Georgia § 20-2-132 - Primary goals of article.

§ 20-2-132. Primary goals of article.

It is the intent of the General Assembly that the primary goals of this article shall be as follows: A substantial reduction in the number of teachers who leave the teaching profession for reasons of job dissatisfaction; A decrease in the percentage and number of students who enter school but drop out prior to graduation; The elimination of emergency teaching certificates and waivers for teaching outside of specialty; A decrease in the percentage of students who fail to attain passing scores on end-of-course assessments; A significant increase in the test scores of Georgia students who take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the ACT Assessment (ACT); An increase in the number of students mastering each skill in reading, mathematics, and other subject areas; An accountability system for education programs that measures efficiency and effectiveness and ensures that programs produce improvement in student achievement scores for all students; A comprehensive program and financial information system that provides data that allow for the accurate evaluation of program effectiveness; A seamless education system that allows students to be served in the most effective and efficient way possible; The elimination of school violence; A decrease in the percentage of students who perform below grade level; An increase in parental and community involvement in schools; Better coordination between education agencies and other organizations providing instructional and related services to students; A more competent school work force through the effective use of evaluation tools, training, and school improvement teams that promote best practices; and More flexibility for high-performing schools so that services can be better adapted to student needs. (Code 1981, § 20-2-132 , enacted by Ga. L. 1985, p. 1657, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1169, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 618, § 12; Ga. L. 2015, p. 21, § 2/HB 91.) The 2015 amendment, effective March 30, 2015, substituted "fail to attain passing scores on end-of-course assessments" for "fail the Georgia High School Graduation Test" in paragraph (4). Editor's notes. - Ga. L. 2000, p. 618, § 1, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "This Act shall be known and may be cited as the 'A Plus Education Reform Act of 2000.'"