What is the BRIDGE law?

The BRIDGE (Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy) Act, House Bill 400 , was signed into law May 20 I0 to create an atmosphere motivating middle and high school students to learn because they see the relevance of education to their dreams and future plans. The implementation of the BRIDGE Act provides middle and high school students with career counseling and regularly-scheduled advisement to choose a focused plan of study.
What are the critical parts of the BRIDG E Act? The most critical parts of the BRIDGE Act mandates all students in middle and high school receive counseling and regularly-scheduled advisement. The second mandate is that students choose a career area , create an Individual Graduation Plan , and graduate high school prepared to go to college or enter the workforce. The third mandate requires regularly-scheduled advisement for all high and middle school students. The new rigorous performance standards and graduation requirements found in Georgia secondary schools better prepare our students and ensure they are prepared to move on successfully from one phase of their educational Iife to the next , and eventually to become a productive citizen of Georgia's workforce. The BRIDGE Act when coupled with Georgia's economic and workforce development model creates qualified workers to attract strong, stable companies and industries.
What are the requirements of the BRIDGE Act'? Beginning in the 20 I0-20 II academic year, local school systems must provide to sixth, seventh and eighth grade students the following:
o counseling o regularly-scheduled advisement o career awareness o career interest inventories o information to assist students
in evaluating their academic skills and career interests.
May 20 11

Beginning in the 20 I0-20 II academic year, loca l school systems must pro vide the following to high school students:
o career co unse ling o ca ree r guida nce o regul arl y-schedul ed career advisement o information to enab le students to successfully complete their ind ividua l
graduation plans, preparing the m for a seamless transition to postsecondary study, further tra ining, or employment.
What is the Individual Graduation Plan'! Anot her part of the BRID G E Ac t is the requirement that all 8t h grade stu de nts dur ing their spring semester create an Individual Graduation Plan (IG P). This graduation plan he lps " ma p out" the rigorous aca de mic co re subjects and foc used work in math em atics, science, or huma nities , fine arts , world langu ages or seq uenced career pat hway coursework. T he IG P is based on the student's se lected academic and career area to prepare them for their chosen career. This plan must be developed in consultation with parents/guardians, students, school counselor or teacher as advisor. Additiona l parts of the IG P can inc lude career-oriented and work-based learning experiences, and postsecondary stud ies throu gh Georgia's multiple College Credit Now programs.
Can students change their Individual Graduation Plan'! Students are allowed changes to the ir IGP, but need to keep it sufficiently structured to meet graduation requirements and qualify the student for admission to postsecondary education. It is ad viseable that any changes to the plan be based on career data gathered from career interest inve ntories. These changes can be made during the high schoo l ongoing review of the Individual Gra dua tion Plan. During the IG P review, co urses co mp leted, schedu les, career pathway, postsecondary plans, and related topics ca n be rev iewed and revi sed , if appropriate, upon approv al by the stude nt and the stude nt's parent or gua rd ian with guida nce fro m the stude nt's schoo l co unse lor or teacher-ad visor.
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Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent "Making Education Work for All Georgians "