---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-69. Requirements and procedures for issuing and awarding high school diplomas to honorably discharged World War II Veterans.
collection: code
id: 20-2-69
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-69 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-69
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-69.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-69/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=174
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 / LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 20-2-69. Requirements and procedures for issuing and awarding high school diplomas to honorably discharged World War II Veterans.

Each local board of education shall issue high school diplomas to veterans who failed to receive diplomas due to an interruption of their education by service in World War II. The local board of education of the school district where the veteran attended high school shall award the high school diploma to such veteran. A veteran shall make application for a diploma to the appropriate local board of education and furnish proof that such person is a World War II veteran who had his or her education interrupted as a result of service in World War II. Honorably discharged veterans who served in World War II between September 16, 1940, and December 31, 1946, and who did not graduate from high school are eligible for a diploma; provided, however, that attendance in high school ranging from 1937-1946 with graduation class years ranging from 1941-1950 is required. Veterans who qualify under this Code section and who have earned a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma are also eligible for a high school diploma. Diplomas may be awarded posthumously. The local board of education is encouraged to present such diplomas to World War II veterans on or near Veterans Day to bring to the attention of students the importance of such day and the great sacrifices made by World War II veterans.

## History

Code 1981, § 20-2-69, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 478, § 1; Ga. L. 2022, p. 168, § 2(1)/SB 397.

The 2022 amendment, effective July 1, 2022, substituted “state approved high school equivalency (HSE)” for “general educational development (GED)” in the fifth sentence.

## Cross References

Instructional activities focusing on veterans and the armed forces, § 20-2-147.

## Code Commission Notes

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2005, “Veterans Day” was substituted for “Veterans’ Day” in the last sentence.

## Law Reviews

For article, “Education Law,” see 53 Mercer L. Rev. 281 (2001).