Up to five Georgia school districts could be subject to a new law allowing the governor to remove board members if the district is in danger of losing accreditation.

State education department attorney Brad Bryant told the Georgia school board Wednesday that the Atlanta, Appling County, Coffee County, Randolph County and Warren County districts are on probation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The law goes into effect July 1st. Under the law, state board members will hold a hearing and then recommend to Governor Nathan Deal whether the entire school board should be removed.

State law already allowed removal, but it only applied to board members elected after July 2010. Changes passed by state lawmakers this year removed that date and grandfathered in all board members.

Tags: education, State Board of Education, schools, accreditation, state law, Governor Nathan Deal