Section 20-2-982. Purpose

   The following constitute the major purposes of this part:

   (1) To simplify and make more efficient the process of certifying educational personnel in Georgia;

   (2) To attract the highest possible number of qualified personnel to become educators in Georgia;

   (3) To promote the hiring of qualified educators from other states to work in Georgia schools;

   (4) To improve the level of preparation of educators, both pre-service and in-service, by requiring for purposes of certification those essential skills and that knowledge needed to deliver effective education;

   (5) To adopt standards of professional performance and a code of professional ethics for educators, both of which shall represent standards of performance and conduct which are generally accepted by educators of this state;

   (6) To investigate reports of specified criminal conduct, violations of professional or ethical codes of conduct, and violations of certain rules, regulations, and policies by school system educators;

   (7) To enforce the requirement that local school systems promptly report specified criminal conduct of school system educators to the commission; and

   (8) To impose disciplinary action or a denial of a certificate against an educator.

Code 1981, § 20-2-982, enacted by Ga. L. 1991, p. 1546, § 1; Ga. L. 1998, p. 750, § 3.