Bill Text: GA SB404 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Education; provide for development of category -level expenditure controls for staff development funds
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2012-07-01 - Effective Date [SB404 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SB404-Engrossed.html
Bill Title: Education; provide for development of category -level expenditure controls for staff development funds
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2012-07-01 - Effective Date [SB404 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SB404-Engrossed.html
12 LC
33 4630S (SCS)
Senate
Bill 404
By:
Senators Millar of the 40th, Stoner of the 6th, Ligon, Jr. of the 3rd, Shafer of
the 48th and Carter of the 42nd
AS
PASSED SENATE
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for
the development of category-level expenditure controls for staff development
funds; to include school level administrators in professional development
funding under the Quality Basic Education Formula; to provide for state-wide
strategic initiatives for professional development; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by revising paragraph (3) of
subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-167, relating to funding for direct
instructional, media center, and staff development costs, as
follows:
"(3)
The state board shall annually compute, based upon the initial allotment of
funds to each local school system, the total funds needed system wide for staff
development costs. In computing the total funds needed for these categories,
the state board shall apply the percentage that these costs represent of the
total costs used in developing the program weights. Following the midterm
adjustment, the state board shall issue allotment sheets for each local school
system and each school reflecting the total amount, initial earnings, and
midterm adjustment, if any, of earnings for each program specified in subsection
(b) of Code Section 20-2-161. Each local school system shall spend 100 percent
of the funds designated for staff and professional development costs, as allowed
by State Board of Education policy, for such costs.
The State
Board of Education, in consultation with the Professional Standards Commission,
shall establish category-level expenditure controls to ensure that the staff
development funds allotted pursuant to this paragraph are utilized in such a
manner as to help align professional learning with results in improved student
achievement. Such category-level expenditure controls shall be established no
later than July 1, 2015, and shall reflect the revised certification renewal
rules established by the Professional Standards Commission pursuant to paragraph
(4.1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-200 regarding the impact of
professional learning on student
achievement. For each local school system
which is granted an additional allotment for the midterm adjustment pursuant to
Code Section 20-2-162, these amounts shall be increased by the portion of the
midterm adjustment allotment which is applied to staff development. In the
event a local school system does not actually enroll the full-time equivalent
count that was anticipated by its initial allocation and it elects to return a
portion of its allocation for staff development and professional development
costs to the state, the 100 percent amount for staff development shall be
reduced by that returned amount. Quality Basic Education Formula funds in
excess of the amount required by this paragraph to be expended by a local school
system for staff development and professional development of certificated and
instructional personnel which are not expended for this purpose may be expended
only for staff development of noncertificated personnel employed by the local
school system and the members of the local school board, for meeting
certification requirements of personnel, and for administration and operation of
the staff development and professional development programs authorized pursuant
to subsection (h) of Code Section 20-2-182."
SECTION
2.
Said
article is further amended by revising subsection (h) of Code Section 20-2-182,
relating to program weights to reflect funds for payment of salaries and
benefits, as follows:
"(h)
All program weights, when multiplied by the base amount, shall reflect, whenever
they are revised pursuant to subsection (f) of Code Section 20-2-161, an amount
of funds for the purpose of providing staff and professional development to
certificated and classified personnel and local school board members which shall
be at least equivalent to
1.5
1.0
percent of salaries of all certificated professional personnel used in the
development of each respective program weight, subject to appropriation by the
General Assembly.
Beginning in
Fiscal Year 2014, such amount shall include funding for school level
administrators in the same manner as for other certificated professional
personnel. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2015, such amount shall be at least
equivalent to 0.9 percent of salaries of all certificated professional
personnel, including school level administrators, used in the development of
each respective program weight, subject to appropriation by the General
Assembly. Funds used for professional or
staff development purposes may be used throughout the fiscal year, including
days when students are not present at school, to meet professional or staff
development needs in the order of priority determined by the local board of
education within the comprehensive professional and staff development program
plan approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to Code Section 20-2-232.
Such professional and staff development program plan shall address deficiencies
of certificated personnel as identified by evaluations required under Code
Section 20-2-210.
Where
possible, professional
Further,
professional and staff development funds
shall be used for activities that enhance the skills of certificated personnel
and directly relate to student
achievement,
as reflected in the revised certification renewal rules established by the
Professional Standards Commission pursuant to paragraph (4.1) of subsection (b)
of Code Section 20-2-200 regarding the impact of professional learning on
student achievement. Subsequent
certificated personnel evaluations shall include an assessment of an employee's
professional and staff development activities and their effect on identified
deficiencies and student achievement. Funds for professional development
purposes may be used for activities occurring at any time during the fiscal year
outside of an employee's normal contract hours."
SECTION
3.
Said
article is further amended in Part 5, relating to program weights and funding
requirements, by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"20-2-190.
(a)
Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the State Board of Education
shall provide professional development centered on state-wide strategic
initiatives. Such strategic initiatives may include, but are not limited to,
training on the new common core curriculum, support for under-performing
educators, and mentoring programs in specific subject areas.
(b)
It is the intention of the General Assembly that:
(1)
For Fiscal Year 2014, an amount equivalent to 0.15 percent of salaries of all
certificated professional personnel, including school level administrators, used
in the development of each respective program weight be appropriated to the
State Board of Education for purposes of funding state-wide strategic
initiatives for professional development, as provided in subsection (a) of this
Code section; and
(2)
For Fiscal Year 2015 and thereafter, an amount equivalent to 0.25 percent of
salaries of all certificated professional personnel, including school level
administrators, used in the development of each respective program weight be
appropriated to the State Board of Education for purposes of funding state-wide
strategic initiatives for professional development, as provided in subsection
(a) of this Code
section."
SECTION
4.
Said
article is further amended by revising subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-201,
relating to specific course requirements, in-service or continuing education,
and on-line offerings for certificated professional personnel, as
follows:
"(b)
Each local unit of administration shall be required to provide all professional
personnel certificated by the Professional Standards Commission 12 clock hours
of in-service or continuing education in each calendar year, or meet
requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Such
in-service programs shall be developed by the local unit of administration in
conjunction with such agencies as regional educational service agencies,
colleges and universities, and other appropriate organizations. These programs
shall be designed to address identified needs determined by appropriate
personnel evaluation instruments. These programs shall also focus on improving
the skills of certificated personnel that directly relate to improving student
achievement,
as reflected in the revised certification renewal rules established by the
Professional Standards Commission pursuant to paragraph (4.1) of subsection (b)
of Code Section 20-2-200 regarding the impact of professional learning on
student achievement. Records of
attendance shall be maintained by local units of administration and shall be
monitored by appropriate Department of Education staff."
SECTION
5.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.