Hearing on Voucher Bill
that Triples SSO Program by 2021
During a busy day at the Capitol, the House Income Tax subcommittee of the Ways and Means committee met Wednesday to hear
HB 217, a bill by Rep. John Carson (R-Marietta) that would gradually increase the cap on the Student Scholarship Organization program to $180 million. The current cap on the program is set at $58 million meaning that by 2021 the cap would more than triple.
This program is a voucher program that allows individuals or corporations to receive tax credits for donating to the SSO program. This tax credit reduces overall state revenues by directing the funds to private schools that accept SSO scholarships. PAGE spoke in opposition of the bill due to the lack of accountability placed on the schools that accept the scholarships as compared to the rigorous standards to which the state holds public schools. Another concern is the absence of a means test, or a test that would ensure that Georgia's students in poverty are prioritized as recipients. Currently, many of the scholarships go to students in middle and upper income families.
The bill will receive another hearing soon.
House Agrees with Senate AFY 2017 Budget;
Senate Passes E-SPLOST Resolution
The House and Senate agreed on the amended FY 2017 budget on Tuesday. The most significant change occurred within the education budget with an additional $5 million for CTAE equipment grants for new CTAE programs.
Click here to read the budget (education begins on pg.
SR 95 by Sen. Ellis Black (R-Valdosta) passed the Senate on Tuesday. This constitutional amendment directs E-SPLOST proceeds to be divided between county and city school districts within their counties on a per pupil basis in instances in which the districts sharing E-SPLOSTS cannot agree on how to divide the dollars.
House Education Innovation and Workforce Development Subcommittee Hears Military Bill and Teacher Incentive Pay Bill
The House Education Innovation and Workforce Development subcommittee of the House Education committee met Wednesday afternoon to hear and vote on
HB 224 by Rep. Dave Belton (R-Buckhead). This bill would allow any child who lives on a military base to attend any school within the school district where the base is located. Transportation would be the responsibility of the child's guardians. Rep. Belton said the bill is necessary because military generals at Georgia's bases have cited education as the top issue to keep their bases open. Another potential round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) committee closures is looming. Rep. Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth) requested that Rep. Belton revise the bill to allow any students in the same district wishing to attend schools located on the military bases be allowed to do so. Rep. Mike Glanton (D-Jonesboro), also retired from the Army, explained the security issues that could surround allowing non-military students onto military bases. The bill passed unanimously as presented and will be heard in full committee Thursday.
The subcommittee also heard
HB 24 by Rep. Bill Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain) which would allow funding for incentive pay programs for teachers to relocate to schools with high numbers of students in poverty. The discussion during the hearing centered on using federal Title I funds to pay incentives in the form of raises or bonuses. Several committee members believe this is already allowed to some extent as evidenced in Rockdale and Fulton
counties. Rep. Coleman requested that more research be done to find out if this bill is necessary.
Senate Education and Youth Committee Hears Bills
The Senate Education and Youth Committee also met Wednesday afternoon to hear three bills:
SR 192 by Sen. John Wilkinson (R-Toccoa) is a constitutional amendment that would allow for the option for the election of local superintendents and the appointment of local school boards by grand jury. The author explained that he did not intend for this to be applied statewide. Rather, he explained that some districts would benefit from this structure while others may not. Concerns were focused on the limiting of the pool of candidates for superintendent to those living within the county.
SB 149 and
SB 150 by Sen. Emmanuel Jones (D-Decatur) deal with more structured laws around school resource officers. SB 149 would create a set of training requirements and guidelines for school resource officers including at least 40 hours of training. SB 150 would create a code of conduct for school resource officers as developed by an agreement between the local police department and the school system (or by the school system itself if it directly employs school resource officers).
The superintendents from Jasper, Candler, White and Fulton counties presented information about their systems' flexibility contracts with the state.
Retirement Bill Would Allow Roth IRA
Option for ERS
The House Retirement Committee approved
HB 312 by Rep. Howard Maxwell (R-Dallas) that would include a Roth IRA option for those participating in the Employee Retirement System of Georgia. The ERS is a hybrid defined benefit-defined contribution plan whereas the Teacher Retirement System of Georgia is a defined benefit plan.
Join Us At the Capitol
Join PAGE as well as the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders and the Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge.
Hear from leaders in education such as Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, State School Superintendent Richard Woods, House Ed Chairman Brooks Coleman, Senate Ed Chairman Lindsey Tippens, Buster Evans, the new executive director at the Teacher Retirement System of Georgia, and Claire Suggs with the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.
PAGE's core business is to provide professional learning for educators that will enhance professional competence and confidence, build leadership qualities and lead to higher academic achievement for students, while providing the best in membership, legislative and legal services and support
