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 Health and Safety


What Parents Need to Know

The Georgia Department of Education is dedicated to making sure that students are safe and healthy throughout the school day. Research shows that when students’ basic needs are met, student achievement increases. This section provides information regarding what is being done to keep Georgia’s schools safe from violence, as well as provides nutrition, physical health, and transportation information. If you have specific questions about safety and health issues at your school, please contact AskDOE at 1-800-311-3627 or talk with your student’s teacher or principal.

  • School Safety​

    ​Being prepared to respond to a severe weather, mass casualty or other catastrophic event is vital to school safety. However, we also need to keep our schools safe from other risks such as violence, bullying, and cyber threats. Learn more...

  • Unsafe School Choice Option (USCO) 

    Ensuring that all of Georgia's schools are safe under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), Georgia developed a definition of "persistently dangerous" schools and allows public school choice for students who have been victims of a violent criminal offense or who attend a school that meets the definition. Click above to learn more about the definitions of “persistently dangerous” schools and to see if your child meets the requirements for Unsafe School Choice.

  • Bullying Prevention

    Many school districts are seeking tools to use in the development of bullying prevention strategies and activities. To see what school districts are doing to aid in the effort of preventing bullying click above.

  • Emergency Preparedness and Response​

    The Georgia Department of Education provides up-to-date information to educators, administrators, parents and students regarding the potential impact of severe weather on Georgia's education community. Click above to find the information to help Georgia's schools prepare should severe weather cause the cancellation of classes, the relocation of students or create any other scenario.

  • School Nutrition

    The School Nutrition Program works to help local school systems deliver quality breakfast and lunch meals, as well as to provide education programs that contribute to the nutritional well-being of students to increase academic performance at school. To learn more about School Nutrition Programs click above.

  • Health and Physical Education

    In addition to the Georgia Performance Standards for Health and Physical Education, Governor Perdue signed HB 229 (Student Health and Physical Education Act) on April 28, 2009 requiring all students enrolled in a physical education course in grades 1 to 12 to have an annual fitness assessment beginning during the 2011-2012 school year. To learn more about this Law click above.

  • Transportation

    Click above to get information about student transportation and efforts by the Georgia Department of Education to ensure that all students have appropriate transportation to get to and from school.

 Contact Information

AskDOE 
Local: (404) 656-2800
Toll Free: (800) 311-3627 (GA)
Fax: (404) 651-6867
Email:  askdoe@doe.k12.ga.us