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Read. Follow. Verify.Online Course Options for Georgia Students
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What This Bill Does
This document explains how two Georgia laws, Senate Bill 289 and House Bill 175, allow students to take online courses and provides instructions on how to find available programs. It outlines the requirements for school districts to notify families and the process for accessing the state's online course .
Students in Georgia have the legal right to take online courses, with school districts covering the cost if the course replaces a standard class period, while parents pay if the course is taken as an extra class.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Students
Students gain the option to enroll in online courses and have access to a state-wide clearinghouse for providers.
Parents
Parents receive notification of online options and may be responsible for costs if courses are taken outside of the standard 6-period school day.
School Districts
Districts are required to notify families of online options and must fund online courses that replace standard class periods.
Key Facts
- Senate Bill 289 allows students to take online courses, though it is not a graduation requirement.
- School districts must notify students and parents of online course options starting in the 2013-2014 school year.
- Districts must permit students to take an online course even if the same course is offered locally.
- The school district pays for the online course if it is taken in place of one of the 6 regular school periods.
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- Parents are responsible for the cost if an online course is taken in addition to the 6 regular school periods.
- Online courses can be accessed via the Georgia Virtual School, local virtual schools, or vendor online schools.
- House Bill 175 mandates the creation of an online clearinghouse to help parents and students find courses and providers.
- The Georgia Online Clearinghouse provides information on course availability and quality guidelines.
- The clearinghouse allows users to search for courses by subject and zip code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to take an online course to graduate?
Who pays for the online course?
How do I find an online course?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mandated Online Access
The legislation forces school districts to allow online course substitution even when the course is already available locally, shifting control of course selection toward the student/parent.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.walton.k12.ga.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance40How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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