---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1013. Free instructional materials and content; care and protection of instructional materials, library books, and media materials; reimbursement by pupils or parents.
collection: code
id: 20-2-1013
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1013 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-1013
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-1013.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-1013/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t20-ch1-2a-(v17)-2022-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=9db936c6_0#page=842
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: EDUCATION / ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION / INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND CONTENT
---

# O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1013. Free instructional materials and content; care and protection of instructional materials, library books, and media materials; reimbursement by pupils or parents.

(a) The State Board of Education is authorized and directed to inaugurate and administer a system of free instructional materials and content for the public schools of this state. The state board shall have authority to promulgate and enforce such rules and regulations as may be necessary for that purpose.

(b) All instructional materials and content and any computer hardware, software, and technical equipment necessary to support such digital materials and content purchased by local units of administration with state Quality Basic Education Program funds or any other means of acquisition may remain the property of the local unit purchasing or acquiring them. Assistive technology devices that are acquired may remain the property of the student; provided, however, that this shall not be construed to violate any contracts or copyright laws. Each local unit of administration shall establish such policies as it deems necessary for the care and protection of its instructional materials and content; computer hardware, software, and technical equipment necessary to support such materials and content; library books; and media materials as a condition to receiving all or part of the state contributed Quality Basic Education Program funds allotted to the local unit. Such policies may include any of the following sanctions against a pupil who fails or refuses to pay for any lost or damaged instructional materials and content; computer hardware, software, and technical equipment necessary to support such materials and content; library book; or media material at the replacement cost:

(1) Refusal to issue or make available any additional instructional materials and content, any computer hardware, software, and technical equipment necessary to support such materials and content, any library books, or any media materials until restitution is made; or

(2) Withholding of all grade cards, diplomas, or certificates of progress until restitution is made.

No local unit of administration shall require any pupil or parent to purchase any instructional materials and content; computer hardware, software, and technical equipment necessary to support such materials and content; library book; or media material except in cases where the pupil damages, loses, or defaces such item either through willful intent or neglect.

## History

Ga. L. 1937, p. 896, § 3; Ga. L. 1994, p. 1936, § 2; Ga. L. 2012, p. 893, § 6/SB 289; Ga. L. 2015, p. 1031, § 2-2/SB 89.

## Law Reviews

For note on the 1994 amendment of this Code section, see 11 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 184 (1994).