DAY 21

Thanks to those School Board Members and Superintendents who attended the GSBA/GSSA day at the Capitol today. The time and effort you made to meet with the legislators and share your perspective with them about issues under the Gold Dome, really does make a difference. The last GSBA/GSSA day for this legislative session is:

March 3 - Districts 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 - 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

The legislators are scheduled to be in session that day. Please register for your visit on the GSBA website. Your registration helps us to prepare for your visit.

The House Appropriations Committee continues to meet on Wednesday to discuss the FY16 budget. One current recommendation is to fund the insurance for non-certified, part time employees. However, the recommendation is to also increase the district contribution for each of these employees by $150.00 per employee. Also recommended, is an increase to the equalization grant of 18 million dollars. These and other recommendations will go to the full House to be voted on before Thursday. The Senate has already scheduled appropriation meetings for Friday of this week. We will report on the recommended FY16 budget after it passes the full House.

HB 85 is on the agenda for a full vote by the House. An amendment to the bill would allow alcohol sales for businesses adjoining school property. 

HB170, Transportation Funding Act of 2015, a bill that we have heard so much about, has hit a bump in the road. The bill was sent back to the Transportation Committee from the Rules Committee. Additionally, the House Transportation Committee meets on Wednesday. At this time HB170 is not on the agenda. The bill may have lost its traction.

SB89, the “Digital Classroom Act” was back in the Senate Science and Technology Committee today. The amended bill would strongly encourage “on and after July 1, 2020, each local board of education provide a laptop, tablet, or other wireless electronic device to each of its students for use as the principal source of reading or accessing instructional materials and content.” This bill received the appropriate votes to move to the Rules Committee.

The Senate Education and Youth Committee will meet on Wednesday to continue their hearing on SB133 and SR287, regarding the Opportunity School District. A substitute bill will be introduced.

HB91, Elimination of the Georgia High School Graduation Test, would allow students who did not pass any section of the graduation test to receive a high school diploma. This bill may be heard during this meeting if time permits.

The House Academic and Innovation Sub Committee will meet to hear HR4. This resolution would be a constitution amendment to allow municipalities to establish, by local law, an independent school system.

The House Education Committee will hear the following bills: 

SB2, students who complete certain requirements relating to postsecondary coursework awarded a high school diploma;

HB 16, Magnet School Students to Participate in Home School Activities;

HB131, End to Cyberbullying;

HB 271, Charter-Schools-in-the-Workplace;