Section 20-2-290. Organization of schools; middle school programs; schedule

   (a) (1) The board of education of any local school system is authorized to organize or reorganize the schools and fix the grade levels to be taught at each school in its jurisdiction. Schools which house grades six, seven, or eight, or any combination thereof, shall qualify for the middle school program for students; provided, however, that such schools also meet all other provisions of this Code section and criteria and standards prescribed by the State Board of Education. Further, two or more adjacent local school systems shall qualify for the middle school program if through their contractual arrangement they jointly meet the requirements of this Code section and the criteria and standards prescribed by the state board.

   (2) The board of education of any local school system shall be authorized to employ school administrative managers in lieu of or in addition to assistant principals. Such school administrative managers shall not be required to be certificated by the Professional Standards Commission but shall have such qualifications as determined by the local board with a minimum requirement of a bachelor's degree. The duties of school administrative managers shall be to oversee and manage the financial and business affairs of the school. The principal shall retain authority over the curriculum and instructional areas. The school administrative manager shall report directly to the principal. In the event that a local board considers hiring or utilizing school administrative managers pursuant to this subsection, it shall receive and give all due consideration to recommendations by the school council as to whether or not to utilize such position and as to selection of the manager. Existing employees of the local board shall be eligible to serve as school administrative managers if they meet other qualifications and requirements established by the local board for such position. For purposes of earning funds for such positions, school administrative managers shall be treated in all respects the same as assistant principals.

(b) Local boards of education shall schedule each middle school so as to provide the following:

   (1) A minimum of five hours of instruction in English and language arts, reading, mathematics, science, social studies, and such other academic subjects as the State Board of Education shall prescribe;

   (2) Beyond the minimum of five hours of academic instruction, the local board shall have the authority to schedule for the remainder of the day such academic or exploratory classes as the State Board of Education shall prescribe; provided, however, that a student shall be allowed to take additional academic classes instead of exploratory classes if the parent or guardian of such a student requests such assignment, subject to availability; and

   (3) An interdisciplinary team of academic teachers with common planning time of a minimum of 55 minutes.

(c) Local school systems shall comply with subsection (b) of this Code section in order to qualify for the middle school program.

(d) If a local school system has a combination of qualified and nonqualified schools, it shall qualify for the middle school program only for those students counted in the full-time equivalent count for the middle school program in qualified middle schools.

Code 1981, § 20-2-290, enacted by Ga. L. 1985, p. 1657, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1169, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 892, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 94, § 20; Ga. L. 2000, p. 618, § 54; Ga. L. 2001, p. 148, § 16; Ga. L. 2004, p. 107, § 7B; Ga. L. 2005, p. 60, § 20/HB 95; Ga. L. 2007, p. 259, § 2/SB 72; Ga. L. 2011, p. 647, § 7/HB 192.