House approves legislation to remove high school diploma barrier
The House of Representatives voted Feb. 12 to approve legislation that would retroactively provide former students who did not pass the Georgia High School Graduation Test with the opportunity to earn a high school diploma.
The graduation test was phased out three years ago, but it remains a barrier for some students who attended high school when graduation was partly contingent on passing the exam.
HB 91 would allow students who had failed the test but met all other graduation requirements to petition their local school board to obtain a diploma from their high school.
This legislation would help these students in pursuing postsecondary education and in entering the job market. HB 91 now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
Legislation addresses issues of aging population
On Feb. 11, the House voted to approve legislation that would establish the Georgia Adult and Aging Services Agency to be responsible for ensuring that state services are properly and effectively administered to meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities, along with making improvements to those services when necessary.
HB 86 moves the current Division of Aging Services out of the massive Department of Human Services, allowing state officials to better focus on individuals dealing with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, which affects many families across the state. The legislation now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
Governor unveils Opportunity School District proposal
Legislation proposed by Gov. Nathan Deal is being introduced to create an Opportunity School District that will allow the state to temporarily step in to assist chronically failing schools.
In the governor's proposal, persistently failing schools are defined as those scoring below 60 on the Georgia Department of Education's accountability measure, the College and Career Performance Index (CCRPI), for three consecutive years.
The Opportunity School District would take in no more than 20 schools per year, meaning it would govern no more than 100 at any given time. Schools would stay in the district for no less than five years but no more than 10 years.
Creating the Opportunity School District involves amending the Constitution, which requires two-thirds approval in both the House and Senate and majority approval of the voters in the next General Election.