---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-4-170. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 20-4-170
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-4-170 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-4-170
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-4-170.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-4-170/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t20-ch3-18-(v17a)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=10d12596_0#page=457
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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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: Repealed effective July 1, 2031.
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: EDUCATION / VOCATIONAL, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION / ADULT WORKFORCE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAM
extraction_warnings:
  - dehyphenation_unverified:mas-tering
---

# O.C.G.A. § 20-4-170. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) “Academic skill intake assessment” means a criterion referenced assessment of numeracy and literacy skill with high reliability and validity as determined by third-party research, which assessment may be administered in person or online.

(2) “Adult workforce high school diploma program” and “program” mean the program provided for in this article.

(3) “Approved program provider” means a third-party entity that applies to participate in the program, is approved by the state board, and agrees to meet all program requirements.

(4) “Average cost per graduate” means the average cost per graduate calculated in accordance with Code Section 20-4-172.

(5) “Cohort” means all students who enter the program between July 1 and June 30 of each program year.

(6) “Eligible student” means an individual who:

(A) Resides in this state;

(B) Is between 21 and 40 years of age at the time of enrollment;

(C) Has not attained a high school diploma;

(D) Does not meet any of the ineligibility criteria provided for in subsection (b) of Code Section 20-3-519.1; and

(E) Has previously been enrolled in a public primary or secondary school or adult education program in this state.

(7) “Employability skills certification” means a certificate earned by demonstrating professional nontechnical skills through assessment and includes, but is not limited to, the program standards of the United States Department of Labor’s “Skills to Pay the Bills: Mas-tering Soft Skills for Workplace Success” program.

(8) “Graduation rate” means the graduation rate calculated in accordance with Code Section 20-4-172.

(9) “Industry recognized credential” means an education related credential or work related credential that verifies an individual’s qualification or competence and is issued by an entity with the authority to issue such credential.

(10) “Measurement period” means the two-year period beginning July 1 of the year the cohort begins through June 30 of the subsequent fiscal year.

(11) “Milestones” means measures of student progress for which funds are disbursed to approved program providers pursuant to Code Section 20-4-173.

(12) “Program funding” means funding received by an approved program provider pursuant to Code Section 20-4-173.

(13) “Program year” means the period beginning on July 1 of each year and ending on June 30 of the immediately following year.

(14) “Stackable credential” means a credential that is part of a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time to build up an individual’s qualifications to advance along a career pathway.

(15) “State board” means the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia.

(16) “Transcript evaluation” means a documented summary of credits earned in previous public or private accredited high schools compared with this state’s requirements to earn a high school diploma.

(17) “Workforce credential” means an industry recognized credential or a stackable credential.

## History

Code 1981, § 20-4-170, enacted by Ga. L. 2025, p. 144, § 1/SB 193, effective July 1, 2025.

## Editor's Notes

See the Editor’s notes following the article heading as to the repeal of this Code section.