement decisions and shall provide such guidelines to local47 school systems. The guidelines shall include information perti nent to consideration of48 the placement of students who have been identified as being dis abled or49 limited-English-proficient. Whenever the decision is made not to promote a child to the50 first grade, the local school system shall document the reasons for the decision not to51 promote, according to guidelines established by the board. The State School52 Superintendent may annually provide a report summarizing the results of the readiness53 of first grade Georgia public school kindergarten children. No student shall remain in54 kindergarten for more than two years;55 (3) It is the policy of this state that the primary purposes of the middle grades program56 shall be assuring the mastery of essential basic skills and knowledge, assisting students57 in the transition from childhood to adolescence, and preparing students for the selection58 of programs and courses consistent with their abilities and interests when they enter high59 school, as well as providing an opportunity for mastery of essential but more advanced60 skills and knowledge. For purposes of funding under this artic le, the middle grades61 program shall include grades four, five, six, seven, and eight; and62 (4)(A) It is the policy of this state that the primary purpose s of the high school63 programs shall be to prepare students for the continuation of t heir education beyond64 high school and for entry into their chosen career fields as well as to prepare them to65 take their places in society as young adults. The following high school programs for66 grades nine, ten, 11, and 12 are authorized for purposes of funding under this article:67 (i) The high school education program; and68 (ii) The career, technical, and agricultural education laboratory program.69 H. B. 1048 - 3 - 26 LC 49 2491 (B) As a reflection of the reduced teacher-student ratios and more extensive material70 and equipment needed for effective laboratory courses compared to courses with no or71 only limited laboratory experiences, the career, technical, and agricultural education72 laboratory program shall be funded at a higher level than the h igh school general73 education program. The state board shall adopt criteria which courses must meet in74 order to qualify for the career, technical, and agricultural education laboratory program.75 (c) Nothing in this Code section or in Code Section 20-2-150 shall be construed or applied76 by a local unit of administration to support any policy or practice of enrolling a student in77 a state supported kindergarten program or the first grade of a state supported primary78 grades program exclusively on the basis of such student's age or date of birth."79 SECTION 2.80 Said article is further amended in Part 12, relating to effectiveness of educational programs,81 by revising subsection (a) and adding a new subsection to Code Section 20-2-283, relating82 to criteria, specific requirements for students in grades three , five, and eight, and83 implementation, to read as follows:84 "(a) No later than January 1, 2002 July 1, 2026, the State Board of Education shall adopt85 criteria for the development of a placement and promotion policy by each local board of86 education consistent with the Georgia Academic Placement and Promotion Policy."87 "(b.1) Such criteria as adopted by the State Board of Education shall require the following88 for each student enrolling in a state supported education program for the first time who, by89 virtue of his or her age and date of birth, is eligible for enr ollment in the first grade of a90 state supported primary grades program pursuant to Code Section 20-2-150 or 20-2-151:91 (1) Each such student shall be assessed for first grade readin ess by the local school92 system or public school utilizing the instrument or instruments, procedures, and policies93 adopted by the State Board of Education in concert with teacher recommendations and94 H. B. 1048 - 4 - 26 LC 49 2491 other relevant information to make an appropriate student grade enrollment decision as95 provided for in Code Section 20-2-151; and96 (2) Notwithstanding the results of the assessment provided for in paragraph (1) of this97 subsection, each such student shall be enrolled in a state supported kindergarten program98 at the request of his or her parent or guardian."99 SECTION 3.100 Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-284, relating to criteria for local101 boards of education and model placement and promotion policy, as follows:102 "20-2-284.103 (a) No later than July 1, 2003 July 15, 2026, each local board of education and other public104 school governing body shall develop and adopt a placement and promotion policy in105 accordance with the criteria established by the State Board of Education as provided in106 Code Section 20-2-283 and consistent with the Georgia Academic Placement and107 Promotion Policy.108 (b) Except for those end-of-grade assessments specified in Cod e Section 20-2-283, the109 placement and promotion policy as developed and adopted by each local board of110 education and other public school governing body shall state how the end-of-grade111 assessments administered under Code Section 20-2-281 for grades one through eight will112 be weighted or otherwise utilized by the school principal or th e principal's designee in113 determining the overall academic achievement of a student and a n appropriate plan of114 accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction, placement, promotion, or retention of115 a student.116 (c) To assist each local board of education and other public school governing bodies, the117 State Board of Education shall develop by no later than July 1, 2026, a model placement118 and promotion policy which may be utilized by a local board boards of education and other119 public school governing bodies."120 H. B. 1048 - 5 - 26 LC 49 2491 SECTION 4.121 Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-285, relating to timetable for122 implementation of policy, as follows:123 "20-2-285.124 The State Board of Education shall provide for a timetable of implementation of this Code125 section and the Georgia Academic Placement and Promotion Policy which shall include:126 (1) The third grade beginning with the 2003-2004 school year;127 (2) The fifth grade beginning with the 2004-2005 school year; and128 (3) The eighth grade beginning with the 2005-2006 school year; and129 (4) Kindergarten and first grade beginning with the 2026-2027 school year."130 SECTION 5.131 This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law132 without such approval, and shall apply to all school years begi nning with the 2026-2027133 school year.134 SECTION 6.135 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.136 H. B. 1048 - 6 -