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Calendar
Thursday, Feb. 23
House Education Committee - 2:00pm - 606 CLOB
House Ways and Means Committee - 3:00pm - 406 CLOB
Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee - 4:00pm - 450 CAP
Friday, Feb. 24
Senate Education and Youth - 1:00pm - 307 CLOB
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PAGE + GAEL + GACTE Day Successful
Tuesday's Day on Capitol Hill, sponsored by PAGE, GAEL, and GACTE was our best event yet. With a record number of attendees and a host of informative speakers, the event enabled educators and teacher candidates to learn more about and advocate on issues impacting their students and schools.
Many thanks to our presenters, including: Rep. Kevin Tanner, Claire Suggs from GBPI, Sen. Lindsey Tippins, State School Superintendent Richard Woods, TRS director Buster Evans, and Rep. Brooks Coleman. A special thank you to Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle who delivered the keynote at our packed luncheon.
Please mark your calendars for our 2018 Day on the Hill which is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018.
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Expensive Voucher Bill Passes Ways and Means Subcommittee - Contact House Members Now
Wednesday afternoon, a House Ways and Means subcommittee passed
HB 217 (R-Marietta), lifting the current $58 million cap on Georgia's tuition tax credit school voucher program. The bill would allow about $100 million in tax credits to be diverted from public coffers and used for private school vouchers. PAGE is opposed to the legislation due to its impact on available public school funding and the controversial program's lack of fiscal transparency and accountability for student achievement.
We encourage educators to contact their House members and members of the House Rules Committee (Rules must vote to send HB 217 to the House floor) and ask them to stop the harmful bill. Educators might mention the ongoing austerity cut to QBE of more than $166 million and the negative impact on their schools. Please remember to be polite and professional--contacting policymakers outside of instructional time and using personal (not school owned) electronic devices.
Find your House Member Using Your Home Address
House Rules Committee Contact Info
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Recess Bill Attracts Parental Attention and Advocacy
Several dozen parents spoke in favor of legislation mandating 30 minutes of recess for all Georgia students in grades K-5. HB 273 by Rep. Demetrius Douglas (D-Stockbridge) was heard in a House Ed subcommittee but was held due to concern from school leaders regarding the cost and time necessary to comply with the recess mandate, considering the pressure to comply with accountability mandates and standardized testing targets. House Ed Chair Brooks Coleman asked school leaders to work with Rep. Douglas to find a way to make recess happen for all K-5 students.
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Ways & Means Passes Innovation Grant Fund
HB 237, the Public Education Innovation Fund Foundation, by House Ed Chair Rep. Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth) passed out of House Ways & Means, and goes on to Rules for placement on the House voting calendar.
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Amendment Allowing Creation of New School Districts Passes Committee
The House Governmental Affairs Committee passed a proposed constitutional amendment, HR 58 by Rep. Tom Taylor (R-Dunwoody), allowing for the creation of new city school systems. The legislation is now on its way to House Rules which schedules bills for a vote on the House floor.
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Senate Ed Considers Testing Reform, Pre-K Capital Funding & GHSA Competitor Bills
The Senate Education and Youth Committee discussed several bills Wednesday afternoon. The committee will meet again early Friday morning and is expected to vote on the following legislation:
- SB 98 by Sen. Elena Parent (D-Atlanta) would allow local school districts to use their capital outlay resources to build space for Pre-K classrooms (current law only allows districts to use capital outlay funding for K-12 classrooms). The waiting list for Georgia Pre-K programs is more than 6,000 students long, while there are several thousand open slots available statewide. The mismatch occurs because the openings are not available in high-demand Pre-K areas. The superintendent from City Schools of Decatur and a school board member from DeKalb County Schools testified in support of SB 98. An advocate employed by private Pre-K providers testified against the legislation.
- SB 211 by Senate Ed Chair Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta) directs the SBOE 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. Superintendents from Fulton and Marietta City Schools also testified in support of Tippins' testing reforms. Employees from GaDOE also testified on the bill. Dr. Melissa Fincher from the department's assessment division explained that the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) assessment workgroup has been meeting since July. ESSA requires that students take the same state assessment in grades 1-8, though there is flexibility regarding high school assessments. A representative from the American Principles Project expressed some concern regarding digital assessments and screen time and suggested a small change to the bill.
- SB 203 by Sen. Bruce Thompson (R-White) directs the State Board of Education to create a non-profit to govern high school athletics in Georgia. During the presentation of his bill, Sen. Thompson expressed anger at the Georgia High School Association which currently governs most high school athletics.
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House Education Subcommittee Hears Lead Testing and Sunscreen Bills - Takes No Action
On Wednesday, the House Education Subcommittee on Education Administration & Planning heard two bills, but did not vote on the legislation, including:
- HB 28 by Rep. Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain) requires public and private schools to test for lead.
- HB 200 by Rep. Mark Newton (R-Augusta) requires local boards to adopt a policy to allow students to carry and self-administer sunscreen.
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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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