Audit department would monitor Georgia school finances by risk

The State Board of Education must appoint a committee to review public school finances and risks. The committee reviews financial conditions and risks across Georgia's public education system, including local school systems, state charter schools, completion special schools, and listed state agencies. The committee must meet at least six times each fiscal year; the state auditor's representative and a State Charter Schools Commission representative must attend. The committee must meet at least six times each fiscal year. Health and retirement programs must report overdue school payments at least twice each fiscal year.

The Department of Audits and Accounts must monitor school finances and provide support or interventions based on a four-tier system. The program covers every Georgia local school system and state charter school, with monitoring and support matched to its fiscal condition. The highest tier requires strict compliance with a state-approved intervention plan. Schools in that tier generally cannot receive advance distributions of state-allocated funds unless the state auditor recommends them and the State Board approves. The department may prioritize which systems receive monitoring and support using written objective criteria. The department must develop and begin the program by July 1, 2026, and fully implement it by the start of the 2028–2029 school year.

Local school systems and state charter schools must send yearly audit-readiness and payment certifications to the audit department. The requirement applies to each local school system and state charter school. The certifications must attest that audit-readiness requirements are met and that the school is not behind on required payments to the listed state benefit, retirement, or labor programs. Specified school and governing-board officials must sign the certifications; failure to comply results in a high-risk designation. The certifications are due to the Department of Audits and Accounts by December 31 each year.

The Office of Student Achievement may review how local education agencies use and report waivers. The authority concerns waivers used by local education agencies under law. The office director must approve these reviews. A review must consider compliance with the waiver contract, student achievement trends during the current year and prior three school years, and evidence of misuse or reporting problems.