Senate · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB595: SB595 State Board of Education; establish a student personal development and career readiness program; authorize

Last action February 26, 2026 · Senate Read and Referred

A Georgia Senate bill would let the State Board of Education create a student personal development and career readiness program, using approved outside providers to offer mental health support and life skills training in public schools.

In plain language

This bill would add a new article to Georgia's education code letting the State Board of Education set up a student personal development and career readiness program. Public schools could opt to participate through third-party providers approved by the state board. Providers would apply each year, with the board reviewing applications by September 15 and publishing a list of approved providers. Approved providers would have to offer services at no cost to students, including on-site mental health support, instruction in soft skills like communication and decision making, life skills coaching, case management to connect families with community resources, and staff training. Providers must show at least a 50 percent academic improvement rate among served students and keep average costs at $1,500 or less per student. The bill also creates a grant program, subject to money the General Assembly decides to provide, to help pay for materials, staffing, and training, and requires providers and the state board to submit annual reports starting in 2027.

What the bill does

Authorizes the State Board of Education to establish a student personal development and career readiness program for public schools to voluntarily join.
Creates an annual application process for third-party providers to become 'approved program providers,' with a public list posted by September 15 each year.
Requires approved providers to offer free mental health support, soft-skills instruction, life-skills coaching, case management, and staff training to participating schools.
Sets performance and cost standards: providers must show at least a 50 percent academic improvement rate and keep average per-student costs at $1,500 or less.
Establishes a grant program, funded only if the General Assembly appropriates money, to help providers cover materials, staffing, training, and administrative costs.
Requires providers to report yearly to the state board starting in 2027, and requires the board to report to the Governor and legislative leaders on program results and funding disbursed.

Who it affects

Public elementary and secondary schools and their students in Georgia, the State Board of Education, and third-party organizations that might apply to become approved program providers offering mental health and life-skills services in schools.

Why it matters

If enacted, participating Georgia public schools could bring in outside providers offering free mental health support and life-skills coaching for students, funded partly through a new state grant program, though actual funding depends on future legislative appropriations and providers must meet cost and performance benchmarks.

Key provisions

Code Section 20-2-2140 defines key terms including 'academic improvement rate,' 'average cost per student,' and 'student personal development and career readiness program.'
Code Section 20-2-2141 authorizes the state board to create the program and sets an annual timeline: applications available by August 15, approvals and a public provider list by September 15.
Code Section 20-2-2142 requires approved providers to offer specific free services (mental health support, soft-skills and life-skills instruction, case management, training) and meet a 50 percent academic improvement rate with average per-student costs capped at $1,500.
Code Section 20-2-2143 authorizes a grant program, contingent on General Assembly appropriations, to fund curricula materials, staffing, training, evaluation, and administrative expenses for providers.
Code Section 20-2-2144 requires providers to report annually to the state board starting in 2027, and requires the state board to report yearly to the Governor, legislative leaders, and relevant committee chairs on program results and funds disbursed.

Status timeline

2026-02-26Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2026-02-25Senate Hopper (Senate)

Topics

public education
student mental health
career readiness
school programs
education funding