February 26, 2016
                     
Table of Contents
Testing and Educator Evaluation Reform Bill Passes the Senate
Senate Ed Committee Passes Revised SB 355
SR Threatens Public Education Funding
House Ed Hears HB 1061, Educator Evaluation Reform & Begins to Consider SB 384
 
Week in Review

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to watch the latest Week in Review podcast to catch up on last week's action under the Gold Dome.
 
PAGE Report From the Capitol
Day 29  
Testing and Educator Evaluation Reform
Bill Passes the Senate

With Crossover Day looming on Monday, SB 364, PAGE-supported student testing and educator evaluation reform legislation passed the Senate unanimously this morning. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta), the chairman of the Senate Education and Youth Committee. PAGE would like to thank Chairman Tippins for his hard work on this legislation and his continued strong support of public education. We would also like to thank all members and readers that reached out to their senator to encourage passage of this important legislation. If you've ever wondered if your voice is being heard, this is proof. The bill now moves on to the House.
 
Chairman Tippins presenting SB 364 on the Senate floor.  
 
In an interesting note, all but one of Gov. Nathan Deal's floor leaders in the Senate did not vote on SB 364. Sen. Mike Dugan (R-Carrollton) was the lone "Yes" vote among the administration's floor leaders.

  Voting record for SB 364 (apologies for poor picture quality).  
Voucher-Enabling Constitutional Amendment
Legislation Stalls Until Monday
 
SR 388, a proposed constitutional amendment that is meant to prevent discrimination in the public funding of social services by allowing religious or faith-based organizations to receive public funding, was tabled this afternoon. This controversial amendment would open the door for full-scale school vouchers by allowing public dollars to go directly to religious organizations and houses of worship for public health and social service programs -- including private schools.
 
The legislation will be on the Senate calendar on Monday. PAGE anticipates the legislation to be amended to prohibit any type of school voucher to be created by this constitutional amendment. We will provide more information on Monday. Again, thank you to everyone that contacted your Senator to encourage a "No" vote on this legislation. A full report will be provided on Monday.
SR 756 Threatens Public Education Funding
 

SR 756 by Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta) threatens the state's ability to make vital investments in public schools, colleges and universities. The bill was added to the Senate calendar for Monday. 
  
It would create a series of automatic tax cuts that would drive down the state's revenue and reduce state money for education.

This comes when the state is finally restoring some of the funds public schools have lost to deep austerity cuts over the last 14 years.

Right now the state is underfunding schools by $466 million. Next year it is set to do so by $166 million-progress made possible by increasing tax revenues.

If the tax plan outlined in SR 756 is approved, schools may once again face substantial cuts.

Georgia is already spending $1,400 less per public school student than the national average. SR 756 threatens to make the gap even larger.

CONTACT YOUR SENATORS TODAY TO URGE THEM TO VOTE NO ON THIS LEGISLATION. Contact info can be found HERE.  
Other Education Bills Pass House and Senate

The House passed HB 959 by Rep. Beth Beskin (R-Atlanta), the annual Title 20 "clean up" bill. This bill typically removes dated provisions and clears up vague language in the Title 20 code section that governs public education in Georgia.
 
The Senate also passed SB 374 by Chairman Tippins that provides a temporary exemption from certain financial reporting requirements for local school systems participating in a federally authorized pilot program.
Josh Stephens - Legislative Policy Analyst
jstephens@pageinc.org

Margaret Ciccarelli - Director of Legislative Affairs mciccarelli@pageinc.org 
  


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