(1) DEFINITION.
(a) Instructional Extension- a state-funded instructional program to address the academic needs of low-performing students.
(2) REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Each school system implementing the state-funded Instructional Extension program shall provide instructional opportunities at no cost to eligible students with low performance in academic subjects.
(b) The class size for an Instructional Extension class will not exceed the number as specified in the State Board of Education Rule 160-5-1-.08 Class Size, Appendix F.
(c) Each school system shall ensure that the Instructional Extension program provides instruction based on objectives of the state curriculum standards. State funding is restricted to addressing the academic needs of low-performing students in reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and/or social studies.
(d) For the Instructional Extension program, each local board of education shall employ state-certified teaching staff.
(e) Each school system implementing the Instructional Extension program is responsible for designing and implementing the program, as well as, evaluating program effectiveness. School systems may choose to provide remediation beyond the regular school day in a single school, several schools, or a centralized system location. Instruction may be delivered in a variety of models, which may include summer school, after-school, Saturday classes, inter-session classes, tutorial programs, other models locally designed, and additional instructional programs during the regular school day. At the beginning of each school year, each school system shall have a plan for addressing the academic needs of low performing students. Such plan shall state, at a minimum, the dollar amounts expected to be utilized in such a program, a statement of the school system's preferred strategies for the utilization of such funds, a statement of how low performing students will be identified, and the criteria to be utilized by the school system in evaluating the effectiveness of the program. At the end of each school year, each school system shall describe its evaluation of the effectiveness of the Instructional Extension program.
(f) Each local school system shall spend 100 percent of the funds designated for additional days of instruction for such costs at the system level, which may include transportation costs incurred for transporting students who are attending additional classes funded by these designated funds.
Authority O.C.G.A. § 20-2-184.1.