Brought in light of Amendment #1's failure last fall, HB 338 is a new attempt at state intervention into struggling Georgia schools. Check out PAGE'S summary of the legislation HERE, and review a comparison between Amendment #1, the Opportunity School District plan and HB 338 HERE.

PAGE was one of eighteen speakers, who also included the State School Superintendent and advocates representing teachers and school boards, to testify on the bill. Read PAGE'S prepared comments   HERE. Most groups expressed admiration for the bill sponsor Kevin Tanner's (R-Dawsonville) collaborative approach. Like PAGE, many also expressed appreciation for HB 338's acknowledgement of student poverty and community conditions which contribute to struggling schools. The State School Superintendent, PAGE, GSBA, GAE, Public Education Matters, and several other speakers suggested that the bill could be improved by moving identification and supervision of the Chief Turnaround Officer from the appointed State Board of Education to the elected State School Superintendent. PAGE and others also asked for clarity regarding how schools are identified for state intervention and how intervention efforts are prioritized.