Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB437 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 49 2105
2	2	House Bill 437
3	3	By: Representatives Lim of the 98
4	4	th
5	5	, Cannon of the 172
6	6	nd
7	7	, Hong of the 103
8	8	rd
9	9	, Olaleye of the
10	10	59
11	11	th
12	12	, Reeves of the 99
13	13	th
14	14	, and others
15	15	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
16	16	AN ACT
17	17	To amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
18	18	1
19	19	Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as2
20	20	to require the State Board of Education to establish rules and regulations for local school3
21	21	system outreach efforts regarding the English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)4
22	22	program; to require local school systems to engage in such community outreach efforts; to5
23	23	provide for standards for foreign language interpreters providing services to students in6
24	24	educational settings; to require local school systems to provide certain information to7
25	25	limited-English-proficient parents and guardians regarding their children; to provide for8
26	26	interpreter services; to provide for meetings of school representatives with9
27	27	limited-English-proficient parents and guardians regarding their children; to provide for10
28	28	related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.11
29	29	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:12
30	30	SECTION 1.13
31	31	Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,14
32	32	relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by15
33	33	H. B. 437
34	34	- 1 - 25 LC 49 2105
35	35	revising Code Section 20-2-156, relating to program for limited-English-proficient students,
36	36	16
37	37	as follows:17
38	38	"20-2-156.18
39	39	(a)
40	40	The State Board of Education shall create a program for limited-English-proficient19
41	41	students whose native language is not English, subject to appropriation by the General20
42	42	Assembly. The purpose of this program is to assist such students to develop proficiency21
43	43	in the English language, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing, sufficient to22
44	44	perform effectively at the currently assigned grade level. The state board shall prescribe23
45	45	such rules and regulations regarding eligibility criteria and standards as may be needed to24
46	46	carry out the provisions of this Code section. The state board shall also prescribe rules and25
47	47	regulations regarding community outreach efforts by local school systems to ensure that26
48	48	limited-English-proficient students and their parents and guardians are provided27
49	49	information regarding the program. This program may also be referred to as the English28
50	50	for speakers of other languages (ESOL) program.29
51	51	(b) The State Board of Education shall establish standards for foreign language interpreters30
52	52	working with students in educational settings. Such standards shall include, but shall not31
53	53	be limited to:32
54	54	(1) Demonstrated proficiency in English and the target language in listening, speaking,33
55	55	and reading domains; and34
56	56	(2) Familiarity with legal concepts related to and service requirements of Part B of the35
57	57	federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the federal36
58	58	Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as standards for the use of remote interpreter services,37
59	59	including, but not limited to, the conditions under which remote interpreter services may38
60	60	be used to provide high-quality interpreter services.39
61	61	(c) Each local school system shall provide to limited-English-proficient parents and40
62	62	guardians, in a language easily understood by such parents and guardians, information41
63	63	regarding their children relative to the following:42
64	64	H. B. 437
65	65	- 2 - 25 LC 49 2105
66	66	(1) School registration, enrollment, and withdrawal;43
67	67	(2) Grievance procedures;44
68	68	(3) Notices of all school programs, including, but not limited to, talented and gifted45
69	69	programs, early intervention programs, special education programs, art and music46
70	70	programs, and athletic programs;47
71	71	(4) Student discipline policies and procedures, student codes of conduct, handbooks, and48
72	72	similar materials;49
73	73	(5) Report cards;50
74	74	(6) Language assistance programs;51
75	75	(7) School choice opportunities; and52
76	76	(8) Parent-teacher conferences.53
77	77	(d) Each local school system shall provide to limited-English-proficient parents and54
78	78	guardians in a language easily understood by such parents and guardians, regarding their55
79	79	children:56
80	80	(1) Information regarding the availability of interpretation services at any meeting with57
81	81	school representatives;58
82	82	(2) An explanation of how parents or guardians can request an interpreter;59
83	83	(3) Notice that a parent or guardian has the right to request that the interpreter serve no60
84	84	other role in the meeting than as an interpreter, and that the local school system should61
85	85	make reasonable efforts to fulfill this request; and62
86	86	(4) A point of contact to address any questions or complaints about interpretation63
87	87	services.64
88	88	(e) For each meeting a school representative has with limited-English-proficient parents65
89	89	and guardians regarding their children, the recorded minutes of such meeting shall reflect:66
90	90	(1) Whether a parent or guardian requested an interpreter, had previously requested67
91	91	interpretation services, or had otherwise indicated that an interpreter was necessary to68
92	92	ensure meaningful parental or guardian involvement in the meeting;69
93	93	H. B. 437
94	94	- 3 - 25 LC 49 2105
95	95	(2) The language for interpretation;70
96	96	(3) Whether a qualified interpreter was provided or a parent or guardian provided an71
97	97	interpreter of his or her own choosing; and72
98	98	(4) Whether a parent or guardian requested that the interpreter serve no other role in the73
99	99	IEP meeting and, if so, whether the local school district granted such request.74
100	100	(f) Each local school system shall engage in community outreach efforts directed toward75
101	101	limited-English-proficient students and their parents and guardians. Such efforts shall76
102	102	comply with the rules and regulations prescribed by the State Board of Education pursuant77
103	103	to subsection (a) of this Code section."78
104	104	SECTION 2.79
105	105	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.80
106	106	H. B. 437
107	107	- 4 -