GA Code § 20-2-244 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 20 - Education|Chapter 2 - Elementary and Secondary Education|Article 6 - Quality Basic Education|Part 8 - State Board of Education|§ 20-2-244. (See Editor's notes.) Waiver Requests by a Local Board of Education; Requirements for Application for Waiver; Period of Waiver; Blanket Waivers

  The State Board of Education is authorized to waive specifically identified state rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, or provisions of this chapter, upon the request of a local board of education and in accordance with this Code section. The goal for each waiver shall be improvement of student performance.   The State Board of Education is not authorized to waive any federal, state, and local rules, regulations, court orders, and statutes relating to civil rights; insurance; the protection of the physical health and safety of school students, employees, and visitors; conflicting interest transactions; the prevention of unlawful conduct; any laws relating to unlawful conduct in or near a public school; any reporting requirements pursuant to Code Section 20-2-320 or Chapter 14 of this title; the requirements of Code Section 20-2-210; the requirements of Code Section 20-2-211.1; or the requirements in subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-327. A school or school system that has received a waiver shall remain subject to the provisions of Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 14 of this title, the requirement that it shall not charge tuition or fees to its students except as may be authorized for local boards by Code Section 20-2-133, and shall remain open to enrollment in the same manner as before the waiver request.   The provisions of this Code section shall not apply to charter schools.   The board shall require a written application for a waiver that shall include, at a minimum:   Identification of the specific state rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, or provisions of this chapter that are requested for waiver;   A description of the policies and procedures the school or school system shall substitute for the waived state rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, or provisions;   A description of how the proposed waiver will improve student performance;   A description of the students who will be affected by the proposed waiver, including their estimated number, current performance, grade level, and any common demographic traits;   A list of schools by name that will be affected by the proposed waiver, and a description of each school, including current performance, grade levels, and demographic traits of the students of each such school;   Methods for collection of data, and for measuring and evaluating any change in student performance resulting from the proposed waiver;   The period of time for which the proposed waiver is requested and the proposed starting date; and   A resolution from the local school board approving the waiver request.     The State Board of Education may grant or deny a waiver request, or grant a waiver request subject to specified modifications in the waiver request.   A waiver may be granted in accordance with this Code section for any period of time not to exceed five years. The State Board of Education shall require reports regarding the effect of the waiver at least annually, and may require more frequent reports if necessary to monitor the effect of the waiver effectively. The State Board of Education shall report annually to the General Assembly regarding the waivers granted, the effect of each waiver, and any recommendations for legislative changes generated by successful waivers.   On and after July 1, 2008, except as provided for in subsection (h) of this Code section, the State Board of Education shall not authorize any waivers or variances pursuant to this Code section to any local school system for the following:   Class size requirements in Code Section 20-2-182; provided, however, that the state board shall be authorized to waive class size requirements pursuant to this Code section on and after July 1, 2008, in the event that a local school system can demonstrate a hardship pursuant to a waiver request;   Expenditure controls in Code Section 20-2-171 and categorical allotment requirements in Article 6 of this chapter;   Certification requirements in Code Section 20-2-200; or   Salary schedule requirements in Code Section 20-2-212.  A local school system which has received a waiver or variance pursuant to this Code section prior to entering into a contract pursuant to Article 4 of this chapter shall be required to include such waiver or variance in such contract.      The State Board of Education shall be authorized to provide a blanket waiver or variance of the class size requirements in Code Section 20-2-182 for all local school systems for a specified school year in the event that a condition of financial exigency occurs, as determined by the state board. For purposes of this subsection, "financial exigency" means circumstances which cause a shortfall in state appropriations and local revenue for operation of local school systems as compared with projected expenditures over the same period and such shortfall would have a material adverse effect on the operation of public schools. Subsections (c) and (f) of this Code section shall not apply to blanket waivers or variances issued pursuant to this subsection.     (Code 1981, §20-2-244, enacted by Ga. L. 2004, p. 107, § 6; Ga. L. 2008, p. 82, § 3/HB 1209; Ga. L. 2010, p. 158, § 5/HB 908; Ga. L. 2010, p. 237, § 1E/HB 1079; Ga. L. 2011, p. 635, § 8/HB 186; Ga. L. 2015, p. 1376, § 21/HB 502; Ga. L. 2016, p. 846, § 20/HB 737.)    The 2015 amendment,  effective July 1, 2015, inserted "the requirements of Code Section 20-2-210;" in the first sentence of subsection (b).    The 2016 amendment,  effective May 3, 2016, part of an Act to revise, modernize, and correct the Code, substituted "local board of education" for "local school board" in the first sentence of subsection (a).   Editor's notes.   - Ga. L. 2011, p. 635, § 1/HB 186, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "The General Assembly finds that:   "(1) Our state's long-term prosperity depends on supporting an education system that is designed to prepare our students for a global economy;   "(2) High school students and parents must understand that they have options for career pathway programs of study that join a college-ready academic core with quality career, technical, and agricultural education studies that result in a high school diploma and preparation for success in advanced training, an associate's degree, a baccalaureate degree, and a career;   "(3) Local school systems must provide every student with choices that are academically rigorous and aligned to opportunities in high-demand, high-skill, high-wage career fields and to postsecondary career and technical pathways leading to advanced credentials or degrees;   "(4) The State Board of Education, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the Board of Technical and Adult Education must work together so that academic courses that are embedded within career, technical, and agricultural education courses (CTAE) are given appropriate academic credit at the high school level and recognized at the postsecondary level;   "(5) Teachers should be provided with professional development opportunities that enforce the academically rigorous standards in relevant, project based coursework;   "(6) High school students should clearly understand the options for dual high school and postsecondary credit, and the state should properly fund these options;   "(7) Every state education agency, postsecondary institution, and local school system should provide all high school students with opportunities for accelerated learning through dual credit coursework leading to at least six postsecondary credits and have as a collective goal to graduate every student with postsecondary credit;   "(8) Georgia's strategic industries must be partners in our public education system (secondary and postsecondary) so that they are assured that our high school graduates are prepared for success in the workforce;   "(9) Georgia's public education system must incorporate many different types of assessments and certificates into their programs so that a student's skill level is assessed and that it also has meaning to them for postsecondary and career success; and   "(10) Georgia's students must understand that a high school diploma and some form of postsecondary credential are key to success in the workforce and earning a family living wage."   For application of this statute in 2020, see Executive Order 03.27.20.02.   A listing of Executive Orders issued in 2020 and 2021 can be found at https://gov.georgia.gov/executive-action/executive-orders.   Law reviews.   - For article on the 2011 amendment of this Code section, see 28 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 115 (2011). For article, "Education: Elementary and Secondary Education," see 28 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 115 (2011).