Rule 160-5-1-.13 - Regional Educational Service Agencies(1)DEFINITIONS.(a)Board of control - the governing body of the RESA, composed of the school superintendent from each member local school system, the president or highest administrator of each member post secondary institution, and a local public or regional library director appointed by the director of the Office of Public Library Services of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.(b)Collaborative member - the president of each public post secondary institution and the appointed director of a local public or regional library within each RESA geographic area.(c)Network of RESAs - the organization that works collaboratively to develop and offer courses for certificate endorsement, approved programs, and other services.(d)Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) - an agency established to provide shared services to improve the effectiveness of educational programs and services of local school systems, including state charter schools, and to provide direct instructional programs to selected public school students.(e)RESA service area - one of 18 service areas having the same boundaries as the 1972 districts approved the State Planning and Community Affairs Policy Board, with the Chattahoochee-Flint and First District RESAs each serving two service areas. All local school systems, including state charter schools, Technical College System of Georgia institutions, and University System of Georgia institutions that are located in the designated geographical areas shall be members.(f)Shared services member - the superintendent of each local school system, including state charter schools, within each RESA geographic area.(g)State charter school- a public school authorized by the State Charter Schools Commission - the state-level charter school authorizer established by Georgia law.(2)REQUIREMENTS.(a)RESA Board of Control Duties.1. The RESA board of control shall annually elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the shared services members.2. Each RESA director shall annually recommend to the RESA board of control all RESA staff for employment and assignment.3. As members of the board of control, collaborative members will meet a minimum of twice a year with the shared services members for the purpose of regional planning.4. Boards of control shall approve regional plans for improvement, determine progress, and submit an annual report in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 20-2-272(b) and (d).5. Boards of control may delegate to shared services members the authority to conduct monthly business of the shared services of RESA.(b)Shared Services Member Duties.1. Shared services members will meet monthly to conduct the business of the shared services of RESA.2. Shared services members shall provide services to local school systems, including state charter schools, focused on standards including assistance with analysis and planning for improvement, support for implementation, high-quality professional learning opportunities, and quality assurance in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 20-2-270.1(a)(1-7), as well as local standards.(c)Qualifications of Professional Staff.1. The RESA director shall hold a valid Georgia PAL-5 or L-5 or higher certificate in educational leadership.2. RESA staff providing general instruction and curriculum assistance to local school system staff, including state charter schools, shall hold a valid Georgia PAL-5 or L-5 or higher certificate in educational leadership or a valid Georgia T-5 or higher certificate in the primary field in which employed. (i) Additional curriculum personnel shall meet the same qualifications or hold an instructional supervision endorsement to a valid Georgia T-5 or higher certificate in the subject he or she supervises.3. Teachers providing services directly to students shall have a valid teaching certificate in the area of service.4. Special grant programs that name categories of qualified personnel who may deliver general instruction and curriculum assistance to local school system staff, including state charter schools, shall not be limited by qualification requirements as outlined in this rule.(d)Goals, Objectives and Performance Measures Reporting.1. Each RESA shall submit annually to the department with a copy to the Education Coordinating Council beginning June 30, 2005, or as designated, a long-range regional plan for improvement for three consecutive fiscal years. The plan shall establish goals, specific objectives, and performance indicators to measure the educational efficiency and cost effectiveness of services to its member institutions according to state and locally approved standards. The plan shall include intended improvement objectives, aligned professional learning programs developed by the Network of RESAs, timetables for achieving such objectives, and the means by which performance in attaining such objectives will be assessed. Each plan must include the purposes and description of the services the RESA will provide to schools identified as low performing based on the indicators adopted under Georgia law and to other schools. It is vital that RESA services to schools meet local needs as well as be closely linked with the Department of Education's statewide system of intensive and sustained support and improvement. To this end, the RESA shall include in their annual regional plans for improvement a description of how the services they provide to schools identified as low performing will be coordinated with and made an integral part of the statewide system of intensive and sustained support and improvement.2. Each RESA shall submit to the department by October, or as designated, an annual report which provides specific information on the actual outcomes resulting from RESA services and programs. The report shall describe how the outcomes were measured and assessed on performance in each area, including addressing the actual benefits, i.e., positive outcomes, resulting from the RESA's activities and the costs incurred to provide such services and programs.(e)Funding.1. Subject to appropriation of funds by the Georgia General Assembly, the State Board of Education shall grant funds to operate regional educational service areas as specified in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-274, or2. Subject to appropriation of formula funds by the Georgia General Assembly, each RESA shall receive a base grant plus an amount that reflects the following for local school systems. (i) Number of local school systems, including state charter schools.3. Each RESA shall match with local RESA funds any state funds on an 80/20 state/local ratio.4. The RESA board of control shall determine the method by which each local school system's share, including state charter schools, of local funds shall be assessed. (i) Local school systems, including state charter schools, shall be allowed to include all fees paid for RESA services as a pro rata share of their assessment for memberships.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 160-5-1-.13
O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-270; 20-2-270.1; 20-2-271; 20-2-271.1; 20-2-272; 20-2-273; 20-2-274.
Original Rule entitled "Regional Educational Service Agencies" adopted. F. June 27, 1991; eff. July 17, 1991.Amended: F. May 21, 1997; eff. June 10, 1997.Amended: F. Aug. 14, 2000; eff. Sept. 3, 2000.Amended: F. Jan. 14, 2005; eff. Feb. 3, 2005.Amended: F. Nov. 8, 2018; eff. Nov. 28, 2018.