---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-4-172. Requirements for approved programs; calculation of funding and graduation rates.
collection: code
id: 20-4-172
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-4-172 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-4-172
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-4-172.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-4-172/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=460
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version: Repealed effective July 1, 2031.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
---

# O.C.G.A. § 20-4-172. Requirements for approved programs; calculation of funding and graduation rates.

(a) Approved program providers shall:

(1) Be accredited by:

(A) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges;

(B) Georgia Accrediting Commission;

(C) Cognia; or

(D) A successor entity or consolidation of any of the above entities;

(2) Offer the following to eligible students at no cost to such students:

(A) Academic skill intake assessments and transcript evaluations for eligible students;

(B) A documented plan for each eligible student that shall include the requirements for such student to complete the program and earn a high school diploma;

(C) Remedial education services in numeracy and literacy;

(D) A course catalog that includes all courses necessary to earn a high school diploma;

(E) One or more programs through which eligible students can earn a workforce credential;

(F) One or more programs through which eligible students can earn an employability skills certification;

(G) One or more courses that help eligible students enter or advance within a specific occupation or occupational cluster; and

(H) All courses necessary to meet the requirements to earn a high school diploma;

(3) Have a graduation rate of not less than 50 percent; and

(4) Have an average cost per graduate of not more than $7,500.00.

(b) If an approved program provider fails to meet the standards set forth in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a) of this Code section, the state board shall place such approved program provider on probationary status for the remainder of the program year. If an approved program provider fails to meet such standards by the end of the subsequent program year, such approved program provider shall no longer be an approved program provider.

(c)(1) Average cost per graduate shall be calculated by dividing the total program funding disbursed to an approved program provider for a cohort during the time period from the beginning of the cohort through the end of the measurement period by the total number of students in that cohort who earned a high school diploma during the measurement period.

(2) Graduation rate shall be calculated by dividing the number of students in a cohort who earned a high school diploma during the measurement period by the number of students in such cohort for which such approved program provider has received program funding.

## History

Code 1981, § 20-4-172, 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.