25 LC 49 2110
Senate Bill 148
By: Senators Hatchett of the 50th and Rahman of the 5th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 11 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
1
relating to public school property and facilities, so as to provide for an outdoor learning2
spaces pilot program; to provide for a pilot program evaluation and report; to provide for3
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5
SECTION 1.6
Article 11 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to7
public school property and facilities, is amended by adding a new part to read as follows:8
"Part 4
9
20-2-590.10
(a) The Department of Education is authorized to establish a pilot program, beginning in11
the 2025-2026 school year, to provide for the development and study of outdoor learning12
spaces on elementary and secondary school property. The purpose of the pilot program 13
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shall be to determine whether and how to implement best practices and design standards 14
for outdoor learning spaces.15
(b) The Department of Education is authorized to select elementary or secondary schools16
with sufficient existing or potential outdoor learning spaces for participation in the pilot17
program as pilot schools. Private, nonprofit, and local school system funding may be18
utilized by such pilot schools for community engagement, school grounds design support,19
and capital construction costs. The local board of education for each pilot school shall20
agree to implement a program to incorporate outdoor learning spaces into the existing21
curriculum and to continue to provide such program for a period no shorter than three22
years.23
(c) The Department of Education shall provide for an evaluation regarding the success and24
impact of the pilot program upon completion of the third year of the pilot program and25
shall report the results of such evaluation to the House Committee on Education and the26
Senate Education and Youth Committee."27
SECTION 2.28
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.29
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