---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-61. Fundamental roles of local boards of education and local school superintendents.
collection: code
id: 20-2-61
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-61 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-61
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-61.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-61/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=46
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
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: EDUCATION / ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION / LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 20-2-61. Fundamental roles of local boards of education and local school superintendents.

(a) The fundamental role of a local board of education shall be to establish policy for the local school system with the focus on student achievement. The fundamental role of a local school superintendent shall be to implement the policy established by the local board. It shall not be the role of the local board of education or individual members of such board to micromanage the superintendent in executing his or her duties, but it shall be the duty of the local board to hold the local school superintendent accountable in the performance of his or her duties; provided, however, that requesting and reviewing financial data and documents shall not constitute micromanaging. No individual member shall discuss any individual personnel matter with the superintendent or other school personnel except as provided for in Code Section 20-2-943, Code Section 20-2-989.7, Code Section 20-2-989.8, Code Section 20-2-1160, Code Section 50-14-3, or Code Section 50-14-4 or as otherwise authorized by law; provided, however, that the mere referral of a personnel matter to the superintendent shall not be prohibited. Local board of education members should work together with the entire local board of education and shall not have authority as independent elected officials but shall only be authorized to take official action as members of the board as a whole. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to alter, limit, expand, or enlarge any powers, duties, or responsibilities of local boards of education, local board members, or local school superintendents.

(b) Except as may be allowed by law, no local board of education shall delegate or attempt to delegate its policy-making functions.

## History

Code 1981, § 20-2-61, enacted by Ga. L. 2010, p. 452, § 6/SB 84; Ga. L. 2020, p. 62, § 1-4/SB 68; Ga. L. 2023, p. 408, § 3/HB 340, effective July 1, 2023.

## Amendments

The 2023 amendment, effective July 1, 2023, added the present fourth sentence in subsection (a).