Senate Passes Dangerous Tax Amendment
Unfortunately, pro-public education policy did not prevail at every turn under the Gold Dome yesterday. SR 756, sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta) passed the Senate and is also on its way to the House. The proposed constitutional amendment threatens the state's ability to make vital investments in public schools, colleges and universities by creating a series of automatic tax cuts that would drive down the state's revenue and reduce state money for education. The proposed cuts come as Georgia is poised to restore some of the funds public schools have lost to deep austerity cuts over the last 14 years. Please contact House members now to encourage responsible decisions regarding state revenue, public services, and taxation. See how your Senator voted on SR 756 HERE.
The Senate also passed the following legislation, which now heads to the House:
- SB 310, by Sen. William Ligon (R-Brunswick), the "Transparency in Education Act" would require any department, agency, or official of the state applying for a grant affecting schools to provide details and impact analysis of the proposal to the Senate Education Committee 30 days before submitting the grant application. The bill seems to stem from simmering resentment over Georgia's controversial participation in the federal Race to the Top grant program.
- SB 355, the "Student Protection Act" also by Sen. Ligon, is much changed from its original form. Previous versions of the bill proposed sweeping changes to student testing and educator evaluation. The version which passed the Senate today clarifies testing opt-out procedures and says schools will not be penalized for students who do not participate in such assessments.
- SB 328 by Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) mandates that, except for serious offensives, students should not be assigned to alternative school for more than two semesters.
- SB 409 by Sen. JaNice VanNess (R-Conyers) requires schools to post clearly, in a visible location in a public area of the school that is readily accessible to students, a sign containing the toll-free telephone number operated by the Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS) of the Department of Human Services to receive reports of child abuse or neglect.
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House Passes Charter School Finance Training Bill
The House passed HB 895 by Rep. Rahn Mayo (D-Atlanta) which is now on its way to the Senate. The legislation requires additional school finance training for charter school leaders.
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House Ed to Consider Testing & Evaluation
Reform Bill on Wednesday
The full House Education Committee is slated to consider SB 364, important student testing and educator evaluation reform, on Wednesday, March 2. Now is the time to contact House Education Committee members to encourage them to pass the bill. PAGE strongly supports the legislation, which represents much-needed corrective action to de-emphasize the negative impact of standardized testing. For more information about SB 364, please visit our I Promise website. Email addresses for House Education Committee members are listed below. As always, when contacting policymakers, please use your personal email account and personal electronic device outside of instructional time.
House Education Committee Members
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