On School Choice for the Georgia General Assembly
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2018 LEGISLATOR REPORT CARD on school choice for the Georgia General Assembly 333 Research Court, Suite 210 Peachtree Corners, Georgia 30092 (770) 242-0001 georgiaopportunity.org SCHOOL CHOICE IS CHANGING LIVES IN GEORGIA For kids trapped in failing schools or stuck in a classroom that can’t meet their unique circumstances, time is precious. They don’t have another year to wait, they need access to a quality education now. That’s why the Georgia Center for Opportunity tirelessly advocates for more school choice for families. The result of such policies speaks for itself, with thousands of children finding greater hope for the future because they received an education better suited to them. However, while Georgia has made strides in providing kids of all backgrounds with an open door to their best education, too many are still waiting for a better chance at success. This report card aims to provide insight into school choice bills that made it to a vote in 2018 and how your elected leaders voted. Join us in the fight for school choice by visiting GeorgiaOpportunity.org 1 2 SUMMARY OF BILLS GRADED HB 217 3 POINTS SCHOOL CHOICE CHAMPION Increases the cap on the state’s tax credit scholarship Given to lawmakers who earned an A+ biennial grade, program from $58 million to $100 million for the next demonstrating their commitment to educational 10 years, allowing thousands of additional children options for Georgia families. to receive scholarships to attend a school that better meets their individual needs. HONOR ROLL Designation earned by legislators for sponsoring or co- Passed both chambers; signed into law. House vote #854 sponsoring legislation to expand school choice options. Senate vote #764 Legislators earned a “+” to their grade for sponsoring school choice bills and received a promotion of half a HB 787 ORIGINAL VERSION = 3 POINTS, FINAL VERSION = 3 POINTS letter grade in their overall score for sponsoring two Increases funding for students in state commissioned or more bills. Members who served on a conference public charter schools, bringing them closer committee for school choice legislation also received to receiving the same education dollars their honor roll designation. counterparts in traditional public schools receive. Passed both chambers; signed into law. House vote #548 BIENNIAL GRADE and #826, Senate vote #711 and #781 A lawmaker’s two-year combined grade, which includes scores from the 2017 and 2018 legislative HB 482 3 POINTS sessions. A lawmaker who did not serve both years Would have created a pilot Education Scholarship received an NA notation. Account program, allowing the parents of approximately 4,500 students to transfer the money INCOMPLETE the state would have spent to educate them in Legislators who voted on fewer than half of the scored traditional public schools and instead customize an items received an “Incomplete” (i). education for their child, paying for things such as curriculum, school tuition, tutoring, occupational and For more information on the different types of school choice behavioral therapy, adaptive technologies for students programs, or for a parent handbook on choosing the best with special needs and other expenses. option for your child, visit georgiaopportunity.org/education. Did not pass House (vote #668); No vote taken in Senate HB 759 1 POINT Would have allowed any student who previously Rotunda of the Georgia qualified for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship State Capitol Building program to remain eligible throughout their K-12 career. Passed House (vote #608); No vote taken in Senate 3 4 GEORGIA OVERALL SENATE GRADE FOR 2018 = A CASEY CAGLE Lt. Governor STATE SENATE OVERALL SENATE 2017/18 GRADE = B HB217 HB787 HB787 2018 LETTER BIENNIAL HB217 HB787 HB787 2018 LETTER BIENNIAL SENATOR 2017 GRADE (SV #764) (SV #711) (SV #781) 2018 SCORE HONOR ROLL GRADE GRADE SENATOR 2017 GRADE (SV #764) (SV #711) (SV #781) 2018 SCORE HONOR ROLL GRADE GRADE ALBERS, John (R) 56TH A+ Y Y Y 3/3 A A+ LIGON, JR., William (R) 3RD A+ Y Y Y 3/3 A A+ ANDERSON, Lee (R) 24TH B Y Y Y 3/3 A B+ LUCAS, David (D) 26TH D - N E 0/1 i D- ANDERSON, Tonya (D) 43RD F N N N 0/3 F F MARTIN IV, P.K. (R) 9TH A Y Y Y 3/3 A A BEACH, Brandon (R) 21ST C Y Y Y 3/3 A+ B+ MCKOON, Joshua (R) 29TH A+ E Y E 1/1 i A+ BLACK, Ellis (R) 8TH C Y Y Y 3/3 A B MILLAR, Fran (R) 40TH A+ Y Y Y 3/3 A+ A+ BRASS, Matt (R) 28TH B Y Y Y 3/3 A+ A- MILLER, Butch (R) 49TH B Y Y Y 3/3 A B+ BURKE, Dean (R) 11TH C N Y Y 2/3 B C+ MULLIS, Jeff (R) 53RD C Y Y Y 3/3 A B BUTLER, Gloria (D) 55TH F N N N 0/3 F F ORROCK, Nan (D) 36TH C N Y Y 2/3 B C+ COWSERT, Bill (R) 46TH C Y Y Y 3/3 A B PARENT, Elena (D) 42ND F N Y Y 2/3 B D DAVENPORT, Gail (D) 44TH F N N N 0/3 F F PAYNE, Chuck (R) 54TH A- Y Y Y 3/3 A A DUGAN, Mike (R) 30TH C Y Y E 2/2 A B RHETT, Michael ‘Doc’, (D) 33RD F N Y Y 2/3 B D GINN, Frank (R) 47TH C Y Y Y 3/3 A B SEAY, Valencia (D) 34TH F N N Y 1/3 D D- GOOCH, Steve (R) 51ST B Y Y E 2/2 A B+ SHAFER, David (R) 48TH A Y Y Y 3/3 A A HARBIN, Marty (R)16TH A Y Y - 2/2 A A SIMS, Freddie (D) 12TH D N N Y 1/3 D D HARBISON, Ed (D) 15TH F N N Y 1/3 D D- STONE, Jesse (R) 23RD A- Y Y Y 3/3 A A HARPER, Tyler (R) 7TH C Y Y Y 3/3 A B STRICKLAND, Brian (R) 17TH *A Y Y Y 3/3 A NA HEATH, Bill (R) 31ST C Y Y Y 3/3 A B TATE, Horacena (D) 38TH C N N N 0/3 F D HENSON, Steve (D) 41ST F N Y - 1/2 D D- THOMPSON, Bruce (R) 14TH B Y Y Y 3/3 A B+ HILL, Jack (R) 4TH C Y Y Y 3/3 A B THOMPSON, Curt (D) 5TH C N Y Y 2/3 B C+ HUFSTETLER, Chuck (R) 52ND C Y Y Y 3/3 A+ B+ TILLERY, Blake (R) 19TH C Y E Y 2/2 A B JACKSON, Lester (D) 2ND D N Y Y 2/3 B C TIPPINS, Lindsey (R) 37TH F N N N 0/3 F F JAMES, Donzella (D) 35TH F N Y Y 2/3 B D UNTERMAN, Renee (R) 45TH C Y Y Y 3/3 A B JONES II, Harold (D) 22ND F N N N 0/3 F F WALKER III, Larry (R) 20TH C Y Y Y 3/3 A B JONES, Burt (R) 25TH A+ Y Y Y 3/3 A A+ WATSON, Ben (R) 1ST B+ Y Y Y 3/3 A+ A JONES, Emanuel (D) 10TH F N N Y 1/3 D D- WILKINSON, John (R) 50TH C N Y Y 2/3 B C+ JORDAN, Jennifer (D) 6TH NA Y Y Y 3/3 A NA WILLIAMS, Michael (R) 27TH A+ Y Y Y 3/3 A A+ KENNEDY, John (R) 18TH C Y Y Y 3/3 A B WILLIAMS, Nikema (D) 39TH NA N Y N 1/3 D NA KIRK, Greg (R) 13TH D Y Y Y 3/3 A C Senate A B KIRKPATRICK, Kay (R) 32ND NA Y Y Y 3/3 A NA SCHOOL CHOICE CHAMPION HONOR ROLL * Brian Strickland served in the Georgia House of Representatives in 2017. 5 6 GEORGIA HOUSE OVERALL HOUSE GRADE FOR 2018 = A- DAVID RALSTON Speaker of the House OF REPRESENTATIVES OVERALL HOUSE 2017/18 GRADE = A TOTAL TOTAL HB217 HB787 HB787 HB 482 HB759 SCORE/ 2018 LETTER BIENNIAL HB217 HB787 HB787 HB 482 HB759 SCORE/ 2018 LETTER BIENNIAL REPRESENTATIVE 2017 GRADE (HV #854) (HV #548) (HV #826) (HV #668) (HV #608) HONOR ROLL POSSIBLE GRADE GRADE REPRESENTATIVE 2017 GRADE (HV #854) (HV #548) (HV #826) (HV #668) (HV #608) HONOR ROLL POSSIBLE GRADE GRADE ALEXANDER, Kimberly (D) 66TH F N N N N Y 1/13 F F CHANDLER, Joyce (R) 105TH A Y Y - N Y 7/10 B A- ANULEWICZ, Teri (D) 42ND NA Y Y N N Y 7/13 C NA CLARK, David (R) 98TH A+ Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A A+ BALLINGER, Mandi (R) 23RD A - Y Y - Y 7/7 A A CLARK, Heath (R) 147TH A+ - Y Y Y - 9/9 A+ A+ BARR, Timothy (R) 103RD A+ Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A A+ COLEMAN, Brooks (R) 97TH A Y Y Y N Y 10/13 B A- BATTLES, Paul (R) 15TH A Y Y Y N Y 10/13 B A- COLLINS, J. (R) 68TH A Y Y Y N Y 10/13 B A- BAZEMORE, Debra (D) 63RD D N N N N Y 1/13 F D- COOKE, Kevin (R) 18TH A Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A A BEASLEY-TEAGUE, Sharon (D) 65TH F N N N N Y 1/13 F F COOMER, Christian (R) 14TH A Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A A BELTON, Dave (R) 112TH A- Y Y Y - Y 10/10 A A COOPER, Sharon (R) 43RD A Y Y Y N Y 10/13 B A- BENNETT, Karen (D) 94TH F N N N - Y 1/10 F F CORBETT, John (R) 174TH C - N Y N Y 4/10 D D+ BENTLEY, Patty (D) 139TH D - N N N Y 1/10 F D- COX, Clay (R) 108TH A Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A A BENTON, Tommy (R) 31ST C N N N N Y 1/13 F D DEFFENBAUGH, John (R) 1ST A Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A A BESKIN, Beth (R) 54TH C Y Y Y N Y 10/13 B C+ DEMPSEY, Katie (R) 13TH A Y Y Y N Y 10/13 B A- BEVERLY, James (D) 143RD F N N N N Y 1/13 F F DICKERSON, Pam (D) 113TH D N N N N Y 1/13 F D- BLACKMON, Shaw (R) 146TH A - Y Y N Y 7/10 B A- DICKEY, Robert (R) 140TH A+ Y Y Y N Y 10/13 B+ A BODDIE, William (D) 62ND F N N N N Y 1/13 F F DOLLAR, Matt (R) 45TH A Y E Y Y Y 10/10 A A BONNER, Josh (R) 72ND A Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A A DOUGLAS, Demetrius (D) 78TH D N N N N Y 1/13 F D- BROCKWAY, Buzz (R) 102ND A+ Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A A+ DRENNER, Karla (D) 85TH I N - N N Y 1/10 F F BRUCE, Roger (D) 61ST F N N N N Y 1/13 F F DREYER, David (D) 59TH D N Y N N Y 4/13 D D BUCKNER, Debbie (D) 137TH F N N N N Y 1/13 F F DUBNIK, Matt (R) 29TH A Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A A BURNOUGH, Rhonda (D) 77TH F N N N N Y 1/13 F F DUKES, Winfred (D) 154TH D N E N E Y 1/7 F D+ BURNS, Jon (R) 159TH A Y Y Y N - 9/12 B A- DUNAHOO, Emory (R) 30TH A E Y Y Y Y 10/10 A A CALDWELL, Michael (R) 20TH A Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A A EALUM, Darrel (D) 153RD A - - N N Y 1/13 F C CALDWELL, JR., Johnnie (R) 131ST B Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A B+ EFSTRATION, Chuck (R) 104TH A Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A A CANNON, Park (D) 58TH F N N N N Y 1/13 F F EHRHART, Earl (R) 36TH A+ Y - Y Y Y 10/10 A+ A+ CANTRELL, Wes (R) 22ND A+ Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A+ A+ ENGLAND, Terry (R) 116TH A Y Y Y N Y 10/13 B A- CARPENTER, Kasey (R) 4TH NA Y Y Y Y - 12/12 A NA EPPS, James (R) 144TH A Y Y Y N Y 10/13 B A- CARSON, John (R) 46TH A+ Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A+ A+ FLEMING, Barry (R) 121ST A+ Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A A+ CARTER, Doreen (D) 92ND B N N N N Y 1/13 F D+ FRAZIER, Gloria (D) 126TH F N N N N Y 1/13 F F CASAS, David (R) 107TH A+ Y Y Y Y Y 13/13 A+ A+ FRYE, Spencer (D) 118TH D N N N N Y 1/13 F D- CAUBLE, Geoff (R) 111TH NA Y