|
Calendar
Monday, March 20, 2pm: Senate Education Committee; 307 CLOB
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senate Ed Introduces HB 338 Substitute;
Chair Calls for Feedback by Friday Morning
In his comments at the convening of Wednesday's Senate Education Committee meeting, Chair Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta) thanked House Transportation Chairman Kevin Tanner (R-Dawsonville) for his collaborative and diligent work on HB 338. Tippins explained that there will be another substitute version of the bill published Monday, and any suggested changes from stakeholders should be submitted to Tippins' email address by 10 a.m. tomorrow (Friday, March 17, 2017).
All stakeholders with questions, concerns, and comments regarding the newest version of HB 338, should contact Chairman Tippins' office via email at
[email protected].
The newest version of the bill is available
HERE. In Wednesday's meeting, the Senate Education Committee did not walk through the latest version of the bill. PAGE has done a preliminary analysis of the new bill. Changes in the newest version include:
- An additional year (3 total now) for school districts targeted for intervention to make progress before more punitive measures kick in;
- The addition of eight political appointees and one new education group to the Education Turnaround Advisory Council;
- An improved method to identify which schools are targeted for intervention (which more closely aligns with federal law);
- Articulation of the ongoing role of GaDOE's school turnaround work; and,
- An expanded role for third-party vendors.
What most notably remains the same in the newest version: the Chief Turnaround Officer reports to the SBOE instead of State School Superintendent.
|
Other Bills Pass Senate Education Committee
The Senate committee also passed the following legislation, all of which now moves to the Senate Rules Committee for placement on the Senate voting calendar:
- HB 114 by Rep. Robert Dickey (R-Musella) regarding Move on When Ready students and eligibility for valedictorian and salutatorian.
- HB 246 by Rep. Wes Cantrell (R-Woodstock), removing the sunset provision of the SHAPE bill.
- HB 224 by Rep. Dave Belton (R-Buckhead), allowing for intra-district public school choice for students of military families.
- HB 463 by Rep. Katie Demspey (R-Rome) allows the Department of Early Care and Learning to create a foundation.
No vote was taken on the following two bills, and substitute versions are expected next week:
- HB 273, mandating recess for 30 minutes a day for students in K-5, by Rep. Demetrius Douglas (R-Stockbridge), received a clarifying comment by Chairman Tippins who explained there had been some apparent misunderstanding about the bill, that it is not being held, and that a substitute version of the bill would be introduced and passed next week.
- HB 430 by Rep. Buzz Brockaway (R- Lawrenceville), which attempts to codify the charter school provisions, most pertaining to charter school facilities and authorizers, considered by the Governor's Education Reform Commission.
|
House Education Committee Votes Down
Elected Superintendents Resolution
& Discusses 1 Percent Tax for Schools
The House Education Committee met Thursday afternoon and discussed the following bills:
- SR 192 by Sen. John Wilkinson (R-Taccoa) is a proposed constitutional amendment allowing local districts to vote to decide whether to elect their local school superintendent. In his presentation to the committee, Sen. Wilkinson, who is a former educator himself and sits on the Senate Education Committee, thanked the House Ed Chair, Brooks Coleman, for allowing him to present the bill, and said he felt like David facing Goliath. Citing the 1992 state constitutional amendment that ushered in the current era of appointed superintendents, Sen. Wilkinson explained that his intention is not to mandate that superintendents be elected, but to give local communities the choice to elect their superintendents. During Q & A, discussion revolved around why Georgia needs a statewide solution to a problem that may be occurring in one community, and whether the time superintendents or potential superintendents might expend campaigning might be better spent on education endeavors. The committee voted, in an unusual move, to "Do Not Pass" the legislation, and a motion to reconsider the legislation failed. The legislation will not move forward.
- HR 354 by Rep. Dar'shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia) would encourage GaDOE to adopt a list of mental health training materials. The resolution passed.
- HB 500 by Rep. Patty Bentley (D-Butler) seeks to put teeth in the education nepotism law which prevents potential school board members from serving if a close family members works within the districts in a leadership position. Chairman Coleman asked that the representative work with the Georgia School Boards Association and several members of the committee on the proposed legislation, which would still be eligible to move through the legislature in 2018.
- Before the presentation of HR 319, by Rep. Bubber Epps (R-Dry Branch), Coleman announced that there will be three summer hearings on the plan throughout the state. The constitutional amendment proposed by HR 319 would allow local districts to levy a 1 percent sales tax for maintenance and operation of schools. Only 10 counties specifically named in the state constitution have the ability to do so.
|
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 |
|
|
