25 LC 49 2158-EC/AP
House Bill 192 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Gambill of the 15
th
, McDonald III of the 26
th
, Hong of the 103
rd
, Dubnik
of the 29
th
, and Wade of the 9
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to
1
include specific references to programs included in the High-demand Career List published2
by the State Workforce Development Board with respect to the State Board of Education's3
minimum course of study in career education for students in grades six through 12; to4
establish an updated list of the state models and industry required content standards for5
focused programs of study to be developed by the Department of Education and approved6
by the State Board of Education and to require that such programs be aligned with programs7
included in such High-demand Career List; to extend a final report deadline and an automatic8
repealer for a program that allows certain students participating in the Dual Enrollment9
program to access HOPE grant funds for eligible CTAE courses; to require that the annual10
competitive grant program established by the State Board of Education for renovation,11
modernization, replacement, or purchase of equipment for the enhancement of certain12
programs shall also include programs that are included in such High-demand Career List; to13
provide for individual college and career plans for students in grades six through 12; to14
repeal a competitive grant program; to repeal requirements for certain grants; to repeal15
certain powers of the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia relative to16
reporting a list of the courses that have been approved by the Board of Regents of the17
University System of Georgia and the State Board of the Technical College System of18
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Georgia to be transferrable between institutions of the university system and units of the
19
technical college system; to provide for rules and regulations; to make conforming changes;20
to provide for definitions; to revise a short title; to amend Chapter 14 of Title 34 of the21
Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the State Workforce Development Board,22
so as to provide for evaluation methodology, reports, and purpose; to provide for a short title;23
to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.24
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:25
SECTION 1.26
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Top State for Talent Act."27
SECTION 2.28
Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, is amended by29
revising Code Section 20-2-145.1, relating to career education, as follows:30
"20-2-145.1.31
The State Board of Education shall prescribe a minimum course of study in career32
education for students in grades six through 12. Such minimum course of study shall be33
age appropriate and shall include, but not be limited to, career exploration and career34
oriented learning experiences in programs included in the High-demand Career List
35
published by the State Workforce Development Board as provided in Code Section36
34-14-3. Career oriented learning experiences shall include, but not be limited to,37
participation in work based learning programs such as internships, apprenticeships,38
cooperative education, or employability skill development. The State Board of Education39
shall ensure that career oriented learning experiences include rigorous industry40
credentialing, as defined in Code Section 20-2-326, if such rigorous industry credentialing41
has been created or endorsed by Georgia employers."42
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SECTION 3.
43
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-159.1, relating to focused44
programs of study, as follows:45
"20-2-159.1.46
(a) The Department of Education shall develop, and the State Board of Education shall47
approve, state models and industry required content standards, after consultation with48
industries in Georgia and in collaboration with the Technical College System of Georgia49
and the University System of Georgia to ensure alignment with postsecondary50
opportunities, for the following focused programs of study, as defined in Code Section51
20-2-326, including, but not limited to
:52
(1) Agriculture, food, and natural resources;53
(2) Architecture and construction;54
(3) Arts, audio-video technology, and communications;55
(4) Business, management, and administration;56
(5) Education and training;57
(6) Finance;58
(7) Health science;59
(8) Hospitality and tourism;60
(9) Human services;61
(10) Information technology;62
(11) Law, public safety, and security;63
(12) Manufacturing;64
(13) Government and public administration;65
(14) Marketing, sales, and service;66
(15) Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;67
(16) Transportation, distribution, and logistics;68
(17) Energy; and69
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(18) Lifeguarding and aquatic safety.70
(1) Advanced manufacturing;71
(2) Construction;72
(3) Supply chain and transportation;73
(4) Arts, entertainment, and design;74
(5) Hospitality, events, and tourism;75
(6) Financial services;76
(7) Education;77
(8) Healthcare and human services;78
(9) Public service and safety;79
(10) Agriculture;80
(11) Energy and natural resources;81
(12) Digital technology;82
(13) Marketing and sales; and83
(14) Management and entrepreneurship.84
Such focused programs of study may be combined around these and other related clusters.85
(b) The focused programs of study established pursuant to this Code section may include86
or be revised to include industry certifications or industry credentialing, as defined in Code87
Section 20-2-326, pertinent to any such focused program of study. The After consultation88
with employers and industries in Georgia, the Department of Education and the Technical89
College System of Georgia shall jointly establish a list of industry credentials that are90
required by Georgia employers, in alignment with programs included in the High-demand91
Career List published by the State Workforce Development Board as provided in Code92
Section 34-14-3. Such list shall be made available on the Department of Education and the93
Technical College System of Georgia public websites. Such list shall be annually reviewed94
and updated as appropriate and made available prior to the beginning of the annual95
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competitive grant application process provided for in subsection (j) of Code Section
96
20-2-260."97
SECTION 4.98
Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-2-161.3, relating to the "Dual Enrollment99
Act," purpose, dual credit courses, eligibility for participation, eligibility for secondary100
course credits, eligibility to meet high school graduation requirements, eligibility for award101
of high school diploma, funding, limitations on total hours, exceptions, and eligibility for102
payment, by revising subsection (d) as follows:103
"(d) In consultation with and subject to approval by the commission, the department shall104
develop appropriate forms and counseling guidelines for the program and shall make such105
forms and guidelines available to eligible high schools and eligible postsecondary106
institutions. No later than the first day of February each year, each eligible high school107
shall provide general information about the program, including such forms, to all its108
eligible high school students. An eligible high school shall also provide counseling109
services to such students and their parents or guardians before the students enroll in the110
program. Prior to participating in the program, the student and the student's parent or111
guardian shall sign the form provided by the eligible high school or by an eligible112
postsecondary institution stating that they have received the counseling specified in this113
subsection and that they understand the responsibilities that shall be assumed in114
participating in the program. Program information and materials shall be provided to each115
eighth grade public school student at the time the student is developing his or her individual116
graduation
college and career plan as required by Code Section 20-2-327."117
SECTION 5.118
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-161.4, relating to accessing119
HOPE scholarship funds for dual enrolled students and reports, as follows:120
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"20-2-161.4.
121
(a)(1) Beginning July 1, 2023, each student participating in the Dual Enrollment program122
provided for in Code Section 20-2-161.3 who is eligible for a HOPE grant pursuant to123
Code Section 20-3-519.5 shall be allowed to access HOPE grant funds for eligible CTAE124
courses, as defined in Code Section 20-2-161.3, irrespective of whether such student has125
reached any maximum credit hour cap provided for in Code Section 20-2-161.3.126
(2) For three years beginning on July 1, 2023, the Georgia Student Finance Commission,127
in collaboration with the Technical College System of Georgia, shall collect and report128
data on:129
(A) Student enrollment in and completion of at least one eligible CTAE course, as130
defined in Code Section 20-2-161.3, as part of the Dual Enrollment program provided131
for in Code Section 20-2-161.3;132
(B) HOPE grant funding and Dual Enrollment program funding, including, but not133
limited to, the number of students who received such funding and the maximum, mean,134
median, and mode amounts of such funding received by students;135
(C) Postsecondary credits earned by students who received such funding;136
(D) The number of students who enrolled in a postsecondary degree program after137
completing a program of study that includes at least one eligible CTAE course, as138
defined in Code Section 20-2-161.3, as part of the Dual Enrollment program provided139
for in Code Section 20-2-161.3; and140
(E) The number of students employed in a high-demand field after completing a141
focused program of study identified by the State Board of the Technical College System142
of Georgia as part of the High Demand Apprenticeship Program provided for in Code143
Section 20-4-152.144
No later than January 1 each year, the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall provide145
an interim report to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor
President of the Senate, the146
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the director of the Office of Planning and147
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Budget, and the chairpersons of the House Committee on Education, the Senate
148
Education and Youth Committee, the House Committee on Higher Education, and the149
Senate Higher Education Committee. A final report shall be provided to the same no150
later than December 1, 2027
2028.151
(3) The Georgia Student Finance Commission, in consultation with the State Board of152
Education, the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Office153
of Workforce Development, shall establish rules and regulations to implement the154
provisions of this subsection.155
(b) This Code section shall stand repealed on June 30, 2027 2028."156
SECTION 6.157
Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-2-260, relating to capital outlay funds158
generally under the "Quality Basic Education Act," by revising subsection (j) as follows:159
"(j) The State Board of Education shall establish an annual competitive grant program for160
renovation, modernization, replacement, or purchase of equipment for the enhancement of161
programs that are currently certified or in the process of achieving industry certification in162
educational facilities that align with industry credentials on the list developed pursuant to163
Code Section 20-2-159.1 or have been (1) linked to an occupation that addresses a critical164
local or state-wide workforce need, (2) linked to an occupation that is identified as part of165
the skilled trade industry, or (3) linked to an occupation that is identified in an emerging166
field or technology aligned with the priority areas identified by the State Workforce167
Development Board and included in the High-demand Career List published by the State168
Workforce Development Board as provided in Code Section 34-14-3. The State Board of169
Education in awarding grants shall give priority to local programs that demonstrate local170
industry support and postsecondary partnerships that are linked to the verified industry171
need."172
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SECTION 7.
173
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-325, relating to the short title174
relevant to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy Act," as175
follows:176
"20-2-325.177
This part shall be known and may be cited as the 'Building Resourceful Individuals to
178
Develop Georgia's Economy Act.' 'Top State for Talent Act.'"179
SECTION 8.180
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-326, relating to definitions181
relevant to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy Act," as182
follows:183
"20-2-326.184
For purposes of this part, the term:185
(1) 'Articulation' means agreement between a high school and a postsecondary institution186
regarding the awarding of both secondary and postsecondary credit for a dual enrollment187
course.188
(2) 'Choice technical high school' means a high school, other than the high school to189
which a student is assigned by virtue of his or her residence and attendance zone, which190
is designed to prepare a high school student for postsecondary education and for191
employment in a career field. A choice technical high school may be operated by a local192
school system or a technical school or college. A choice technical high school may also193
be operated as a charter school under a governance board composed of parents,194
employers, and representatives from the local board of education.195
(3) 'Chronically low-performing high school' means a public high school in this state that196
has a graduation rate of less than 60 percent for three consecutive years, as determined197
in accordance with methodology established by the National Governors Association's198
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Compact on High School Graduation Data, or that has received an unacceptable rating199
for three consecutive years, as defined by the Office of Student Achievement.200
(4)(2) 'College and career academy' means a specialized school established as a charter201
school or pursuant to a contract for a strategic waivers school system or charter system,202
which formalizes a partnership that demonstrates a collaboration between business,203
industry, and community stakeholders to advance work force development between one204
or more local boards of education, a private individual, a private organization, or a state205
or local public entity in cooperation with one or more postsecondary institutions.206
(5)(3) 'Focused program of study' means a program of study with a rigorous academic207
core combined with a focus in mathematics and science; a focus in humanities, fine arts,208
and foreign language; or a coherent sequence of career pathway courses that is aligned209
with graduation requirements established by the State Board of Education and content210
standards established pursuant to Part 2 of this article that prepares a student for211
postsecondary education or immediate employment after high school graduation.212
(4) 'GAfutures.org' means the public website managed by the Georgia Student Finance213
Commission to provide students with tools and information for higher education planning214
and financial aid.215
(5) 'Georgia MATCH' means the college admissions program for Georgia high school216
students that is located at GAfutures.org.217
(6) 'Individual college and career plan' 'Graduation plan' means a student specific plan218
developed in accordance with subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-327 detailing the219
courses necessary for a high school student to graduate from high school and to220
successfully transition to postsecondary education and the work force.221
(7) 'Industry certification' means a process of program evaluation that ensures that222
individual programs meet state, national, or international industry standards in the areas223
of curriculum, teacher qualification, lab specifications, equipment, and industry224
involvement.225
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(7.1)(8) 'Industry credentialing' means a process through which students are assessed by226
an independent third-party certifying entity using predetermined standards for knowledge,227
skills, and competencies, resulting in the award of individual certification or state228
licensure or an occupational competency that is state, nationally, or internationally229
recognized.230
(8)(9) 'Public college or university' means a two-year or four-year college, university, or231
other institution under the auspices of the Board of Regents of the University System of232
Georgia.233
(9) 'Small learning community' means an autonomous or semiautonomous small learning234
environment within a large high school which is made up of a subset of students and235
teachers for a two-year, three-year, or four-year period. The goal of a small learning236
community is to achieve greater personalization of learning with each community led by237
a principal or instructional leader. A small learning community blends academic studies238
around a broad career or academic theme where teachers have common planning time to239
connect teacher assignments and assessments to college and career readiness standards. 240
Students voluntarily apply for enrollment in a small learning community but must be241
accepted, and such enrollment must be approved by the student's parent or guardian. A242
small learning community also includes a college and career academy organized around243
a specific career theme which integrates academic and career instruction, provides work244
based learning opportunities, and prepares students for postsecondary education and245
employment, with support through partnerships with local employers, community246
organizations, and postsecondary institutions.247
(10) 'Teacher adviser system' means a system where an individual professional educator248
in the school who assists a small group of students and their parents or guardians249
throughout the students' high school careers to set postsecondary goals and help them250
prepare programs of study, utilizing assessments and other data to track academic251
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progress on a regular basis; communicates frequently with parents or guardians; and
252
provides advisement, support, and encouragement as needed.253
(11) 'Technical school or college' means a college, institution, or other branch
unit of the254
Technical College System of Georgia."255
SECTION 9.256
Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-2-327, relating to recognition of advanced257
proficiency/honors courses and counseling and development of individual graduation plans258
relevant to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy Act," by259
revising subsection (c) as follows:260
"(c)(1) Students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades six through 12 shall be provided261
counseling, advisement, career awareness, career interest and career demand inventories,262
and information to assist them in evaluating their academic skills, career oriented263
aptitudes, and career interests. Before the end of the second semester of the eighth grade,264
students shall develop an individual graduation college and career plan based on their265
academic skills, career oriented aptitudes, and career interests in consultation with their266
parents, guardians, or individuals appointed by the parents or guardians to serve as their267
designee. A student's individual graduation college and career plan shall be taken into268
consideration when scheduling a student's courses in ninth grade. High school students269
shall be provided guidance, advisement, and counseling annually that will enable them270
to successfully update and implement their individual graduation college and career271
plans, preparing them for a seamless transition to postsecondary study, further training,272
or employment, including information regarding occupations, degrees, industry273
credentials, certifications, and technical skills; work-ready skills in demand by Georgia274
employers through the department's career pipeline website; and other career related275
inventories made available through the Technical College System of Georgia or the276
Office of Student Achievement. Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, such277
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guidance, advisement, and counseling for high school students shall include providing278
career oriented aptitude and career interest guidance information. An individual279
graduation college and career plan shall:280
(A) Include rigorous academic core subjects and focused coursework in mathematics281
and science or in humanities, fine arts, and foreign language or sequenced career282
pathway coursework;283
(B) Incorporate provisions of a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP),284
where applicable;285
(C) Align educational and broad career goals and a student's course of study;286
(D) Be based on the student's selected academic and career focus area as approved by287
the student's parent or guardian;288
(E) Include experience based, career oriented learning experiences which may include,289
but not be limited to, participation in work based learning programs such as internships,290
apprenticeships, cooperative education, and employability skill development;291
(F) Include any applicable industry credentialing that pertains to the student's focused292
program of study;293
(G) Include opportunities for postsecondary studies through articulation, dual294
enrollment, and joint enrollment;295
(H) Be flexible to allow change in the course of study but be sufficiently structured to296
meet graduation requirements and qualify the student for admission to postsecondary297
education; and298
(I) Be approved by the student and the student's parent or guardian with guidance from299
the student's school counselor or teacher adviser;300
(J) Include, beginning in the ninth grade, the creation and utilization of a GAfutures301
account at GAfutures.org; and302
(K) Include the utilization of Georgia MATCH.303
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(2) An individual graduation college and career plan shall be reviewed annually, and304
revised, if appropriate, upon approval by the student and the student's parent or guardian305
with guidance from the student's school counselor or teacher adviser. An individual306
graduation college and career plan may be changed at any time throughout a student's307
high school career upon approval by the student and the student's parent or guardian with308
guidance from the student's school counselor or teacher adviser.309
(3) The Georgia Student Finance Commission and the Department of Education shall310
annually collect and report on information to verify compliance with this Code section."311
SECTION 10.312
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-327.1, relating to industry313
credentialing for career, technical, and agricultural education programs and reporting relevant314
to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy Act," as follows:315
"20-2-327.1.316
(a) The State Board of Education, in collaboration with the Technical College System of317
Georgia, shall facilitate and encourage industry credentialing for career, technical, and318
agricultural education programs utilizing existing career pathways and individual319
graduation college and career plans. Further, local school systems are authorized and320
encouraged to align competency based career education, along with enhanced work based321
learning experiences, as provided for in Code Section 20-2-161.2, to facilitate and make322
available to students opportunities to receive industry credentialing in critical and emerging323
occupations in Georgia programs included in the High-demand Career List published by324
the State Workforce Development Board as provided in Code Section 34-14-3.325
(b) No later than December 31, 2018, and annually thereafter, the Department of326
Education shall produce a return-on-investment report identifying the industry327
credentialing attainment levels for the previous calendar year to the State Workforce328
Development Board and the Office of Planning and Budget as related to grant funds329
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provided for in subsection (j) Code Section 20-2-260. Such report shall include the current330
and projected regional business and industry needs for the purpose of establishing annual331
goals and strategies to increase attainment rates of industry credentialing, including the332
development of additional industry credentials to enhance current industry certified333
programs."334
SECTION 11.335
Said title is further amended by repealing and reserving Code Section 20-2-328, relating to336
a competitive grant program relevant to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop337
Georgia's Economy Act."338
SECTION 12.339
Said title is further amended by repealing Code Section 20-2-329, relating to requirements340
for high schools that receive reform grants as chronically low-performing high schools341
relevant to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy Act," and342
enacting a new Code section to read as follows:343
"20-2-329.344
The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out345
the provisions of this part."346
SECTION 13.347
Said title is further amended by repealing Code Section 20-2-329.1, relating to rules and348
regulations relevant to the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy349
Act."350
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SECTION 14.
351
Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-2-2065, relating to waiver of provisions of352
this title, requirements for operating, and control and management relevant to the "Charter353
Schools Act of 1998," by revising paragraph (14) of subsection (b) as follows:354
"(14) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-327 relating to355
individual graduation
college and career plans; and"356
SECTION 15.357
Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-4-11, relating to powers of the State Board358
of the Technical College System of Georgia, by inserting "and" at the end of subparagraph359
(A) of paragraph (3), replacing the semicolon at the end of subparagraph (B) of such360
paragraph with a period, and repealing subparagraph (C) of such paragraph.361
SECTION 16.362
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-4-20, relating to authority of Board363
of Regents of University System of Georgia unabridged, agreements with the State Board of364
the Technical College System of Georgia, and awarding transferable postsecondary course365
credits, as follows:366
"20-4-20.367
(a) Nothing in this article shall abridge the authority of the Board of Regents of the368
University System of Georgia to establish or operate colleges or of local boards of369
education to operate schools.370
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (a) of this Code section to the contrary:371
(1) The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, the State Board of372
Education, and local boards of education are encouraged and expected:373
(A) To work continuously with the State Board of the Technical College System of374
Georgia to develop and implement policies, programs, and practices that promote and375
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advance the objectives of serving student needs, avoiding duplication of mission, using
376
state resources efficiently, and expanding opportunities for postsecondary degree377
attainment in Georgia; and378
(B) Consistent with the objectives stated in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, to enter379
into and amend existing agreements with the Technical College System of Georgia for380
awarding postsecondary course credits that are transferable between units
institutions381
of the university system, and units of the technical college system, and the State Board382
of Education; and383
(2) The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the State Board of384
the Technical College System of Georgia, and the State Board of Education are385
encouraged and expected to promote and allow units institutions of the university system386
and units of the technical college system to enter into and amend existing agreements:387
(A) For awarding postsecondary course credits that are transferable between such units388
institutions of the university system, and units of the technical college system, and the389
State Board of Education; and390
(B) That are consistent with the objectives stated in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1)391
of this subsection."392
SECTION 17.393
Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-14-26, relating to duties relevant to the394
Office of Student Achievement, by inserting "and" at the end of paragraph (3) of subsection395
(a), replacing "; and" at the end of paragraph (4) of such subsection with a period, and by396
repealing paragraph (5) of such subsection.397
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SECTION 18.
398
Chapter 14 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the State399
Workforce Development Board, is amended by revising Code Section 34-14-3, relating to400
High-demand Career List, as follows:401
"34-14-3.402
(a) The State Workforce Development Board shall develop and approve a High-demand403
Career List that shall identify those careers most critical to the state's current and future404
workforce needs. The State Workforce Development Board, in consultation with the
405
Office of Workforce Development, shall assess current labor market information and other406
employment data sources and determine which careers merit inclusion on such list,407
regionally or state wide, and shall implement a data-driven process to assess present and408
future growing and declining industries, occupations, skills, and credentials. As directed409
by the Governor, the State Workforce Development Board shall coordinate and collaborate410
with the Office of Student Achievement, the Department of Education, the Technical411
College System of Georgia, the University System of Georgia, and the Georgia Student412
Finance Commission to develop and implement a data-driven methodology to determine413
which careers merit inclusion on High-demand Career List, regionally or state wide. The414
High-demand Career List shall:415
(1) Include the skills, certificates, licenses, diplomas, degrees, or other credentials of416
value required by employers for the high-demand careers included on the list; and417
(2) Be published approved annually on or before December 31 on by the State418
Workforce Development Board's public website. Board;419
(3) Be submitted annually on or before December 31 by the State Workforce420
Development Board to the Governor; the President of the Senate; the Speaker of the421
House of Representatives; the respective chairs of the House Committee on Higher422
Education, the Senate Education and Youth Committee, the House Committee on423
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Education, the Senate Higher Education Committee; and the Office of Planning and424
Budget; and425
(4) Be published annually on or before December 31 on the public websites of the State426
Workforce Development Board, the Office of Student Achievement, the Department of427
Education, the Technical College System of Georgia, the University System of Georgia,428
and the Georgia Student Finance Commission.429
(b) All state agencies and political subdivisions of the state, including local school430
systems, shall utilize the High-demand Career List to inform their use of federal and state431
funding for secondary, postsecondary, and adult education programs that lead to432
certificates, licenses, diplomas, degrees, or other credentials of value in careers on the list433
to ensure alignment with such list and effective use of funding by such entities."434
SECTION 19.435
Said chapter is further amended by adding new Code sections to read as follows:436
"34-14-4.437
(a) The State Workforce Development Board shall be responsible for oversight of a return438
on investment analysis to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of secondary and439
postsecondary programs aligned with the priority areas identified by the State Workforce440
Development Board and included on the High-demand Career List published by the State441
Workforce Development Board as provided in Code Section 34-14-3.442
(b) As directed by the Governor, the State Workforce Development Board shall coordinate443
and collaborate with the Office of Student Achievement, the Department of Education, the444
Technical College System of Georgia, the University System of Georgia, and the Georgia445
Student Finance Commission to develop the return on investment methodology utilizing446
an analysis of data sources that include, but are not limited to, existing federal and state447
resources, longitudinal outcome tracking of student information, enrollment and program448
outcomes, and labor market analysis.449
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(c) The evaluation and report required by this Code section shall include a comprehensive450
review of student participation and outcomes, program alignment with labor market needs,451
and recommendations for programmatic adjustments to better meet the needs of Georgia's452
businesses, industries, and workforce and shall address, at a minimum, the following:453
(1) The percentage of program graduates employed including retention rates and wage454
growth over time;455
(2) Comparison of graduates' average wages to state, national, and industry benchmarks,456
with wage growth assessed at two-year, five-year, and ten-year intervals post-completion;457
(3) The extent to which skills, certificates, licenses, diplomas, degrees, or other458
credentials offered by the State Board of Education, the University System of Georgia,459
and the Technical College System of Georgia align with the High-demand Career List460
published by the State Workforce Development Board as provided in Code Section461
34-14-3;462
(4) The percentage of students, at both the secondary and post-secondary levels, that are463
obtaining any credentials identified in paragraph (3) of this subsection; and464
(5) Transparent information to stakeholders regarding program availability and465
outcomes.466
(d) The evaluation and report required by this Code section shall be:467
(1) Approved by the State Workforce Development Board on or before December 1 of468
each even-numbered year;469
(2) Submitted by the State Workforce Development Board to the Governor; the President470
of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the respective chairs of the471
House Committee on Education, the Senate Education and Youth Committee, the House472
Committee on Higher Education, and the Senate Higher Education Committee; and the473
Office of Planning and Budget; and474
(3) Published on the public websites of the State Workforce Development Board, the475
Office of Student Achievement, the Department of Education, the University System of476
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Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Georgia Student Finance477
Commission on or before December 31 of each even-numbered year.478
(e) All state agencies and political subdivisions of the state, including postsecondary479
education institutions and local school systems, shall cooperate in collecting and sharing480
all data and other pertinent information necessary for the implementation of the evaluation481
and preparation of the report required by this Code section, subject to applicable privacy482
protections, within a predetermined time frame as set by the State Workforce Development483
Board. Such agencies and political subdivisions shall use the findings of the report to484
recommend continuation, modification, or discontinuation of programs to better align with485
workforce needs.486
(f) The purpose of this Code section is to ensure the effective use of state resources,487
prepare Georgians for high-demand career pathways, and support the state's economic488
development by fostering a workforce aligned with employer needs.489
34-14-5.490
(a) The State Workforce Development Board shall develop and approve a report detailing491
the alignment of policies, programs, and practices of the State Board of Education, the492
Department of Education, the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System493
of Georgia, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission that promotes and advances the494
objectives of serving student needs, avoiding duplication of mission, using state resources495
efficiently, and expanding opportunities for postsecondary credential attainment.496
(b) As directed by the Governor, the State Workforce Development Board shall coordinate497
and collaborate with the Department of Education, the University System of Georgia, and498
the Technical College System of Georgia to create the report required by this Code section499
that shall include the following:500
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(1) A list of the courses articulated from the State Board of Education to the University501
System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and HOPE-eligible private502
institutions;503
(2) A list of the courses approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of504
Georgia and the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to be505
transferrable between institutions of the university system and units of the technical506
college system;507
(3) Of the courses listed as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, identification508
of the university system baccalaureate degree program or programs for which each such509
course has been approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia510
to be a degree prerequisite;511
(4) Of the courses listed as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, identification512
of the technical college system degree program or programs for which each such course513
has been approved by the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to be514
degree prerequisites;515
(5) A summary of efforts undertaken by the Technical College System of Georgia in516
collaboration with the University System of Georgia to reduce barriers to degree517
completion by students who have earned course credits in the University System of518
Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, or both;519
(6) A list of the courses approved by HOPE-eligible private institutions and the State520
Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to be transferrable between units of521
the HOPE-eligible private institution and the technical college system;522
(7) A list of the courses approved by HOPE-eligible private institutions and the Board523
of Regents of the University System of Georgia to be transferrable between units of the524
HOPE-eligible private institution and the university system;525
(8) A summary of efforts undertaken to develop plans and procedures for reverse526
transfers. As used in this paragraph, the term 'reverse transfer' means the process of527
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transferring the credits a student has earned from a four-year institution to any unit of the528
Technical College System of Georgia from which a student has transferred so that such529
credits will be available to such student for purposes of his or her enrollment in or530
completion of programs offered by the Technical College System of Georgia;531
(9) A summary of the efforts undertaken on behalf of the Technical College System of532
Georgia, the University System of Georgia, and the State Board of Education to comply533
with the requirements of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-4-20;534
(10) A summary of efforts undertaken to align articulated, transferrable courses and535
degree completion to the High-demand Career List published by the State Workforce536
Development Board as provided in Code Section 34-14-3, including the total number of537
articulation agreements aligned to the state's high-demand list for the State Board of538
Education, the University System of Georgia, and the Technical College System of539
Georgia;540
(11) The number of students enrolled in programs of study provided for in subsection (a)541
of Code Section 20-2-159.1 receiving articulated credit with the University System of542
Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia and which credits those students543
receive; and544
(12) Of the articulation agreements listed as provided for in paragraph (1) of this545
subsection, identification of the number of articulated credits awarded, which institutions546
awarded which credits, and the local school system or public school represented by the547
students who earned such credits.548
(c) The report required by this Code section shall be:549
(1) Approved by the State Workforce Development Board on or before December 1 of550
each even-numbered year;551
(2) Submitted by the State Workforce Development Board to the Governor; the President552
of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the respective chairs of the553
House Committee on Education, the Senate Education and Youth Committee, the House554
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Committee on Higher Education, and the Senate Higher Education Committee; and the555
Office of Planning and Budget; and556
(3) Published on the public websites of the State Workforce Development Board, the557
Office of Student Achievement, the Department of Education, the University System of558
Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Georgia Student Finance559
Commission on or before December 31 of each even-numbered year.560
(d) All relevant state agencies and educational institutions included in this process shall561
cooperate in collecting and sharing data necessary for the preparation of the report required562
by this Code section, subject to applicable privacy protections, within a predetermined time563
frame as set by the State Workforce Development Board."564
SECTION 20.565
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.566
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