At yesterday’s meeting of the House Appropriation subcommittee on Education, PSC head Kelly Henson described forthcoming legislation which will ensure that teachers at all public schools, including charter schools, are covered by the PSC’S code of ethics for educators. Scott Austenson from the GA DOE spoke with subcommittee members regarding the 2010 Supplemental Budget. PAGE lobbyist Tom Wommack testified in support of National Board Certification salary stipends.    

The House of Representatives passed the following bills today. The legislation will now move to Senate for consideration:

• HB 905 pertains to the capital outlay program which funds school construction. The legislation pushes back the program’s current sunset provision, allowing for continuance of the program until 2015.

• HB 906 re-extends the date by which school systems must give contracts to educators from April 15 until May 15 through the 2012-2013 school year. PAGE has concerns about this bill and testified as such before the House Education Committee. 

• HB 907 allows local systems to continue to receive state funding if such systems reorganize middle grades. The legislation also eliminates the requirement for five hours of remedial academic instruction.

• HB 923 modifies the new law regarding education leadership and extends the date by which educators must complete their degrees in order to be paid for their leadership degrees (unless such educators work in administration). Under this proposal, the deadline is extended from 2010 to 2013.

This morning a House Judiciary Subcommittee passed an amended version of HB 927. The bill will now be considered by the full Judiciary Committee. HB 927 expands the definition of bullying to include cyber-bullying and other disruptive behaviors and to include acts by students in grades k-12. The legislation would allow local boards of education to assign bullies to schools outside the bullies’ attendance areas for the purpose of separating bullies from their victims. The bill also directs the state board of education to enact a model bullying policy which contains a:

• Prohibition of bullying;
• Requirement that teachers or other employees who have reliable information leading a reasonable person to suspect that someone is a target of bullying immediately report it to the school principal;
• Requirement that each school have a procedure for the school administration to promptly investigate in a timely manner and determine whether bullying has occurred;
• Identification of an age appropriate range of consequences for bullying;
• Procedure for a student, parent or guardian, teacher, or other school employee, either anonymously or in such person's name, at such person's option, to report or otherwise provide information on bullying activity;
• Requirement that a parent or guardian of any target of bullying or student who bullies another shall be notified; and
• Statement prohibiting retaliation following a report of bullying.

HB 897 passed out of the House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee and now moves to the House Rules Committee for placement on the House calendar. The legislation changes existing law outlawing sexual relationships between k-12 educators their students. HB 897 would bar evidence of student consent to the relationship to be used in the defense of the educator accused of sexual assault.

The Senate Education Committee considered SB 299 this afternoon but did not pass the bill. The legislation requires that students accused of violating school zero tolerance policies must be given a hearing before being sent to a youth detention facility. The bill also gives the judiciary more discretion when deciding such cases.

The Senate Ed Committee also heard testimony from Advance Ed, the parent company of SACS, and from GA DOE, regarding the education funding flexibility concept contained in several bills moving through this year’s General Assembly. Mark Elgart from Advance Ed testified that if school systems were given flexibility to waive current laws like class size maximums and the state salary schedule, then those waivers would need to align with Advance Ed accreditation standards.     

Mark your calendars now to attend 2010 PAGE Day on Capitol Hill on February 23. Please join us at the capitol to speak with your legislators about the state budget and other important education issues. RSVP to this free event to Tamme Bell as tbell@pageinc.org or at (770) 216-8555.

Professional Association of Georgia Educators

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