Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB1259: Education; prohibit virtual instruction to out-of-system students if the local school system has a College and Career Ready Performance Index below the state average
Status: Passed one chamber, March 31, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to financing relative to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to prohibit virtual instruction to out-of-system students if the local school system has a College and Career Ready Performance Index below the state average; to require an agreement between local school systems to allow for an out-of-system student to attend a virtual school; to require out-of-system students to not be counted toward equalization funds received by a local school system; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Part 4 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to financing relative to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to prohibit virtual instruction to out-of-system students if the local school system has a College and Career Ready Performance Index below the state average; to require an agreement between local school systems to allow for an out-of-system student to attend a virtual school; to require out-of-system students to not be counted toward equalization funds received by a local school system…
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Part 4 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to financing relative to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to prohibit virtual instruction to out-of-system students if the local school system has a College and Career Ready Performance Index below the state average; to require an agreement between local school systems to allow for an out-of-system student to attend a virtual school; to require out-of-system students to not be counted toward equalization funds received by a local school system; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. Part 4 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to financing relative to the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by revising Code Section 20-2-167.2 as follows: "20-2-167.2. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: H. B. 1259 LC 64 0041 (1) 'Out-of-system student' means a student who is enrolled in a local school system and receives virtual instruction from a virtual school within the local school system, but who resides in another local school system. (2) 'Virtual instruction' means online …