- See also: K-12 education content standards in the states
This page features information about K-12 areas of instruction required by state statute in Georgia public schools.
Background
- See also: K-12 education content standards in the states and K-12 curriculum authority, requirements, and statutes in the states
State education officials may develop content standards and curricula, depending on the state, in order to facilitate instruction in public schools. In some states, lawmakers also adopt required areas of instruction by statute.
K-12 content standards and curriculum development
State or local education officials may develop K-12 curricula for classroom instruction that generally includes lessons and materials used in a particular course of study.[1] Depending on the state, K-12 curricula may reflect or incorporate state content standards—educational learning and achievement goals that state education officials either require or recommend that local schools satisfy in K-12 instruction.
Areas of instruction required by statute
Some state laws require the inclusion of specific areas of instruction in K-12 public school curricula. In these cases, lawmakers—rather than state education officials—mandate certain education requirements for students. Laws governing specific areas of instruction in K-12 curricula vary by state.
Statutorily required areas of instruction in Georgia
The following table provides information about selected areas of instruction required by statute in Georgia. The statutes provided may not be comprehensive. The statutory text is provided below the table.
Georgia Code § 20-2-143 (2021):
| “
|
Sex Education and Aids Prevention Instruction; Implementation; Student Exemption
a. Each local board of education shall prescribe a course of study in sex education and AIDS prevention instruction for such grades and grade levels in the public school system as shall be determined by the State Board of Education...
b. The State Board of Education shall prescribe a minimum course of study in sex education and AIDS prevention instruction which may be included as a part of a course of study in comprehensive health education for such grades and grade levels in the public school system as shall be determined by the state board and shall establish standards for its administration...[2]
|
”
|
Georgia Code § 20-2-142 (2021):
| “
|
Prescribed Courses
a. 1. All elementary and secondary schools which receive in any manner funds from the state shall provide the following course offerings in the manner and at the grade level prescribed by the State Board of Education:
- A. A course of study in the background, history, and development of the federal and state governments and a study of Georgia county and municipal governments; and
- B. A course of study in the history of the United States and in the history of Georgia and in the essentials of the United States and Georgia Constitutions, including the study of American institutions and ideals which shall include a study of the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States and the Georgia flag in addition to other institutions and ideals.[2]
|
”
|
Georgia Code § 20-2-145 (2021):
| “
|
Comprehensive Character Education Program
The State Board of Education shall develop by the start of the 1997-1998 school year a comprehensive character education program for levels K-12. This comprehensive character education program shall be known as the "character curriculum" and shall focus on the students' development of the following character traits: courage, patriotism, citizenship, honesty, fairness, respect for others, kindness, cooperation, self-respect, self-control, courtesy, compassion, tolerance, diligence, generosity, punctuality, cleanliness, cheerfulness, school pride, respect for the environment, respect for the creator, patience, creativity, sportsmanship, loyalty, perseverance, and virtue. Such program shall also address, by the start of the 1999-2000 school year, methods of discouraging bullying and violent acts against fellow students. Local boards shall implement such a program in all grade levels at the beginning of the 2000-2001 school year and shall provide opportunities for parental involvement in establishing expected outcomes of the character education program.[2]
|
”
|
Georgia Code § 20-2-149.1 (2021):
| “
|
Instruction in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Use of Automated External Defibrillator; Requirements
c. Beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, each local board of education which operates a school with grades nine through 12 shall provide instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator to its students as a requirement within existing health or physical education courses.[2]
|
”
|
Georgia Code § 20-2-149.3 (2021):
| “
|
Requirements for Computer Science Education
c. 1. Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year:
- A. Each local school system shall provide that at least one high school in its school system offer a course in computer science;
- B. Each local school system shall provide that all middle schools in its school system offer instruction in exploratory computer science;
- C. Each state charter school that serves high school students shall offer a course in computer science;
- D. Each state charter school that serves middle school students shall offer instruction in exploratory computer science;
- E. Each local school system may provide that all elementary schools in its school system offer instruction in exploratory computer science; and
- F. Each state charter school that serves elementary school students may offer instruction in exploratory computer science.
2. Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, each local school system shall provide that at least 50 percent of the high schools in its school system offer a course in computer science.
3. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each local school system shall provide that all high schools in its school system offer a course in computer science...[2]
|
”
|
Georgia Code § 20-2-149 (2021):
| “
|
Program for Educating Students Regarding Online Internet Safety
a. The Department of Education shall develop a model program for educating students regarding online safety while using the Internet, taking into consideration educational materials on this topic developed by other states as well as any other materials suggested by education experts, child psychologists, and technology companies that promote child online safety issues.
b. Each local board of education may incorporate into its instructional program a component on online Internet safety to be taught on a schedule as determined by the local board of education.[2]
|
”
|
Georgia Code § 20-2-144 (2021):
| “
|
Mandatory Instruction Concerning Alcohol, Tobacco, Vapor Products, and Other Drug Use
a. Each local board of education shall prescribe mandatory instruction concerning alcohol, tobacco, vapor products, and other drug use in every year in every grade from kindergarten through grade 12 as shall be determined by the State Board of Education.Such course of study shall implement the minimum course of study provided for in subsection (b) of this Code section or its equivalent, as approved by the State Board of Education.Each local board of education may supplement the exact approach of content areas of such minimum course of study with such curriculum standards as it may deem appropriate.Such standards shall include instruction which discourages the use of alcohol, tobacco, vapor products, and controlled substances and communicates that the use of illicit drugs and improper use of legally obtained drugs is wrong and dangerous...[2]
|
”
|
See also
External links
