Plain English Breakdown
The official text confirms the bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, but does not show if a governor has signed it or vetoed it.
Student Character Development Act
This law allows public school students in Georgia to attend religious moral instruction courses provided by individuals or organizations outside of the public school system, subject to certain conditions.
What This Bill Does
- Permits public school students to take courses in religious moral instruction offered by an individual or organization independently of a public school.
- Requires that these courses meet specific conditions set by the law.
- Allows students who complete these approved courses to receive academic credit toward their graduation requirements.
- Prohibits schools from counting time spent in these courses as absences for regular attendance purposes.
- Requires local education agencies (school districts) to adopt policies regarding how these programs are managed.
- Assigns specific responsibilities to the Georgia Department of Education.
Who It Names or Affects
- Public school students who wish to participate in external religious moral instruction courses.
- Local education agencies that must create and follow new policies for these programs.
- The Georgia Department of Education, which has defined duties under the law.
- Individuals or organizations providing the approved religious moral instruction.
Terms To Know
- Religious Moral Instruction
- Courses focused on teaching values and ethics based on a specific religion, offered by groups outside of public schools as described in this act.
- Local Education Agency
- The local school district or board responsible for managing public schools that must adopt policies under this law.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official summary states the courses are subject to 'certain conditions' but does not list what those specific conditions are.
- The exact amount of academic credit a student can earn is not specified in the provided text.
- The effective date for when these rules begin is listed as blank in the metadata.