---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-85. Legislative findings; role of local boards of education and school councils.
collection: code
id: 20-2-85
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-85 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-85
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-85.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-85/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=189
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
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-84.6.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-86.md
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 / COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 20-2-85. Legislative findings; role of local boards of education and school councils.

(a) The General Assembly recognizes the need to improve communication and participation of parents and the community in the management and operation of local schools. The General Assembly believes that parent and community support is critical to the success of students and schools. The intent of this article is to bring communities and schools closer together in a spirit of cooperation to solve difficult education problems, improve academic achievement, provide support for teachers and administrators, and bring parents into the school-based decision-making process. The establishment of school councils is intended to help local boards of education develop and nurture participation, bring parents and the community together with teachers and school administrators to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other’s concerns, and share ideas for school improvement. School councils shall be reflective of the school community.

(b) The management and control of public schools shall be the responsibility of local boards of education, and the school leader shall be the principal. School councils shall provide advice, recommendations, and assistance and represent the community of parents and businesses. Each member of the council, as a community representative, shall be accorded the respect and attention deserving of such election.

## History

Code 1981, § 20-2-85, enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 618, § 10.