PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA EDUCATORS

HR 1, entitled the "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act (OBBBA), was signed into law by President Donald J. Trump July 4, 2024. The...

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) met virtually June 11 and 12 New GACE Assessments Arrive July 1   ...

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 Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS) held its bimonthly meeting May 14, 2025. TRS trustees received operational and...

The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) board met virtually Monday, May 19 and approved changes to the 2026 State Health Benefit...

The State Board of Education (SBOE) met May 7 and 8. Board members approved a rule change relating to the charter school petition...

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) met virtually May 7 and 8. Executive Secretary Update GaPSC Executive Secretary...

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

The Georgia Council on Literacy met April 15 at Valdosta State University. The meeting included a panel discussion about literacy...

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) met virtually April 9 and 10. Senate Resolution Seeks Recommendations to Strengthen...

The Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS) held its bimonthly meeting March 26, 2025.   The full agenda and all meeting materials...

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

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) met virtually March 12 and 13. Important Update to Teacher Certification Beginning...

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

Day 35 didn't disappoint on education action. It was a busy day on the House and Senate floor and in committees. The Senate passed HB 340 , by Rep. Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners), which prohibits K-8 student use of cell phones during the school day. The legislation is supported by PAGE based on educator feedback. We appreciate the bipartisan group of senators who voted to move the bill forward to Gov. Brian Kemp. Two senators voted against it. The House passed SB 123 by