Day 31: Study Committee to Examine Additional Salary Step for Veteran Educators Approved by Committee; Math Matters Act Advances
- 7 minutes ago
- 4 min read
The House and Senate convened today for Legislative Day 31, though only the House considered education legislation during its floor session. The House unanimously approved HR 145 by Rep. Chris Erwin (R-Homer), which urges the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) and Department of Public Health (DPH) to collaboratively develop strategies and methods to expand vision and hearing screening for students in Pre-K, K, first, third, fifth, and eighth grades, as well as for transfer students in all grade levels.
Senate Education Appropriations Committee Examines FY 2027 Budget
The Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee heard presentations from state education agency leaders on the House Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget proposal. Rusk Roam, chief financial officer at GaDOE, highlighted key additions House budget writers made to Gov. Brian Kemp’s original FY 2027 spending plan, including increased investment in literacy coaches and additional staff to support district financial review and accountability. More information on the House FY 2027 budget proposal is available from PAGE here.
Amy Jacobs, commissioner of the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), noted the House budget adds nearly $4 million to provide five days of paid personal leave annually to Pre-K lead and assistant teachers. Currently, these paid personal leave days are not funded by the state for these employees, leaving that responsibility to their employers. If approved, the addition of these funds will ensure these teachers receive paid personal leave days.
The House budget also aims to add 25 new classes to the Rising Pre-K program, which serves children who need additional help before entering Pre-K, including dual-language and special education students, and $12 million to reduce Pre-K class size.
In his presentation, Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) President Chris Green reported the House added $15.5 million to cover growth in the dual enrollment program, lower than the $27.5 million Kemp sought to add in the version of the AFY 27 the governor initiated. Green noted the continued growth of dual enrollment. In FY 2022, 49,551 students participated in dual enrollment, which climbed to 71,062 in FY 2025.
Senate budget writers will continue reviewing the FY 2027 budget and revise it.
House Committee Approves Study Committees to Examine Providing Veteran Teachers with Additional Salary Steps and CCRPI
The House Special Rules Committee, which reviews resolutions and study committees proposed in the House, considered three education-related resolutions, including HR 1582 by Rep. Carmen Rice (R-Columbus). The resolution would create the House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensation to study a step increase for veteran teachers at 28 years of experience. Currently, step increases stop at 21 years of experience. PAGE worked with Rep. Rice to introduce the resolution and appreciates her responsiveness to the needs of veteran teachers who continue to express concern about the lack of state salary steps beyond 21 years. PAGE was the only educator association representing classroom teachers who attended the meeting in support of the resolution, which was approved unanimously. HR 1582 now moves to House Rules.
The committee also unanimously approved HR 1529 by Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins) to create the House Study Committee on the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). The committee will undertake a comprehensive review of the content mastery, progress, and closing gaps components of CCRPI, as well as the calculations used for each component. The resolution now moves to House Rules.
HR 1299 by Rep. Will Wade urges the federal government to dissolve the United States Department of Education (USED) and restore the authority of the department to state governments. Wade said that if USED were dissolved, many of the department's programs would continue either within different federal agencies or with the states. Wade cited increased bureaucracy and red tape as the reason to downsize the department. Wade said he thinks a smaller USED would remain intact to administer IDEA programs. The resolution failed on a party-line vote after Democrats on the committee expressed concern about how state government could fulfill some functions of USED.
Senate Ed Approves Math Matters Act, Gakobe Milton Act, and Bill to Make Changes to Dual Achievement Program
The Senate Education & Youth Committee approved several bills, which now move to the Senate Rules Committee for consideration:
HB 1030 by Rep. Sandy Donatucci (R-Buford), the “Math Matters Act,” makes several significant changes to math instruction in Georgia, including requiring the adoption of new math standards, increasing required instructional time, automatically enrolling certain high-performing students in advanced math courses, and imposing new requirements for educator certification. Bill provisions would not be waivable by schools. HB 1030 also requires GaDOE to report various data on student math assessment performance and the number of students enrolled in advanced math courses. The substitute version of the bill approved by the committee also includes language from SB 171, by Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas), which would require the 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. More information on SB 171 can be found HERE. The bill was approved with one dissenting vote.
HB 1284 by Rep. Deborah Silcox (R-Sandy Springs), the Gakobe Milton Act, would require high school diplomas to be awarded to students diagnosed with terminal medical conditions who are receiving end-of-life care. The bill outlines the process and procedures for requesting and awarding these diplomas and states that, while every effort should be made to award the diplomas before the student’s death, they may be awarded posthumously. The committee unanimously approved the bill, and Chair Billy Hickman (R-Statesboro) asked members who voted in support to stand in honor of Gakobe Milton.
HB 1293 by Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton) removes the pilot status of the Dual Achievement Program and makes changes to requirements to enter the program. The bill also ensures that students eligible to participate in the Dual Achievement Program in metro Atlanta districts that will not be included in a completion special school consortium will be able to continue participating in the existing programs. The bill was approved unanimously.
Upcoming Schedule
Monday, March 16 - Legislative Day 32
Tuesday, March 17 - Legislative Committee Workday
House Retirement, 2 p.m., 406 CLOB
House Education Appropriations, 2:30 p.m., 341 CAP
Wednesday, March 18 - Legislative Day 33
Thursday, March 19 - Legislative Day 34
Friday, March 20 - Legislative Day 35