Section 20-2-2096.7 - Attendance zones; payments; use of funds(a) The state board shall establish the following attendance zones: (1) Zone 1 shall comprise the Northwest Georgia, North Georgia, and Pioneer regional education service agency service areas;(2) Zone 2 shall comprise the Metro regional education service agency service area;(3) Zone 3 shall comprise the Northeast Georgia, Griffin, and Middle Georgia regional education service agency service areas;(4) Zone 4 shall comprise the West Georgia and Chattahoochee-Flint regional education service agency service areas;(5) Zone 5 shall comprise the Oconee, Central Savannah River, and Heart of Georgia regional education service agency service areas;(6) Zone 6 shall comprise the First District and Okefenokee regional education service agency service areas; and(7) Zone 7 shall comprise the Southwest Georgia and Coastal Plains regional education service agency service areas.(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, only one completion special school may operate in each attendance zone provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section.(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C) of this paragraph, upon being established as a completion special school, if such school is currently operating one or more programs outside the attendance zone assigned to such school by the state board then the state board shall be authorized to permit such school to continue to operate such program or programs until the earlier of June 30, 2028, or the establishment of a new completion special school that is assigned to the attendance zone where such program or programs are operating.(B) The state board shall be authorized to permit one or more completion special schools to operate one or more programs outside the attendance zone assigned to such school; provided, however, that such permitted program exclusively provides education programs and services for students in grades nine through 12 to individuals who are attending a United States Department of Defense Youth Challenge Academy or who are in the custody of a correctional facility, detention facility, jail, prison, or other lawful place of confinement; and provided, further, that the state board shall be authorized to designate which completion special school is authorized to provide such program or programs.(C) The state board shall be authorized to permit an enrollment eligible student to attend a completion special school outside of his or her attendance zone, provided that such student resides in a county that is contiguous to but outside of the attendance zone of such school; and provided, further, that such school is located closer to such student's residence than the completion special school with the attendance zone where such student's residence is located.Added by 2023 Ga. Laws 342,§ 3, eff. 5/4/2023.