PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA EDUCATORS

The Senate Impact of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence on Children and Platform Privacy Protection Study Committee held a meeting Nov. 12 at the Georgia State Capitol, focusing on the use of technology in K-12 schools. Committee members include:  ·    Sen. Sally Harrell (D-Atlanta) (Co-Chair) ·    Sen. Shawn Still (R-Johns Creek) (Co-Chair) ·    Sen. Marty Harbin (R-Tyrone) ·    Sen. Sheikh Rahman (D-Lawrenceville) ·    Sen. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth)   Rep. Scott Hilton

The   Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools  met for the final time Nov. 20 at the Georgia State Capitol. Following presentations from multiple student support services providers, committee members recessed to draft the final report. Educators Share Views on Student Absenteeism in Upcoming PAGE Report Results from the 2025 PAGE Legislative Policy Survey indicate educators perceive chronic student absenteeism as a significant challenge. Nearly 87%

The House Education Committee and the Senate Education & Youth Committee held a joint meeting to discuss recommendations to strengthen the educator workforce.   The recommendations are the product of a working group established by  SR 237 ,   sponsored by Sen. Billy Hickman (R-Statesboro) during the 2025 Legislative Session. Per the resolution, the working group is led by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) and is comprised of representatives from multiple s

The     House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education   held its final meeting Nov. 5 at the Georgia State Capitol. The meeting addressed school mental health resources with a specific focus on school social workers. Committee members also shared their policy priorities ore about Issues Facing Special Education Teachers In PAGE's Educator Workforce Survey Report Learn More about Educator Views on Student Absenteeism in Upcoming PAGE Report Thank you to the

The   Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools  met Oct. 16 at the Georgia State Capitol. Committee Chair John Kennedy (R-Macon) opened the meeting  with an explanation of  the difference between chronic absenteeism and truancy .   He explained  that student truancy is generally defined by excessive unexcused absences, while chronic student absenteeism encompasses both excused and unexcused absences. PAGE Survey Shows Educators Believe Absenteeism is

Students in the College of Education at Georgia State University (GSU) joined Rep. Phil Olaleye (D-Atlanta), PAGE staff, and GSU faculty for an in-depth discussion of challenges students face during their student teaching. Major themes frequently mentioned during the meeting echoed PAGE member survey findings, including teacher preparation affordability and access to health insurance and mental health services. Several students shared they have had to scale back hours or quit

The   Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools  and the House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education   held a joint meeting Sept. 22 at the Georgia State Capitol. During the meeting, members from both committees heard from a number of organizations on a wide range of topics, including recommendations to combat chronic absenteeism. rn ore about Issues Facing Special Education Teachers In PAGE's Educator Workforce Survey Report PAGE

The   Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools   met Aug. 7 at Mercer University. The study committee was created via SR 217 sponsored by Sen. John Kennedy (R-Macon), who serves as chair. In addition to Kennedy, the following Senate members sit on the committee:  Sen. Shawn Still (R-Johns Creek) Sen. Freddie Powell Sims (D-Dawson) Sen. RaShaun Kemp (D-Atlanta) Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett) Sen. Billy Hickman (R-Statesboro) Penny Elkins, executive v

The House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education  met July 22.   The study committee was created via HR 711 , sponsored by Rep. Chris Erwin (R-Homer), who serves as chair. In addition to Erwin, the following House members sit on the committee:   Rep. Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville) Rep. Rick Townsend (R-Brunswick)     Rep. Sandy Donatucci (R-Buford) Rep. Will Wade (R-Dawsonville) Rep. Lydia Glaize (D-Fairburn)   The meeting opened with committee member introdu

The House Study Committee on Reducing and Prioritizing Mandates for Public School Administration met virtually July 10.   The study committee was created via HR 887 , sponsored by  Rep. Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), who serves as chair of the committee. In addition to Blackmon, the following House members sit on the committee:   ·    Rep. Mitchell Horner (R-Ringgold)   ·    Rep. Chris Erwin (R-Homer)   ·    Rep. Holt Persinger (R-Winder)   ·    Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Ro

On July 1, most legislation passed during the 2025 Georgia General Assembly took effect. To learn about these new laws and other important information, please review the 2025 PAGE Legislative Summary . The  PAGE 2025 Legislative Session Summary  covers education-related legislation approved by the General Assembly, provides an overview of the state’s K-12 education budget, and identifies notable bills that did not pass. All legislation became law on July 1, 2025, unless anoth

Though the General Assembly adjourned April 4, some legislative work has continued. Study and standing committees will continue to meet throughout the year in preparation for the 2026 Legislative Session. House Retirement Committee Refers PAGE-Supported Return-to-Work Extension for Actuarial Review PAGE Legislative Consultant Claire Suggs speaks in support of HB 372. The House Retirement Committee met Tuesday, June 16, to consider several bills requiring actuarial study. All

The  PAGE 2025 Legislative Session Summary  covers education-related legislation approved by the General Assembly, provides an overview of the state’s K-12 education budget, and identifies notable bills that did not pass. All legislation will become law on July 1, 2025, unless another effective date is specified within the legislation. As 2025 is the first of Georgia’s two-year legislative biennium, bills that did not pass this session remain eligible for consideration and

Josh Stephens, Rob Ayock, & Margaret Ciccarelli Missing in Action: Claire Suggs The marathon conclusion of the 2026 session included House and Senate approval of multiple PAGE budget priorities, including the addition of a student poverty weight, funding for student mental health, and appropriations for more school psychologists and school social workers. The House and Senate gaveled out at [ insert time ], but not before passing multiple PAGE-supported bills. The PAGE team w

But for House and Senate Rules Committee meetings, action on the penultimate day of the 2025 legislative session was confined to the chamber floors. After extensive calendars and debate in both chambers, the House adjourned at 11 p.m., while the Senate stayed late debating diversity, equity, and inclusion and adjourned after midnight. House Floor Action Senate Floor Action Senate Passes Resolution to Explore Strengthening the Educator Workforce and Stripped Teacher Leave Bill

The Senate Rules Committee set an extensive calendar for Days 39 and 40. HB 235 , a PAGE-supported bill to allow educators to take up to 30 days of leave for organ donation and up to seven days for bone marrow donation, was added to the calendar. Two competing versions of bills to restrict the use of school zone speed cameras were also added, setting the stage for lots of debate on how to handle the devices. House Education Passes Voucher Clarification and Expansion to Childr

The House took the expected step of disagreeing with the Senate’s version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget. The Senate insisted on its position. The budget will now be negotiated by a conference committee consisting of Sen. John F. Kennedy (R-Macon), Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega), and Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia) and Rep. Chuck Efstration (R-Mulberry), Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton), and Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin). The conference committee will decide which budget items t

After an early morning Senate Public Safety meeting on school zone speed cameras was canceled, the most notable Day 37 education action occurred on the Senate floor. With seven dissenting votes, the body passed the FY26 budget after a contentious debate about education funding and private school vouchers. More details below. The Senate also passed several higher education bills , and the House passed SB 44  by Sen. Sam Watson (R-Bonaire), which reduces the minimum required m

Day 36 included action on education bills on the House and Senate floor and drama about education bills in Senate committees. The House passed SB 63 by Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett), which would require school districts that offer PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, PreACT, ACT, ASVAB, or Advanced Placement (AP) exams to students enrolled in the district to offer the same testing to homeschool students residing in the district. Schools districts could not charge homeschooled students any fee

Today was one of three dedicated committee workdays remaining in the 2025 Legislative Session. As is often the case, several controversial measures were considered in late-session meetings. House Committee Passes Sanctuary Policy Sovereign Immunity Waiver The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee passed SB 21 ,   sponsored by Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia). The bill seeks to remove sovereign immunity from local governments, thus opening them to liability, should