FY 2017 Budget Contains Language Creating
State Teacher Liability Insurance
The current version of the FY 2017 Budget contains a recommendation from the Governor to create state-funded teacher liability insurance. (See p. 14, item 12.6.1 HERE). A similar state-funded teacher liability insurance program was created almost a decade ago after PAGE opposed several high profile legislative initiatives like school voucher expansion. After the state spent several million dollars on the program, it was eventually phased out of existence after not one claim was filed. The new teacher liability insurance program is expected to cost the state between $500,000 and $1.2 million.
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Economic Development Passes Biliteracy Bill
The House Economic Development Committee unanimously passed HB879.The legislation allows high schools to issue seals of biliteracy for students who have achieved a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. GaDOE will establish the criteria for earning the seal, and participation by local school districts in the program. The program, as adopted in other states, is voluntary. The legislation is now on its way to House Rules for placement on the House voting calendar.
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House Appropriations Hears Testimony
on FY 2017 Budget
The House Appropriations Education Subcommittee heard testimony on the proposed FY 2017 budget available HERE starting on p. 44. Speakers from various education groups advocated for additional dollars for their programs, and the ongoing tension was evident between allowing local districts spending flexibility with regard to their share of the $300 million partial austerity reduction versus adding a teacher pay raise to the state teacher salary schedule.
PAGE Explanation of State Salary Increase vs.
Local Budget Flexibility
Many educators question Governor Nathan Deal's budget decision to increase funds for local school districts intended for a 3 percent salary increase without adjusting the state salary schedule. Several key factors should be understood. The $300 million dollar austerity reduction still leaves a $166 million shortfall in QBE funding for districts to makeup locally through increased taxes or expenditure cuts. And, due to austerity cuts over the past few years, local districts have had to make many difficult decisions regarding days worked, local supplements, and class sizes. While the governor can express his intent that the austerity reduction funds be spent on salaries, many districts simply will not be able to do so - even if their administrations would prefer to do so. Additionally, funding the existing state salary schedule runs counter to the stated goals of the Education Reform Commission and its recommendations for compensation flexibility. And, all but two districts in Georgia are - or have applied to become - either charter districts or strategic waiver school systems. These districts are not bound by the state salary schedule and therefore an increase in the state salary schedule would have no mandated impact on local decisions about salaries, if those districts have chosen not to follow the state salary schedule. Other factors are the increased health insurance rate for non-certified staff which must come from the $300 million or from local funds, and districts often apply the same percentage of salary and wage increases for non-certified staff as they do for certified staff salaries. Further adding to the complexity for budgeting is that many districts have reached the 20 mill cap on local taxation, and they cannot contribute more than they have already committed without voter approval.
PAGE strongly supports and encourages all Georgia school districts to increase educator pay as much as possible with the restored funds. Compensation increases can take several forms, whether through restoration of work days by moving to a full 190-day calendar for teachers, through increased local supplements, through additional pay for duties and responsibilities, or through a combination of actions that increase overall compensation. Educators have borne the brunt of the recession through compensation decline or stagnation for many years. Local boards of education and superintendents should do all they can to increase educator pay to recruit and retain high-quality educators.
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More Transparency on Budgets and Grants
The Senate Education and Youth Committee met Monday, Feb. 8. The committee discussed two bills, one dealing with budget transparency for public schools and some charter schools, and the other would require legislative approval of any state grant awarded from more than $20 million.
HB65: Budget Hearings and Publication
HB65 is intended to allow for more open government on spending at the local level, said Rep. Michael Caldwell (R-Woodstock), who summarized his bill for the Senate committee. Caldwell said that the bill will require local school systems and certain charter schools to hold two public hearings on a budget, to provide a summary of the budget online and to electronically provide, upon request, a copy of the budget within three business days. Committee members' questions focused on ways to make the bill stronger and more efficient. Additionally, the panel expressed concerns about the bill as applied to virtual schools and charter schools. No one spoke out in opposition to HB65.
SB310: Legislative Approval of Grants
SB310 (Transparency in Education Act) would limit implementation of grants over $20 million by any department, official, or agency of the state until approved by the Legislature. The bill's sponsor, Sen. William Ligon (R-Brunswick), expressed his intent that SB310 would provide taxpayer oversight of large grants. Speaking in support alongside Sen. Ligon was Jane Robbins of the American Principles Project. Ms. Robbins' testimony reflected federalism concerns, pointing to education grants from the federal government as usurpation by the national government into the realm of the states. Ms. Robbins indicated to the panel that SB310 is a modest and reasonable effort by the state government to retain its authority.
Ted Beck, chief financial officer of the Georgia Department of Education, spoke in opposition to the bill. Mr. Beck shared a laundry list of concerns regarding SB 310. He said the department has constitutional questions, as well as issues regarding relevancy since most grants received are for far less than $20 million which places the majority of grants out of the proposed legislation's purview. Moreover, Mr. Beck said that resting final authority with the General Assembly would hamstring the grant acceptance process, thus causing Georgia students to lose out on much-needed grant resources.
Questions from the panel indicated skepticism regarding the necessity of the bill. Senators expressed concern that Georgia students may lose out through a delayed process. The committee also noted that there have been no grants awarded "in recent memory" for more than $20 million beyond the recent federal Race to the Top grant.
No action was taken on either bill. The committee will meet again on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m.
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PAGE thanks its members for their great response to PAGE Day on Capitol Hill next Tuesday, Feb. 16, co-sponsored with the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders. This event is now at capacity and no further registrations may be accepted. PAGE looks forward to hosting all the participants as we hear from our speakers and facilitate meetings with legislators.
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