Section 20-2-326. Definitions

   For purposes of this part, the term:

   (1) "Articulation" means agreement between a high school and a postsecondary institution regarding the awarding of both secondary and postsecondary credit for a dual enrollment course.

   (2) "Choice technical high school" means a high school, other than the high school to which a student is assigned by virtue of his or her residence and attendance zone, which is designed to prepare a high school student for postsecondary education and for employment in a career field. A choice technical high school may be operated by a local school system or a technical school or college. A choice technical high school may also be operated as a charter school under a governance board composed of parents, employers, and representatives from the local board of education.

   (3) "Chronically low-performing high school" means a public high school in this state that has a graduation rate of less than 60 percent for three consecutive years, as determined in accordance with methodology established by the National Governors Association's Compact on High School Graduation Data, or that has received an unacceptable rating for three consecutive years, as defined by the Office of Student Achievement.

   (4) "College and career academy" means a specialized charter school established by a partnership which demonstrates a collaboration between business, industry, and community stakeholders to advance workforce development between one or more local boards of education, a private individual, a private organization, or a state or local public entity in cooperation with one or more postsecondary institutions and approved by the State Board of Education in accordance with Article 31 of this chapter or the State Charter Schools Commission in accordance with Article 31A of this chapter.

   (5) "Focused program of study" means a rigorous academic core combined with a focus in mathematics and science; a focus in humanities, fine arts, and foreign language; or a coherent sequence of career pathway courses that is aligned with graduation requirements established by the State Board of Education and curriculum requirements established pursuant to Part 2 of this article that prepares a student for postsecondary education or immediate employment after high school graduation.

   (6) "Graduation plan" means a student specific plan developed in accordance with subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-327 detailing the courses necessary for a high school student to graduate from high school and to successfully transition to postsecondary education and the work force.

   (7) "Industry certification" means a process of program evaluation that ensures that individual programs meet industry standards in the areas of curriculum, teacher qualification, lab specifications, equipment, and industry involvement.

   (8) "Public college or university" means a two-year or four-year college, university, or other institution under the auspices of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

   (9) "Small learning community" means an autonomous or semiautonomous small learning environment within a large high school which is made up of a subset of students and teachers for a two-year, three-year, or four-year period. The goal of a small learning community is to achieve greater personalization of learning with each community led by a principal or instructional leader. A small learning community blends academic studies around a broad career or academic theme where teachers have common planning time to connect teacher assignments and assessments to college and career readiness standards. Students voluntarily apply for enrollment in a small learning community but must be accepted, and such enrollment must be approved by the student's parent or guardian. A small learning community also includes a college and career academy organized around a specific career theme which integrates academic and career instruction, provides work based learning opportunities, and prepares students for postsecondary education and employment, with support through partnerships with local employers, community organizations, and postsecondary institutions.

   (10) "Teacher adviser system" means a system where an individual professional educator in the school assists a small group of students and their parents or guardians throughout the students' high school careers to set postsecondary goals and help them prepare programs of study, utilizing assessments and other data to track academic progress on a regular basis; communicates frequently with parents or guardians; and provides advisement, support, and encouragement as needed.

   (11) "Technical school or college" means a school, college, institution, or other branch of the Technical College System of Georgia.

Code 1981, § 20-2-326, enacted by Ga. L. 2010, p. 186, § 1/HB 400; Ga. L. 2011, p. 421, § 2/SB 161; Ga. L. 2011, p. 752, § 20/HB 142; Ga. L. 2012, p. 775, § 20/HB 942; Ga. L. 2013, p. 1061, § 22/HB 283.