Section 20-2-152.2 - Protocols for assessment of trauma in students in foster care; guidance regarding trauma and its impact on students(a) The General Assembly finds that foster care students are particularly vulnerable to exposure to traumatic events and situations. The General Assembly also finds that a foster care student's exposure to trauma can be exacerbated by changing schools, particularly when the student may be eligible for special education and related services. Therefore, it is the intent of the General Assembly that a protocol be developed for use by each school that receives state funds under this article to immediately and deliberately assess foster care students upon their enrollment at a new school and determine whether exposure to trauma has had or is likely to have an adverse impact on the foster care student's educational performance, including both academics and classroom behavior.(b) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Foster care student" means a student who is placed in a foster family home, child care institution, or another substitute care setting approved by the Department of Human Services.(2) "Trauma" means exposure of a foster care student, as a witness or direct participant, to one or more traumatic events or traumatic situations.(c) No later than August 1, 2021, the State Board of Education shall adopt any rules, regulations, and protocols necessary for use by public school personnel to immediately and deliberately assess whether exposure to trauma has had or is likely to have an adverse impact on the foster care student's educational performance, including both academics and classroom behavior. Such rules, regulations, and protocols shall also provide that the impact of trauma shall be considered at the appropriate time among the relevant criteria considered by school personnel to determine the eligibility of foster care students for special education and related services as provided for in Code Section 20-2-152. Further, the Department of Education shall provide guidance to local school systems regarding trauma, the impacts of trauma on students, including, but not limited to, foster care students, and procedures for the immediate and deliberate assessment of newly enrolled foster care students.(d) Upon the enrollment of a foster care student, a local school system shall immediately and deliberately assess whether exposure to trauma has had or is likely to have an adverse impact on the foster care student's educational performance, including both academics and classroom behavior. The local school system's assessment shall be part of its overall determination of whether the initial evaluation process for determining eligibility for special education and related services should be commenced for such foster care student.Added by 2020 Ga. Laws 497,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2021.