When presenting his bill to the House Education Committee, House Rules Committee Chair John Meadows (R-Calhoun) said HB 415 is not the answer, "it is a work in progress." Meadows explained that he is the chair of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) oversight board, and briefly described dysfunction within the organization and related complaints that legislators frequently receive. HB 415 mirrors Florida law and a bill moving in the Georgia State Senate. Both the House and Senate bill seek to create a non-profit to govern Georgia high school athletics. Jay Russell, Assistant Director of GHSA, addressed the committee regarding the bill and characterized GHSA as a long-standing organization that "tries to do the right thing." He acknowledged that the organization has problems. Meadows responded "I hope that you listened to my comments," and told Russell that he needs assurances that GHSA will pull it together or "we will have a Florida model." Russell said that the GHSA board met this morning and accepted the retirement notice of Gary Phillips, the GHSA Executive Director, effective at the end of this school year. The bill passed with only one dissenting vote from Rep. Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia).

HB 437 by Rep. Robert Dickey (R-Musella) recreates an advisory commission on Agricultural Education that recently sunset. The bill passed unanimously.

HB 273 by Rep. Demetrius Douglas (D-Stockbridge) mandates recess for an average of 30 minutes in grades K-5, beginning in the 2017-2018 school year. The committee engaged in robust discussion about whether p.e. classes would count toward the requirement. Due to questions about p.e., the bill was tabled to allow for more work before the next committee meeting.

HB 425 by Rep. Joyce Chandler (R-Grayson) strongly encourages the State Board of Ed and local school districts to allow the administration of paper-and-pencil format assessments for students whose parents request it. The bill also directs the State School Superintendent to develop standardized testing opt-out guidelines.

HB 411 by Rep. David Clark (R-Buford) would create a new school voucher called the "Blue Star Scholarship" for children of military families. The subcommittee did not vote on the legislation. A lobbyist representing the American Federation for Children, formerly chaired by current US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, testified in support of the bill.

HB 430 by Rep. Buzz Brockaway (R-Lawrenceville) seeks to implement charter school-related recommendations that were considered by the Governor's Education Reform Commission (ERC), including equitable funding for charter schools and allowing local charter schools to use unused public school facilities. Representatives from KIPP Charter Schools, American Federation for Children, GeorgiaCAN (formerly Students First), the GA Charter School Association, and the State Charter School Commission testified in support of the legislation. An attempt was made to add HB 423 by Rep. Valencia Stovall (D-Stockbridge) which allows state charter schools to use unoccupied local public school facilities and mandates that local districts selling unused school facilities to state charter schools do so "for a nominal amount of $1.00." HB 430 passed without the amendment and is on its way to the full House Ed Committee.

 

The Senate Education Committee met today and passed the following legislation, which now moves to the Senate Rules Committee for placement on the Senate voting calendar:

• SB 149 by Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur)-regarding training requirements for school resource officers-was amended to include a training course of 40 hours.
• SB 188 by Sen. Donzella James (D-Atlanta) seeks to prevent local school districts from requiring students to take psychotrophic medication or denying access to school services unless students are treated with the medications.
• SB 235, also by Sen James, strongly encourages schools to ensure that football participants be equipped with and wear proper helmets in compliance with the Virginia helmet rating scale.
• SB 30 by Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) creates a pilot program for Community School Operational Grants and related wrap around services. Before passing the bill, committee members expressed recognition that it takes an entire community to create strong schools and hopes that portions of SB 30 can be combined with parts of HB 338.
• SB 211 by Senate Ed Chair Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta) directs the State Board of Education to review current state and local assessment programs with the intention of proposing a viable solution that meets the needs of local school districts, parents, and students for ongoing formative assessments throughout the school year and that can be combined with a summative assessment at the end of the school year. At a previous hearing, superintendents from Fulton and Marietta City Schools also testified in support of Tippins' testing reforms.