§ 20-2-312 - State program for middle school children during nonschool hours; goals; annual review - Georgia Statutes

O.C.G.A. 20-2-312 (2010)
20-2-312. State program for middle school children during nonschool hours; goals; annual review

(a) The Department of Education shall, in consultation with the Georgia School Age Care Association, operate a state program designed to provide enhanced academic resources, community service activities, and other enrichment activities to middle school age children during nonschool hours. The state program shall operate through the encouragement and coordination of local programs providing such resources. Additionally, to the extent that funds are appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Education, the office may make grants for the purpose of funding such local programs. Any such grants shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 of Chapter 5 of Title 28, the "Fair and Open Grants Act of 1993."

(b) The goals of the state program shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, increased participation by middle school age children in local programs which will result in:

(1) Improvement in school attendance and academic performance of participating students;

(2) Reduction of the number of middle school age children who are unsupervised during nonschool hours;

(3) Increased participation by students in supervised academic, educational, and voluntary community service activities; and

(4) Reduction of juvenile crime and substance abuse and teenage pregnancy; provided, however, that in programs operated by local school systems, any sex education materials or sex education classes shall be in accordance with the provisions set forth in Code Section 20-2-143.

(c) The Department of Education shall conduct an annual review of the effectiveness of state and local programs provided for in this Code section. Such review shall include to the maximum extent possible:

(1) An impact analysis using data indicating whether the state program and local programs have: (A) increased the academic success of participating students; and (B) decreased the incidence of adverse behaviors such as truancy, substance abuse, and juvenile crime among participating students; and

(2) Evaluation of the state program and local programs by affected parties, including participating students and their parents, educators, law enforcement and juvenile court officers, and health care providers.