Discussion of Proposed Educator Salary Bump & Other School-Related News During Appropriations Week

Legislators began their review of Gov. Brian P. Kemp’s proposals for the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2026 budget and the Fiscal Year 2027 budget in a three-day joint meeting of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, which began Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Kemp opened the meeting with highlights from his proposed spending plans, including $325 million for a new needs-based financial aid program for higher education, the Dream Scholarship program. State economist, Robert Buschman, provided an update on Georgia’s economy, noting some strengths as well as challenges with inflation and slow job growth. State Superintendent Richard Woods and the heads of other education agencies also presented their agency budgets on the first day of the joint meeting.

Woods highlighted the $2,000 one-time supplement for educators and state employees that Kemp added to the AFY 2026 budget, with nearly $368 million allocated to cover the supplement for educators. Most school district staff are included in the supplement, but not all, so district leaders must determine how to extend the supplement to staff based on their districts’ specific financial circumstances. Pre-kindergarten lead and assistant teachers are included in the salary supplement. Woods noted additional funds Kemp is directing to student mental health in AFY 2026, including $750,000 for a pilot program to maximize mental health services reimbursement, as well as $1.3 million directed to mental health grants and nearly $1.4 million to social worker grants, based on updated data. Most other changes in the AFY 2026 budget were also premised on updated data applied to the Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula and other education funding formulas.

Rusk Roam, chief financial officer for the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) cited declining student enrollment as a factor in some formula-related changes in the FY 2027 budget, which has led to smaller increases than in previous years, including a $9.3 million increase to the QBE formula for enrollment growth and training and experience. The enrollment decline results in a reduction in funding for several items, including a $1.8 million reduction to GNETS, the Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support program. Since FY 2023, the number of kindergarten students starting school has been smaller than the number of 12^th graders graduating from high school.

Other notable items in Kemp’s FY 2027 spending plan include:

• $259 million for equalization, which provides additional funds to low-wealth districts

• $200 million to cover an increase in the per member per month cost of the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) for certified staff from $1,885 to $2,028

• 38.6 million for pupil transportation

• $36 million to cover a rate increase in the employer contribution to the Teacher Retirement System

• $25 million to replace 270 school buses

• $1.5 million for school social worker grant

• $1.3 million for mental health grants for middle and high schools

• $1.2 increase for sparsity for small rural schools

• $750,000 for high demand career equipment grants

• -$50 million reduction for the local five mill share

• -$15 million reduction in grants to districts for economically disadvantaged students

GaDOE is requesting an additional $1.4 million for Advanced Placement exams to cover the cost of one AP exam for students who qualify for the free- and reduced-lunch program, as well as one AP exam for students in STEM AP classes.

A more detailed description of items in Kemp’s AFY 2026 and FY 2027 budget proposals is available from PAGE HERE.

Amy Jacobs, commissioner of the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), shared increases Kemp proposes for the pre-kindergarten program in FY 2027 including $12 million for year three of a four-year class size reduction and nearly $5.9 million to cover the increase in SHBP costs for certified staff. Jacobs also noted that lead and assistant teacher retention in the pre-kindergarten program improved since these teachers were moved to the K-12 salary schedule in FY 2025. Previously, their salaries trailed those of K-12 teachers.

House budget writers will examine the budget proposals more closely next week when appropriations subcommittees meet and begin revising Kemp’s proposals to address their priorities.

PAGE Webinar to Review Budget Proposals

Join PAGE legislative staff Thursday, Jan. 29, for a review of education items included in the proposed AFY 2026 and FY 2027 budgets. PAGE will review the proposed one-time $2,000 pay supplement for state employees and teachers, continued funding for school safety, additional funding for school social workers, and more. We'll also share information about how to contact legislators and advocate for appropriations or other state policies.

Register for the Webinar Here

Sign Up for the PAGE Capitol Report

If you would like to receive the PAGE Capitol Report blog directly to your email inbox, register HERE. PAGE encourages you to follow the action at the state Capitol, via the Capitol Report, Capitol Report Highlights, and Weekly Highlights.

Register for PAGE Day on Capitol Hill Feb. 17

Please make your plans to join us for 2026 PAGE Day on Capitol Hill, in partnership with the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) and the Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (GACTE).

This free event will include breakfast, lunch, information sessions with key education-focused policymakers, advocacy opportunities under the Gold Dome, and a state school superintendent candidate forum.

Register and watch a brief informational video HERE.

Upcoming Schedule

Monday, Jan. 26 - Legislative Day 5

• 2 p.m. - House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, 341 Capitol