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Proposed Study Committee on Ennobling Teachers Needs a Push
The House Special Rules Committee met yesterday to hear testimony on HR 1039, legislation by Rep. Dave Belton (R-Buckhead) which would convene a study committee on ennobling the teaching profession. In his presentation of the bill, Belton cited PAGE surveys and research regarding Georgia's teacher pipeline. PAGE lobbyist Margaret Ciccarelli testified in support of the legislation, expressing hope that a study committee would consider strengthening teacher mentor programs, increasing funding for the Teaching as a Profession career pathway and protecting educator planning time. The committee did not vote on the legislation
Please contact the committee chair, Rep. Buddy Harden (R-Cordele) and members of the committee and politely ask them to move HR 1039 forward. As always, when contacting legislators, remember to use personal (not school) email accounts and electronic devices, and contact policymakers outside of instructional time.
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House Subcommittee Passes PAGE-Supported Assessment Pilot & Holds Community Schools Bill
The House Education Subcommittee on Academic Innovation met to consider
SB 362, which creates an innovative assessment pilot, and is sponsored on behalf of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle by Senate Education and Youth Chair Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta). The legislation will allow school districts to participate in a 3-5 year assessment pilot, allowing the districts to waive some assessments required by the state and substitute other assessments instead. The program would be supervised by the State Board of Education, and participation in the pilot would become part of the districts' performance contracts with the state. Marietta City and Fulton, Gwinnett and Putnam counties already are participating in a similar testing consortium. Representatives from all four districts testified in strong support of SB 362, highlighting the importance of emphasizing formative assessments to adjust student instruction throughout the school year. PAGE also testified in strong support of the bill. Though the subcommittee originally planned not to vote on the bill, after glowing support from visitors, legislators and advocates, the subcommittee unanimously moved SB 362 forward to the full House Education Committee.
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House Subcommittee Passes Ag-Ed Bill & Individual Graduation Plan Bill
Another House education subcommittee met this afternoon and passed two bills forward to the full House Education Committee:
- SB 330 by Sen. John Wilkinson (R-Toccoa) would create agricultural education pilot programs in elementary schools.
- SB 401 by Sen. Tippins would provide school counselors with guidance in career-oriented aptitudes and career interests in developing a student's individual graduation plan. The legislation would create a review of the role of school counselors and the impact of their workload, manners of program service delivery and professional learning opportunities available to school counselors. In his presentation to the subcommittee, Tippins explained that he's long been a proponent of student aptitude assessment. He said "This bill is not tracking - it is a tool for parents and guardians to make a more informed decision regarding what courses are taken." Tippins explained that school counselors play a critical role in schools and that their role and potential warrants further examination. "We're going to have to beef up our appropriations for counselors," he said.
At the conclusion of his comments, Chairman Tippins thanked House Education Chairman Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth), who recently announced he will not run for re-election. It was a touching moment between two strong education chairs.
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House Education Committee Chairman Brooks Coleman, far left, accepts the words of gratitude for his service from Senate Education and Youth Chairman Lindsey Tippins, far right.
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Return-to-Work Bill Heard in House Retirement
The House Retirement Committee heard a series of bills introduced by Senate Retirement Chairman Ellis Black (R-Valdosta), including
SB 293, which requires the employer of a TRS retiree participating in Georgia's return-to-work program to pay the employer and employee contribution rates for that employee. Retirees would continue to receive retirement benefits but would not accrue additional service credit.
After a discussion with Chairman Black, the committee took no action on SB 293. Rep. Tommy Benton (R-Jefferson) mentioned that he intends to offer amendments to the bill. During the hearing, Benton expressed concerns regarding how this bill will affect RESAs and smaller, financially-struggling school districts.
When asked about his motivation for introducing the bill, Chairman Black responded:
"We're facing a substantial challenge. $350 million will be put in (to TRS) this year. We've had people in the past that have made suggestions that we go to defined contribution. The amount of money we're having to pump in (to TRS) is fueling that thinking. I'm committed to a defined benefit. Educators are not risk takers (with their money). They want the assurance of a defined benefit plan."
At the end of the discussion, the committee tabled the bill for further discussion and amendment.
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Senate Education & Youth Passes School
Accreditation Study
The Senate Education & Youth Committee met this afternoon and passed
HR 898 by Rep. Coleman which seeks to create a joint study committee on the establishment of a state accreditation process.
The committee heard, but took no action on:
- HB 655 by Rep. Rick Williams (R-Milledgeville) which would require schools to post the Division of Family and Children Services phone number for reports of child abuse and neglect. The committee invited Rep. Wes Cantrell (R-Woodstock) to speak to a planned merger of HB 762 with HB 655. (Cantrell's bill never made it out of the House Rules Committee and would require yearly sexual abuse and assault education in grades K-9.)
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HB 853 by Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-Rome) which seeks to allow student funding to follow a child enrolled in public school who has been placed in a licensed psychiatric treatment facility.
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House & Senate Education Appropriations Meet
The House Appropriations Committee met early this morning and added $10 million for school bus replacement and $1.6 million for RESA mental health awareness training. The Senate Appropriations Education Subcommittee met in the afternoon and heard presentations from Georgia agencies on the FY 2019 budget. The committee heard testimony from the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), the Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) and the Teacher's Retirement System of Georgia (TRS).
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Thursday, March 8
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House Judiciary Non-Civil meets at 1 p.m. in 415 CLOB
House Education meets at 2 p.m.
in 606 CLOB
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| Friday, March 9 |
Legislative Day 32
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Margaret Ciccarelli
Director of Legislative Affairs
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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 |
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