Governor Nathan Deal's office says the U.S. Department of Justice has signed off on a law passed this year allowing the governor to oust members of school boards.

The law is aimed at the troubled Atlanta Public Schools but applies to any district not fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools on July 1st. The law would also apply to Coffee County schools.

The state school board must hold a hearing next month and make recommendations to the governor on whether the school board members should be removed. Deal's spokesman Brian Robinson said the governor "believes this power is necessary."

The Justice Department must sign off on any law that could change the outcome of state elections.

Tags: Georgia, Department of Justice, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Governor Nathan Deal, school boards, school board members