Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SB253 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 49 2202
2	2	Senate Bill 253
3	3	By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Dixon of the 45th, Hickman of the 4th, Kemp of the 38th,
4	4	Still of the 48th and others
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	To amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
8	8	1
9	9	elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for the State Board of Education to2
10	10	establish a three-year pilot robotics program for eligible public schools; to provide for3
11	11	eligibility; to provide for grant funds for eligible public schools to develop and implement4
12	12	school robotics programs and to support students from such schools participating in5
13	13	interscholastic robotics competitions; to provide for applications and selection to participate6
14	14	in the pilot program; to provide for assessment and reporting on the impacts of the pilot7
15	15	program; to authorize the State Board of Education to promulgate rules and regulations to8
16	16	implement the pilot program; to provide for waivers and variances of state rules, regulations,9
17	17	policies, and procedures if necessary; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related10
18	18	matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.11
19	19	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:12
20	20	SECTION 1.13
21	21	Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and14
22	22	secondary education, is amended in Article 7, relating to additional state aid, by designating15
23	23	S. B. 253
24	24	- 1 - 25 LC 49 2202
25	25	Code Sections 20-2-330 through 20-2-334 as Part 1 and by adding a new part to read as
26	26	16
27	27	follows:17
28	28	"Part 2
29	29	18
30	30	20-2-335.19
31	31	(a)(1) The State Board of Education shall establish a pilot robotics program to:20
32	32	(A) Provide funding for:21
33	33	(i) Eligible public schools to develop and implement a school robotics program for22
34	34	their students; and23
35	35	(ii) Students from eligible public schools to participate in interscholastic robotics24
36	36	competitions;25
37	37	(B) Motivate students to pursue education and career opportunities in science,26
38	38	technology, engineering, and mathematics;27
39	39	(C) Improve students' knowledge in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and28
40	40	mathematics;29
41	41	(D) Improve students' teamwork and communication skills;30
42	42	(E) Foster students' digital literacy; and31
43	43	(F) Study the impacts of such school robotics programs for possible state-wide32
44	44	implementation.33
45	45	(2) Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the pilot program shall include34
46	46	funding for up to $2 million in grants each school year, for up to three school years35
47	47	beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, to eligible public schools selected by the State36
48	48	Board of Education to participate in the pilot program.37
49	49	(3) To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, a public school shall:38
50	50	(A) Serve students in any one of grades nine through 12;39
51	51	S. B. 253
52	52	- 2 - 25 LC 49 2202
53	53	(B) By November 1, 2025, submit an application to participate in the pilot program,40
54	54	which application shall include:41
55	55	(i) The school's statement of intent for the use of grant funds including plans for:42
56	56	(I) Employing qualified personnel to participate in the school robotics program43
57	57	either with pay or as volunteers;44
58	58	(II) Procuring equipment and supplies to be used as part of the school robotics45
59	59	program;46
60	60	(III) Use of facilities as part of the school robotics program;47
61	61	(IV) Promoting student involvement in the school robotics program; and48
62	62	(V) Assessing and reporting on the impacts of the school robotics program on the49
63	63	school and the participating students; and50
64	64	(ii) A resolution adopted by the school's local board of education or other governing51
65	65	body stating:52
66	66	(I) Its commitment to support the school's participation in the pilot program; and53
67	67	(II) The local financial and other resources that will be provided to the school for54
68	68	use as part of the school robotics program;55
69	69	(C) Be among the public schools that performed in the lowest 25 percent of all public56
70	70	schools based on the cumulative individual school ratings prepared by the Office of57
71	71	Student Achievement, as provided for in subsection (d) of Code Section 20-14-33, for58
72	72	the two most recent school years for which the Office of Student Achievement issued59
73	73	such ratings; provided, however, that, once an eligible public school has been selected60
74	74	to participate in the pilot program by the State Board of Education, the school shall61
75	75	remain eligible for the duration of the pilot program notwithstanding the provisions of62
76	76	this subparagraph; and63
77	77	(D) Not have sponsored or otherwise supported students participating in an64
78	78	interscholastic robotics competition during the previous five school years.65
79	79	S. B. 253
80	80	- 3 - 25 LC 49 2202
81	81	(4) Up to ten eligible public schools shall be selected by the State Board of Education66
82	82	to participate in the pilot program. In an effort to implement the pilot program in various67
83	83	types of public schools represented in the state, the State Board of Education shall seek68
84	84	to include eligible public schools:69
85	85	(A) Of varying student enrollment sizes;70
86	86	(B) In rural, suburban, and urban areas of the state; and71
87	87	(C) In various geographic areas of the state.72
88	88	(5) The State Board of Education shall establish pilot program requirements and criteria73
89	89	for selecting eligible public schools to participate in the pilot program in accordance with74
90	90	the provisions of this Code section.75
91	91	(6) The State Board of Education shall be authorized to establish reporting requirements76
92	92	for the public schools participating in the pilot program.77
93	93	(7) To implement the pilot program, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the78
94	94	contrary, the State Board of Education shall be authorized to waive or provide variances79
95	95	to state rules, regulations, policies, and procedures and to provisions of this chapter that80
96	96	may be reasonably necessary to meet the goals of the pilot program.81
97	97	(8) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to82
98	98	carry out the provisions of this Code section.83
99	99	(b)(1) By August 1, 2025, the Department of Education shall develop an application84
100	100	process and seek applications from eligible public schools for the pilot program to be85
101	101	submitted no later than November 1, 2025.86
102	102	(2)(A) The Department of Education shall monitor and annually assess the status of the87
103	103	pilot program with cooperation and input from the public schools and local school88
104	104	systems participating in the pilot program.89
105	105	(B) Beginning no later than June 1, 2026, and by June 1 of each year thereafter, the90
106	106	Department of Education shall provide to the State Board of Education a report of the91
107	107	annual assessment provided for in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.92
108	108	S. B. 253
109	109	- 4 - 25 LC 49 2202
110	110	(c) This Code section shall stand repealed in its entirety on July 1, 2029."93
111	111	SECTION 2.94
112	112	This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025.95
113	113	SECTION 3.96
114	114	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.97
115	115	S. B. 253
116	116	- 5 -