Bill Text: GA HB149 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Move on When Ready Act; enact
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 7-0)
Status: (Passed) 2009-07-01 - Effective Date [HB149 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2009-HB149-Comm_Sub.html
09 HB
149/CSFA
House
Bill 149 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE) (AM)
By:
Representatives Jones of the
46th,
Hembree of the
67th,
Dempsey of the
13th,
Powell of the
171st,
Harden of the
147th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 4 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to financing under the "Quality Basic Education
Act," so as to enact the "Move on When Ready Act"; to provide for definitions;
to provide a program for eleventh and twelfth grade students to attend
postsecondary colleges and schools for high school credit; to provide for notice
to parents and students of the program; to provide requirements for course
credit; to provide for state funding; to provide for testing; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
This
Act shall be known and may be referred to as the "Move on When Ready
Act."
SECTION
2.
Part
4 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to financing under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is
amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"20-2-161.3.
(a)
For purposes of this Code section, the term:
(1)
'Department' means the Department of Education.
(2)
'Eligible institution' or 'institution' means any eligible postsecondary
institution as defined in paragraph (7) of Code Section 20-3-519.
(3)
'Eligible student' means a student entering eleventh or twelfth grade who spent
the prior school year in attendance at a public high school in this
state.
(4)
'Prior school year in attendance' means that the student was reported as
enrolled in a public school for funding purposes during the preceding October
and March full-time equivalent (FTE) program counts in accordance with Code
Section 20-2-160.
(5)
'Program' means the arrangement authorized by this Code section whereby an
eligible student takes all of his or her courses at or through an eligible
institution or a virtual course approved by the State Board of Education and
receives secondary credit from his or her high school with the goal of
completing graduation and high school diploma requirements.
(6)
'Secondary credit' means high school credit for courses taken at an eligible
institution under the program.
(b)
Any eligible student may apply to an eligible institution to take courses at or
through that institution which are approved for secondary credit pursuant to
subsection (d) of this Code section. If accepted at an eligible institution,
such eligible student may take any such approved course at that institution,
whether or not the course is taught during the regular public school day, and
receive secondary credit therefor under the conditions provided in this Code
section. An eligible institution which accepts an eligible student authorized to
apply for enrollment under the program shall not receive any state funds for
that student unless such institution complies with the requirements of this Code
section regarding eligible institutions.
(c)
The department shall develop appropriate forms and counseling guidelines for the
program and shall make such forms and guidelines available to local school
systems and eligible institutions. No later than the first day of April each
year, each local school system shall provide general information about the
program, including such forms, to all its tenth and eleventh grade students. A
local school system shall also provide counseling services in accordance with
the counseling guidelines provided by the department to such students and their
parents or guardians before the students enroll in the program. Prior to
participating in the program, the student and the student's parent or guardian
shall sign the form provided by the school system or by an eligible institution
stating that they have received the counseling specified in this subsection and
that they understand the responsibilities that shall be assumed in participating
in the program.
(d)(1)
A local school system shall grant academic credit to an eligible student
enrolled in a course in an eligible institution if that course has been approved
by the State Board of Education and if such student successfully completes that
course. The State Board of Education shall approve any such course which is
substantially comparable to a state approved course. The secondary credit
granted shall be for the comparable course and course hours approved by the
State Board of Education. Upon completion of an eligible institution's approved
course, the eligible student shall be responsible for requesting that the
institution notify the student's local school system regarding his or her grade
in that course.
(2)
Secondary school credits granted for eligible institution courses under
paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be counted toward State Board of
Education graduation requirements and subject area requirements of the local
school system. Evidence of successful completion of each course and secondary
credits granted shall be included in the eligible student's secondary school
records.
(3)
The State Board of Education shall establish rules to require local school
systems to award a high school diploma to any eligible student who is enrolled
at an eligible institution under the program as long as the credit earned at
such institution satisfies course requirements needed for the eligible student
to complete high school graduation. The department shall consult the Board of
Regents of the University System of Georgia and the State Board of Technical and
Adult Education in developing rules and regulations to be recommended to the
State Board of Education for approval regarding the eligibility criteria for
program participation.
(e)(1)
The department shall pay to eligible institutions through appropriation of state
funds the lesser of the following amounts for each participating eligible
student enrolled therein, less a records fee of $200.00 for administration costs
of the local school system:
(A)
The actual cost of tuition, materials, and fees directly related to the courses
taken by the eligible student at such institution; or
(B)
The amount that the participating eligible student would have earned under this
article if he or she had been in equivalent instructional programs in the local
school system.
(2)
The total allotment of state funds to the local school system in which a
participating student is enrolled at an eligible institution pursuant to this
Code section shall be calculated as otherwise provided in this article with an
ensuing reduction equivalent to the amount of state funds appropriated to such
eligible institution pursuant to this subsection.
(3)
The records fee contained in paragraph (1) of this subsection may be increased
by the State Board of Education by up to 4 percent annually, at the board's sole
discretion.
(4)
An eligible institution shall not charge an eligible student for coursework
taken pursuant to this program and shall accept the payment made pursuant to
paragraph (1) of this subsection as full payment for such eligible
student.
(f)
The State Board of Education shall establish rules and regulations relating to
applicable state and federal testing requirements for eligible students
participating in the program.
(g)
An eligible student enrolled in an eligible institution for secondary credit
shall not be eligible for any other state student financial aid at an eligible
institution for courses taken under the program.
(h)
Hours for courses taken at an eligible institution pursuant to this Code section
by a participating eligible student shall not count against any maximum hourly
caps which may be applicable for purposes of HOPE scholarships or
grants.
(i)
Any person who knowingly makes or furnishes any false statement or
misrepresentation, or who accepts such statement or misrepresentation knowing it
to be false, for the purpose of enabling an eligible institution to obtain
wrongfully any payment under this Code section shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.