Georgia Education Legislation Bills
Key education issues to watch in the 2008 legislative session include:
- Potential changes in Georgia's tax structure and the way state funds are distributed;
- Education cutbacks proposed by Governor Perdue's Office;
- Recommendations from the Governor's Education Finance Task Force -
- The taskforce's responsibility is to revise the K-12 funding formula; and
- A lawsuit by rural school districts claiming inadequate funding.
House Bill 157
Authored by House Education Committee Chairman Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth), passed unanimously. Under the bill, teachers and school administrators who have been retired for at least a year could return to work full time and continue to receive retirement benefits. The bill applies to teachers 60 and older who worked in Georgia’s public schools for at least a decade or who have 30 years of “creditable service.”
Education Funding
A task force appointed by Governor Sonny Purdue three years ago finally is delivering recommendations on how much should be spent on each student to provide an adequate education. Efforts to equalize funding for students in poor counties compared to those in the wealthy suburbs will invoke controversy.
House Bill 1209
The measure allows public school systems to sidestep state laws governing class size, teacher salaries and curriculum, among others. In exchange, local boards of education must agree to meet specific academic improvement goals. Failures could be converted to charter schools or put under private management.
Status
Passed by the House.
Senate Bill 458
Vouchers would be granted to children who are in schools that consistently underperform or lose their accreditation.
Status
Passed by the Senate.
Minimum school year; certain school days; provisions
Status
02/26/08 - House Second Readers
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To read more about the legislation, visit www.legis.state.ga.us and reference the bill number.
2007 Education Legislation Bills and Status
Senate Bill 9
Prohibits any local board of education, superintendent or school administrators from forcing a teacher to change the grade of a student;
Status
05/18/07- Senate Date Signed by Governor
Senate Bill 10
Provides state-funded vouchers for disabled students to attend schools outside their resident districts
Status
05/18/07 - Senate Date Signed by Governor
Status
01/23/07 - Senate Read and Referred
Senate Bill 39
Allows a school district to convert to a charter school district
Status
05/18/07 - Senate Date Signed by Governor
Senate Bill 68
Provides money to build five more career academies, where students learn job skills.
Status
04/20/07 - House Withdrawn, Recommitted
Ga. Student Finance Authority; direct loans to students; postsecondary schools; 1% rate annually
Status
03/28/07 - House Second Readers
Quality Basic Education Act; foreign language requirements; college preparatory diploma
Status
05/23/07 - Senate Date Signed by Governor
Status: 02/21/07 - Senate Read and Referred
American Sign Language; elective/foreign language credit for any student
Status
02/22/07 - Senate Read and Referred
House Bill 187
School systems would pay for road, bridge and utility work associated with school construction funded by sales tax revenue. Currently, local governments shoulder those costs.
Status
03/29/07 - House Second Readers
House Bill 262
Allows school systems to shorten the school year, now 180 days, by as many as 10 days.
Status
03/01/07 - Senate Read and Referred
To read more about the legislation, visit www.legis.state.ga.us and reference the bill number.