---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-159.1. Focused programs of study.
collection: code
id: 20-2-159.1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-159.1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-159.1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-159.1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-159.1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t20-ch1-2b-(v17)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=bfd7f2d1_0#page=77
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.
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version: the only printed version
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current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: EDUCATION / ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION / QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION / EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 20-2-159.1. Focused programs of study.

(a) The Department of Education shall develop, and the State Board of Education shall approve, state models and industry required content standards, after consultation with industries in Georgia and in collaboration with the Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia to ensure alignment with postsecondary opportunities, for the following focused programs of study, as defined in Code Section 20-2-326:

(1) Advanced manufacturing;

(2) Construction;

(3) Supply chain and transportation;

(4) Arts, entertainment, and design;

(5) Hospitality, events, and tourism;

(6) Financial services;

(7) Education;

(8) Healthcare and human services;

(9) Public service and safety;

(10) Agriculture;

(11) Energy and natural resources;

(12) Digital technology;

(13) Marketing and sales; and

(14) Management and entrepreneurship.

(b) The focused programs of study established pursuant to this Code section may include or be revised to include industry certifications or industry credentialing, as defined in Code Section 20-2-326, pertinent to any such focused program of study. The Department of Education and the Technical College System of Georgia shall jointly establish a list of industry credentials that are required by Georgia employers, in alignment with programs included in the High-demand Career List published by the State Workforce Development Board as provided in Code Section 34-14-3. Such list shall be made available on the Department of Education and the Technical College System of Georgia public websites. Such list shall be annually reviewed and updated as appropriate and made available prior to the beginning of the annual competitive grant application process provided for in subsection (j) of Code Section 20-2-260.

## History

Code 1981, § 20-2-159.1, enacted by Ga. L. 2011, p. 635, § 5/HB 186; Ga. L. 2012, p. 689, § 3/HB 713; Ga. L. 2015, p. 1376, § 9/HB 502; Ga. L. 2018, p. 731, § 3/SB 3; Ga. L. 2024, p. 175, § 2/SB 50, effective April 22, 2024; Ga. L. 2025, p. 433, § 3/HB 192, effective July 1, 2025.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2025, p. 433, § 1/HB 192, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: “This Act shall be known and may be cited as the ‘Top State for Talent Act.’”

## Amendments

The 2024 amendment, effective April 22, 2024, deleted “and” from the end of paragraph (a)(16), substituted “; and” for a period at the end of paragraph (a)(17), and added paragraph (a)(18).

The 2025 amendment, effective July 1, 2025, rewrote this Code section.