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The House Committee on Higher Education offers the following substitute to HB 217:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 6 of Chapter 4 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,1
relating to the Dual Achievement Program, so as to extend the Dual Achievement pilot2
program for an additional five years; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting3
laws; and for other purposes.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5
SECTION 1.6
Article 6 of Chapter 4 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the7
Dual Achievement Program, is amended by revising Code Section 20-4-141, relating to8
establishment of pilot program, awarding of high school diploma to successful participants,9
skills and knowledge, eligibility for participation, and regulation, as follows:10
"20-4-141.11
(a)(1) The state board shall, in coordination with the State Board of Education,12
Department of Education, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of13
Corrections, and the Office of Planning and Budget, establish a pilot program to allow14
students who meet eligibility requirements to qualify for enrollment in the Dual15
Achievement Program at a participating unit of the technical college system and, upon16
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successful completion of the program, be awarded a high school diploma. The purpose17
of the pilot program is to assess the feasibility of implementing a state-funded program18
for eligible students who have withdrawn from high school to enroll in a unit of the19
technical college system to participate in an academic and technical education and20
training program which, upon successful completion, allows the student to earn a high21
school diploma while also earning a technical college associate degree, a technical22
college diploma, or technical college certificates of credit in specific career pathways.23
(2) To implement the pilot program, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the24
contrary, the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia state board and the25
State Board of Education shall be authorized to waive or provide variances to state rules,26
regulations, policies, and procedures and to provisions of this title that may be reasonably27
necessary to meet the goals of the pilot program. Such waivers or variances shall28
automatically expire at the end of five ten years unless an earlier expiration is provided29
for. The State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia state board and the30
State Board of Education shall be authorized to seek waivers or variances of federal laws,31
rules, regulations, policies, and procedures that may be reasonably necessary to meet the32
goals of the pilot program.33
(3) The pilot program, as determined by the state board, may include up to five units of34
the technical college system for a period of five ten years. In an effort to pilot the35
program under various conditions present in the state, the state board shall seek to include36
in the pilot program units of the technical college system from various geographic areas37
in the state.38
(4) The state board shall review the results of the pilot program and shall no later than39
February 1 November 15 each year during the program provide the General Assembly40
chairpersons of the House Committee on Education, the Senate Education and Youth41
Committee, the House Committee on Higher Education, and the Senate Higher Education42
Committee with a comprehensive report on the program with any recommendations for43
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its continued use and any needed changes in the program. Such report shall include a44
comprehensive list of any such waivers or variances requested as provided for in45
paragraph (2) of this subsection, a statement of necessity for each request, and whether46
each request was granted in whole or in part.47
(b) The pilot program established by the state board pursuant to this article shall provide48
for the award of a high school diploma to students who successfully complete the program.49
(c) The state board shall determine the specific competencies concerning the skills and50
knowledge needed for completion of each component of the program; provided, however,51
that the state board shall make such determination regarding the skills and knowledge52
needed to meet the requirements for a high school diploma as provided for in this program53
in consultation with the State Board of Education and the Department of Education.54
(d) In order to minimize the risk of prospective students prematurely withdrawing from55
a secondary school in order to participate in the program, the state board shall provide for56
preliminary review of academic records, including, but not limited to official secondary57
school transcripts, submitted by prospective students to determine whether such students58
meet the requirements provided for in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (e) of this Code59
Section section. If a prospective student meets such requirements, the student shall be so60
notified and allowed to complete a readiness assessment required by the technical college61
system. Students who meet the requirements provided for in paragraphs (1) and (2) of62
subsection (e) of this Code Section section and attain a an acceptable score of admission63
acceptable on the readiness assessment shall be notified that they are eligible to participate64
in the program, subject to meeting the requirements provided for in paragraphs (4) and (5)65
of subsection (e) of this Code Section section.66
(e) To be eligible to participate in the program, a student shall:67
(1) Be 16 years of age or older;68
(2) Have completed at least six of the nine following state required ninth and tenth grade69
level high school courses: two English courses, two mathematics courses, two science70
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courses, two social studies courses, and one health and physical education course; and71
any state required tests associated with any such courses;72
(3) Receive a score of admission acceptable on the readiness assessment required by the73
technical college system;74
(4) Provide the following:75
(A) If an unemancipated minor:76
(i) Verification that the student's parent or legal guardian attended a conference with77
the student's high school principal or the principal's designee as provided for in78
subsection (e) of Code Section 20-2-690.1;79
(ii) A copy of the form provided for in subsection (e) of Code Section 20-2-690.180
signed by the student's parent or legal guardian;81
(iii) Written acknowledgment by the student's parent or guardian that withdrawal of82
the student from secondary school may result in loss of eligibility for83
accommodations, specialized instruction, and other services pursuant to the federal84
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C.A. U.S.C. Section 1400, et seq.,85
and Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C.A. U.S.C. Section86
701, et seq.; and87
(iv) Written acknowledgment that the high school diploma available through the Dual88
Achievement Program requires successful completion of the program; or89
(B) If an emancipated minor or a student who is 18, 19, or 20 years of age:90
(i) Written acknowledgment that the student has conferred with his or her secondary91
school principal or the principal's designee or a qualified designated official of the92
technical college system and discussed alternatives to withdrawing from high school93
without completing graduation requirements and potential consequences of not having94
a high school diploma, including lower lifetime earnings, fewer jobs for which the95
student will be qualified, and the inability to avail oneself of higher educational96
opportunities;97
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(ii) Written acknowledgment by the student's parent or guardian that withdrawal of98
the student from secondary school may result in loss of eligibility for99
accommodations, specialized instruction, and other services pursuant to the federal100
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C.A. U.S.C. Section 1400, et seq.,101
and Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C.A. U.S.C. Section102
701, et seq.; and103
(iii) Written acknowledgment that the high school diploma available through the104
Dual Achievement Program requires successful completion of the program; and105
(5) Be withdrawn from a public secondary school of this state.106
(f) The state board shall award a high school diploma to a student enrolled in the program107
provided for in this article who:108
(1) Completes all student counseling and assessment requirements of the program;109
(2) Completes rigorous coursework at a participating unit of the technical college110
system; and111
(3) Completes:112
(A) A technical college associate degree program;113
(B) A technical college diploma program; or114
(C) At least two technical college certificate of credit programs in one specific career115
pathway.116
(g) A student who meets the requirements of subsections (f) of this Code section shall be117
deemed to have met all graduation requirements of the State Board of Education and shall118
not be subject to any assessments otherwise required for purposes of graduation.119
(h) The state board, in consultation with the State Board of Education, Department of120
Education, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Corrections, and the121
Office of Planning and Budget, shall establish rules and regulations to implement the122
provisions of this article."123
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SECTION 2.124
Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 20-4-142, relating to automatic125
repeal, as follows:126
"20-4-142.127
This article shall stand repealed on July 1, 2026 2031."128
SECTION 3.129
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.130
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