2017 Legislative Session Rep
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2017 GEORGIA EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS To email a committee member: [email protected] OR [email protected] LEGISLATIVE *Rep. Brooks Coleman – R Rep. Mike Glanton – D Rep. Kevin Tanner – R SESSION District 97 – Duluth District 75 – Jonesboro District 9 – Dawsonville 416 State Capitol 408-D Coverdell Bld. 614-A Coverdell Bld. HIGHLIGHTS 404-656-9210 404-657-1803 404-656-3947 Rep. David Casas – R Rep. Dewayne Hill – R Rep. Sam Teasley – R District 107 – Lilburn District 3 – Ringgold District 37 – Marietta 601-H Coverdell Bld. 612-C Coverdell Bld. 415 State Capitol 404-656-0254 404-656-0325 404-463-8143 Rep. Tommy Benton – R Rep. Scott Hilton – R *Sen. Lindsey Tippens – R District 31 – Jefferson District 95 – Peachtree Corners District 37 – Marietta 217 State Capitol 507-E Coverdell Bld. 303-A Coverdell Bld. 404-656-5126 404-656-0202 404-657-0406 Rep. Dave Belton – R Rep. Wayne Howard – D Sen. John Wilkinson – R District 112 – Buckhead District 124 – Augusta District 50 – Toccoa 401-B Coverdell Bld. 511-H Coverdell Bld. 421-A State Capitol 404-656-0152 404-656-6372 404-463-5257 Rep. Beth Beskin – R Rep. Jan Jones – R Sen. Freddie Powell-Sims – D District 54 – Atlanta District 47 – Milton District 12 – Dawson 601-F Coverdell Bld. 340 State Capitol 110-A State Capitol 404-656-0254 404-656-5072 404-463-5259 Rep. Buzz Brockway – R Rep. Dominic LaRiccia – R Sen. Ellis Black – R District 102 – Lawrenceville District 169 – Douglas District 8 – Valdosta 504-A Coverdell Bld 508-A Coverdell Bld. 304-A State Capitol 404-656-0188 404-656-0213 404-656-3932 Rep. Wes Cantrell – R Rep. Brenda Lopez – D Sen. Matt Brass – R District 22 – Woodstock District 99 – Norcross District 28 – Newnan 401-E Coverdell Bld. 511-F Coverdell Bld. 304-B Coverdell Bld. 404-656-0152 404-656-6372 404-656-6446 Rep. Amy Carter – R Rep. Howard Maxwell – R Sen. Donzella James – D District 175 – Valdosta District 17 – Dallas District 35 – Atlanta 245 State Capitol 402 State Capitol 121-D State Capitol 404-463-2248 404-656-5143 404-463-1379 Rep. Doreen Carter – D Rep. Randy Nix – R Sen. Fran Millar – R District 92 – Lithonia District 69 – LaGrange District 40 – Atlanta 509-D Coverdell Bld. 417-B State Capitol 319-B Coverdell Bld. 404-656-0220 404-656-5146 404-463-2260 Rep. Joyce Chandler – R Rep. Miriam Paris – D Sen. Elena Parent – D District 105 – Grayson District 142 – Macon District 42 – Atlanta 601-G Coverdell Bld. 404-B Coverdell Bld. 321-B Coverdell Bld. 404-656-0254 404-656-0109 404-656-5109 Rep. Pam Dickerson – D Rep. Ed Setzler – R Sen. Jesse Stone – R District 113 – Conyers District 35 – Acworth District 23 – Waynesboro gae.org 611-E Coverdell Bld. 401 State Capitol 325-A Coverdell Bld. 404-656-0314 404.656.7857 404-463-1314 2017 Legislative Session Rep. Terry England – R Rep. Valencia Stovall – D Sen. Horacena Tate – D District 116 – Auburn District 74 – Ellenwood District 38 – Atlanta 245 State Capitol 611-C Coverdell Bld. 121-A State Capitol GAE Highlights 404-463-2247 404-656-0314 2017 Legislative Session 404-463-8053 2017 Legislative Session GAEGAE HighlightsHighlights The Legislature revisited student evaluations this year. Sponsored by BILLS THAT ARE STILL “ALIVE” the Senate Education and Youth Committee Chair, Lindsey Tippins, FOR NEXT YEAR SB 211 seeks to maximize flexibility in the use of state mandated testing. A comparability study will be undertaken to check national Although these bills did not pass both chambers this year, they may assessments (like SAT and ACT) against Georgia standards in order be considered for passage again next year under the same bill number. to determine if those national tests can be used instead of state tests. The most troubling of these bills is HB 217 which seeks, yet again, The bill does not currently reduce or increase the number of to increase the annual cap on private school tax credits. Currently assessments but Chairman Tippins hopes it will ultimately streamline Georgia’s Private School Tax Credit law allows eligible private the assessment process. SB 211 also mandates that local districts must citizens and corporations to receive tax credits for donations to private consider dual enrollment students for valedictorian and salutatorian organizations which in turn provide scholarships for students to attend status unless they transferred after their sophomore private schools. Currently the cap on this program is $58 million year and have taken no courses on campus. annually. HB 217 sought to increase the annual cap to $100 million. LEGISLATIVE SESSION In 2015 the Governor’s Education Reform Commission presented GAE joined all public education advocates in vocal opposition to this HIGHLIGHTS a slate of recommendations for changes to public education. As increase because it diverts needed revenues from the state budget. of the 2017 Session, the only legislation to come out of these Every tax dollar which goes to this voucher program is diverted from the recommendations is HB 430 implementing certain changes regarding state budget and thus represents dollars lost to the funding of public charter schools. GAE is supportive of that portion of this legislation education. To date this program has diverted more than $458 million in Below is a summary of the important education bills considered in the 2017 Georgia that establishes authorizing standards for charter schools and provides state tax dollars from the state treasury to private organizations in order more transparency in the process. However, there are concerns with to send students to private schools. The program lacks transparency Legislative Session. This was the first year of Georgia’s biennial legislative process, so this the bill’s impact on local districts’ utilization of district facilities and and accountability. GAE will be watching this bill closely next year and summary includes bills that passed both chambers of the Georgia Legislature and also access to federal funding. GAE was vocal in addressing these concerns issuing Calls to Action as necessary. and will continually monitor the implementation. includes bills that did not pass both chambers but are still “alive” for next year’s session. As discussion at the Capitol centered on assisting struggling schools, OTHER BILLS OF NOTE THAT PASSED SB 30, which promotes the Community Schools model, garnered THIS SESSION ARE: wide-spread support. This bill would provide a grant program to BILLS THAT PASSED THIS YEAR fund implementation of Community School programs. Recognizing The FY2018 budget bill included a 2% increase in the salary the proven impact of the Community Schools model on student The most widely-known piece of education legislation this session The newly created Chief Turnaround Officer (CTO) will oversee schedule for teachers, school nurses, bus drivers and school nutrition achievement, GAE supported this bill and provided crucial testimony was HB 338, now known as “The First Priority Act.” This bill the efforts. GAE will be represented on the Education Turnaround personnel. GAE will continue to advocate for this increase in schools during several committee hearings. We remain hopeful that it will pass represented a new effort by Governor Deal to focus on struggling Council and will be able to have input on the CTO selection and that have waived the salary schedule. The budget also included during the 2018 Legislative Session. schools following last fall’s overwhelming defeat of his proposed bill implementation. $1.5 million for the Public School Employees Retirement System Two other pieces of legislation that GAE will be Opportunity School District (OSD). to increase the benefit multiplier from $14.75 to $15.00 per year of service. watching next year are: Rather than allowing the state to take over “failing schools” via a constitutional amendment, as the OSD proposed, the First Priority HB 139, which promotes transparency in local system and school HB 273, which would provide for a scheduled daily recess in grades K-5. Act creates a legislative process for the state to assist struggling budgeting by requiring the DOE to include specific school system SB 3, known as the CONNECT Act, seeks to increase the number of schools and students. GAE and other education advocates worked and school site budget information on its website. students graduating with credentials that prepare them to go to work collaboratively with the bill’s sponsor and other education leaders to HB 224, which allows students of military families living in military right away. refine the bill through numerous drafts and amendments. housing to attend any school in the local system that has capacity. A MAJOR BILL WAS DEFEATED In essence, this bill recognizes that current Georgia law already SB 149, which states that “best practice” is for school resource GAE was closely following SB 68, one of this year’s voucher bills. allows state intervention into struggling schools and creates a officers to complete a 40-hour training course, and requires such Vouchers can be implemented in numerous ways, such as through tax mechanism for assisting schools in improving academic outcomes to be provided by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards & credits (see HB 217 above) or through what is known as “Education in order to avoid such intervention. The bill narrowly identifies Training Council. the schools eligible for such turnaround assistance, using the Savings Accounts (ESA).” SB 68 was an ESA voucher bill and was SB 186, which provides that students who earned a high school Department of Education’s (DOE) definition of “the lowest 5% of strongly opposed by GAE. The Senate Education and Youth Committee diploma through dual credit coursework are eligible for HOPE grants. schools in the state” identified in accordance with the statewide did not take a vote on this bill so it “died” in committee.