Senate Passes FY 2017 Budget
The Senate passed the FY 2017 Budget today, and it contains no major changes to the version which passed the House, education-wise. View the budget HERE with education starting on p. 95.
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House Ed Subcommittee Holds Testing Opt-Out Bill
SB 329 by Senate Education and Youth Chairman Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta) expands the types of technical diplomas awarded based on dual credit courses. The legislation passed and is on its way to House Rules for placement on the House voting calendar.
SB 348, also by Sen. Tippins, allows both charter systems and strategic waiver school systems to open College and Career Academies. The bill passed and is on its way to Rules.
SB 355 by Sen. William Ligon (R-Brunswick) it included in PAGE'S recently-updated testing and evaluation reform analysis HERE. During the committee discussion, House members expressed concern about the bill's prohibition of student sit-and-stare policies and the logistics of supervising students who opt-out of tests. Several parent advocates testified in support of the bill and described with compelling detail the impact of current testing policies on their children. The subcommittee chair said, though the subcommittee was inclined to support the bill, the subcommittee would not vote on SB 355 today because of some "synergies" with SB 355 and SB 364, which is expected to be heard in committee Wednesday.
HB 1078 by Rep. Margaret Kaiser (D-Atlanta) which would increase the compulsory school attendance age to 17, was brought on behalf of Grady High School students who testified in an impressive show of support for the bill. As with past proposed compulsory attendance increases, the bill was not voted on due to its anticipated high cost.
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Senate Ed Hears Several Bills, But No Votes Taken
The Senate Education and Youth Committee heard several bills today. None of these bills were up for a vote:
- HR 394 by Rep. Randy Nix (R-LaGrange) is a constitutional amendment that would allow for the distribution of the net proceeds of ESPLOST funds between a county school system and independent school systems located in the county.
- HB 879 by Rep. Tom Taylor (R-Dunwoody) would allow high school graduates who have achieved a high level of proficiency in a language other than English to be awarded a seal of biliteracy.
- HB 870 by Rep. Brian Strickland (R-McDonough) is mostly the same bill as SB 309 by Sen. Burt Jones (R-Jackson), These bills relate to student athletics and would prohibit the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) from prohibiting religious expression of student athletes on uniforms and other items of clothing worn during competition other than as required to protect student safety. The bill has been updated to also allow "personal and voluntary" messages on uniforms. Students will not be able to wear or write expressions on uniforms that do not comply with the national regulations that govern GHSA. Several Senators expressed concern with this section of the bill stating that it will likely open the door for numerous lawsuits.
The bills also contain a provision allowing non-GHSA schools to conduct scrimmages and practice games that do not count toward region standings with GHSA-member schools. The president of GHSA, Dr. Glenn White, answered questions from the committee.
- HB 895 by Rep. Rahn Mayo (D-Decatur) would require finance directors of charter schools to complete two to three hours of financial training annually as part of their required training.
- HB 868 by Rep. Terry Rogers (R-Clarkesville) would disband the Georgia State Games Commission, an organization that has been inactive and has not received funding for several years. A nonprofit foundation has taken over the duties of the Commission since funding was cut off.
- HB 959 was on the agenda, but Rep. Beth Beskin (R-Atlanta), the sponsor of the legislation, was not in attendance due to a conflicting meeting. This bill is the annual "Title 20 cleanup" bill, and Chairman Tippins mentioned the bill will be heard next week.
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