HB1123: HB1123 Quality Basic Education Act; require certain schools that offer after-school programs to make such programs available to pre-kindergarten students

26 LC 49 2546/AP House Bill 1123 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Jones of the 47 th, Erwin of the 32 nd, Hilton of the 48 th, Ballard of the 147th, Donatucci of the 105th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O fficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act,"2 so as to require certain schools that offer after-school progra ms to make such programs3 available to pre-kindergarten students on the same basis as the school's other students; to4 provide for limited waivers of such requirement; to provide for definitions; to provide for5 related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official C ode of Georgia Annotated,9 relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended10 by revising Code Section 20-2-308, which is reserved, as follows:11 "20-2-308.12 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:13 (1) 'After-school program' means any program conducted after regular school hours.14 (2) 'Qualifying school' means a public school that:15 H. B. 1123 - 1 - 26 LC 49 2546/AP (A) Has students enrolled in any of the following programs identified in subsection (b)16 of Code Section 20-2-161:17 (i) Kindergarten program;18 (ii) Primary grades program; or19 (iii) Upper elementary grades program; and20 (B) Provides for and operates one or more pre-kindergarten pro grams as part of21 Georgia's Pre-K Program.22 (b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each qualifying school that offers one or23 more after-school programs shall make such after-school programs available to students24 enrolled in such school's pre-kindergarten programs on the same basis as other students25 enrolled in such school.26 (c) Upon receiving a written request from a qualifying school that includes an explanation27 detailing the extenuating circumstances which support such requ est, the Department of28 Early Care and Learning shall be authorized to waive the requirements of subsection (b)29 of this Code section for such qualifying school for a period not to exceed one school year30 per written request. A qualifying school seeking such a waiver for more than one school31 year shall be required to submit a new request to the Departmen t of Early Care and32 Learning for each school year. Reserved."33 SECTION 2.34 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.35 H. B. 1123 - 2 -