GA HB1244

Teachers in grades K-5 working more than half the school day must receive a minimum 30-minute duty-free lunch period with no assigned responsibilities; teachers in grades K-12 must receive a daily planning period for lesson design, grading, and professional development.

Student supervision during lunch or planning periods can only be required during "extreme emergencies" defined as severe weather, mechanical failures, armed attacks/threats, transportation disruptions, or teacher illness/death—the lack of a substitute teacher does not qualify.

Outside of extreme emergencies, schools may only request (not require) teachers to supervise students during their duty-free lunch or planning periods.

These duty-free lunch and planning period protections cannot be waived by strategic waiver school systems, charter systems, charter schools, or completion special schools.

Effective July 1, 2026, applying to all school years beginning with 2026-2027.