Committee Workday: Subcommittees Debate Math and System School Financial Accountability Bills

The first legislative committee workday following Crossover Day saw House Education subcommittees begin consideration of Senate legislation including establishment of an advanced mathematics pathway, strengthening financial accountability for school districts.

House Ed Subcommittees Approve Math and District Financial Accountability Safeguards

Sen. Max Burns presents SB 171

The House Education Curriculum and Academic Achievement Subcommittee passed SB 171 by Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas), which would require the State Board of Education (SBOE) to develop an advanced math pathway for students in grades 3 to 8, culminating in a high school math course that students could take in middle school. Districts would be required to offer the new math classes in grades 6-8. The bill would also require the SBOE to establish criteria for students to be automatically enrolled in the advanced classes, offer an opt-out for students whose parents/guardians do not want them to take the classes, and provide a report on pathway participation. The pathway must be developed by Jan. 1, 2027. The legislation permits a parent or guardian whose student may not have been in the top quartile for automatic enrollment, but is still in the top 50th percentile statewide, to opt their child into the pathway.

Claire Buck, executive director of the Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional Supervisors (GACIS) voiced concerns about some provisions of the bill and asked legislators to make SB 171 more similar to HB 1030 by Rep. Sandy Donatucci (R-Buford). The bill now awaits consideration by the full House Education Committee.

Sen. Hickman presents SB 472

The Policy & Innovation Subcommittee passed SB 472 by Sen. Billy Hickman (R-Statesboro), which would expand the authority of the State Board of Education (SBOE) and Department of Audits and Accounts (DOAA) related to fiscal oversight and governance of local school districts. The bill adds additional triggers to remove local board members beyond accreditation issues, including if the state auditor deems a district high-risk or finds it has engaged in financial mismanagement or misconduct. SB 472 would establish procedures for hearings, temporary board appointments, reinstatement petitions for board members removed from their positions, and for permanent removal of board members. In addition to board governance provisions, the bill caps advance distribution of state-provided education funding at 50% of a system’s prior-year allotment, unless the state auditor determines that a larger advance is necessary. Districts would also be required to adopt and comply with state-directed financial monitoring and intervention plans assigned by the state auditor. The bill also limits the length of contracts for superintendents of districts designated as high-risk by DOAA to one year. If the superintendent's contract is currently longer than one year, it will be considered void. Any new contract for the superintendent of a high-risk district must not be the subject of a state auditor finding for financial mismanagement or misconduct, and the superintendent must not knowingly fail to comply with a corrective action plan assigned under the provisions of the bill. If the superintendent violates the stipulations, the local board is authorized to terminate the superintendent's contract.

A substitute version of the bill presented in subcommittee today would reduce the percentage of eligible voters needed to trigger a local referendum on dissolving a city school district into a county district. The current threshold to do so is 25%, but that required percentage would be lowered to 10% of eligible registered voters.

House Ed Subcommittees Meeting Recording

House Higher Ed Passes Anti-discrimination Bill

The House Higher Education Committee passed SB 523 by Sen. Goodman (R-Cogdell), which originally required public schools and institutions of higher education to treat antisemitism in the same manner as they treat religious discrimination. The committee substitute of the bill revises SB 523 to make it nearly identical to HB 1363 , by Rep. Deborah Silcox (R-Sandy Springs), which creates a statewide coordinator position within GaDOE to monitor and report on complaints of discrimination in public schools. If a school fails to take corrective action arising from a discrimination complaint, the SBOE is authorized to take action, including withholding state funds. The bill also requires the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to establish policies and procedures for handling discrimination complaints. During subcommittee review, it was noted that the bill no longer explicitly references antisemitism and instead addresses discrimination more generally. The bill now awaits consideration by the House Rules Committee.

House Higher Ed Meeting Recording

Upcoming Schedule

Thursday, March 12 – Legislative Day 31 

• 7:30 am Senate Appropriations Education and Higher Education Subcommittee, 307 CLOB  

• 1 p.m. Senate Education & Youth, 307 CLOB 

• 2 p.m. House Special Rules, 515 CLOB 

Monday, March 16 - Legislative Day 32

Tuesday, March 17 - Legislative Committee Workday