March 25, 2016
                     
Table of Contents
Sine Die Ed News - Testing and Evaluation Reform
Attempt to Limit Teacher and Admin Opt-Out Fails
What's Next for Testing and Evaluation Reform?
Legislative Summary Coming Soon
 
Week in Review

CLICK HERE
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
Sine Die! - Day 40
Sine Die Ed News
Testing and Evaluation Reform Moves to Governor

The 2016 Georgia General Assembly convened for its final day Thursday, March 24. In the final hours of the legislative session, the Senate agreed to House changes to SB 364, the highly-anticipated testing and evaluation reform bill. Read PAGE'S analysis of SB 364 HERE. Many thanks to all who advocated for this important bill and to legislators who overwhelmingly passed it.

You also can read more from the AJC's Ty Tagami, including a helpful bulleted summary of SB 364, HERE.



House members participated in the traditional "Paper Toss" to signify Sine Die to close the 2016 session of the General Assembly. This year the House and Senate concluded business at 12:30 a.m. 
Attempt to Limit Teacher and Administrator Opt-Out Encouragement Fails

Diverging from normal Day 40 custom, legislators worked past midnight on Sine Die. The House passed several high-profile bills in the wee hours of March 25, including SB355, standardized testing opt-out legislation.  Read PAGE'S analysis of SB 355 HERE.

 

A problematic amendment to the bill was added in the House Rules Committee last night. The amendment stated "No teacher or administrator shall proactively encourage or recommend not participating in a state-mandated assessment to a student or parent except as it relates to Code Section 20-2-281.2."

Due to concerns about the amendment's overly broad reference to teachers and administrators and worried about the amendment's impact on educators who are also parents of school-aged children, PAGE talked with House Education Chair Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth) and Rep. Joyce Chandler (R-Grayson), who carried SB 355 in the House. PAGE requested that the amendment be rewritten or withdrawn. Fortunately, the two agreed to have the amendment withdrawn and SB 355 passed unanimously at 12:06 a.m.
What's Next for Testing and Evaluation Reform?
Contact the Governor's Office Now

Both SB 364 and SB 355 now move to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature. The Governor has until May 3 to sign or veto legislation. Any bills left unsigned at the end of the 40-day period become law.
Please take a moment to contact the Governor's office in support of important testing and evaluation reform. Please copy PAGE on this important communication so that we can better track and amplify stakeholder advocacy to ensure these important reforms cross the final hurdle by May 3.
       
As always, when contacting policymakers, please remember to use your personal email account and electronic device outside of instructional time. Please use PAGE's information on testing and evaluation reform as a resource, and pair it with a personal story about why testing and evaluation reform are critical for your children or your students.

Contact the Governor's office and please copy PAGE Legislative Policy Analyst Josh Stephens at jstephens@pageinc.org or send Josh an email confirming that you've contacted Gov. Deal by mail or phone.

Contact Gov. Deal electronically HERE.  
Gov. Nathan Deal's mailing address:
Office of the Governor
206 Washington Street
111 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334

Governor Nathan Deal's office by phone: (404) 656-1776 
Other Day 40 Ed-Related Bills and
PAGE'S Full 2016 Legislative Summary

Please stay tuned next week for PAGE'S full summary of the 2016 legislative session, including information on important bills that did not pass and details regarding legislation that did. Our final Legislative Week in Review show is expected to begin airing by April 3rd.

Thank you, readers, for your attention, your advocacy, and your service in Georgia's schools. PAGE is proud to have represented you during the 2016 Legislative Session, one of the best for educators and students in recent history. 
Josh Stephens - Legislative Policy Analyst
jstephens@pageinc.org

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


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