All About Developmental Disabilities

Dear Parents,

As a parent, I want to make everyone aware of a recent bill that passed in the General Assembly this year. This bill, Senate Bill 72 is designed to increase parent participation and input at your child’s school.


• All Georgia public schools are required to have a local school council.

• The school council at your child’s school is an advisory body to the principal and where appropriate, to the local board of education and to the superintendent.

• Although an advisory only body, the local school board is charged with considering the council’s recommendations and with responding to the council’s written recommendations.

• The school council is charged to “act as a link between the school and the community and to encourage the participation of parents”.

• The council may provide advice on any matter relating to student achievement and school improvement including topics such as the school’s budget, school improvement plans, school board policies, facilities and on how to involve parents.

• Senate Bill 72 requires that the majority of the members of the school council be PARENTS.

• Senate Bill 72 requires that the chairperson of the school council be a PARENT.

• Senate Bill 72 assures that a majority of the council members are not employees of the school.

• Senate Bill 72 went into effect on July 1, 2007. Due to this new law, there will likely be an opening on many school councils.

It is so important that someone on the school council of every school be knowledgeable regarding the issues affecting special needs children attending that school. If you are interested in being part of your child’s school council, you can contact your child’s school council for information regarding how the members are chosen.


For more information, click here.
Please pass this information on to other families that may be interested in this new law. Thank you.

Karen Kolacinski
Partners in Policymaking