Provide Input on Reducing and Prioritizing Mandates for Public School Administration

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 Robins) 

·    Rep. Robert Dawson (D-Atlanta) 

The meeting established the study committee's focus, which Blackmon said is to examine laws in Title 20, the section of the Official Code of Georgia governing public schools. He intends the committee to recommend outdated policies for removal or other ideas to "clean up" the code section, including making definitions more consistent. Erwin, who chairs the House Education Committee, expressed optimism that the changes will allow teachers and administrators to focus more on educating students and less on administrative burdens.

PAGE Member Input Opportunities on State Compliance Burdens for Administrators and Chronic Student Absenteeism

The House mandate review committee is likely to examine flexibility waivers and recommend more education code terminology congruency while reviewing state law compliance burdens impacting school administrators. It is important to note that the committee will be able to address only state laws impacting administrators, not federal laws or local decisions.

The House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education and the Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools will each examine the impact of student absenteeism on Georgia's PreK-12 schools, including on mental health, school safety, and educator morale.

Legislators and general assembly staffers have requested educator feedback on state mandates for administrators, on local best practices that have successfully curbed chronic student absenteeism, and on ways state leaders can assist local educators in addressing absenteeism.   

PAGE seeks member input for each study committee. Click the white button below to fill out a short, open-ended survey that takes less than one minute to complete. Responses will be shared with legislators on each committee, but participants can indicate within the survey if they prefer their names and identifiable information be kept confidential. Names and contact information will not be shared with policymakers.

Click Here to Complete the Short Survey

GaDOE Provides Context

Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) Director of External Affairs Matt Cardoza said the work of the committee aligns with State School Superintendent Richard Woods' mantra of "compassion over compliance." Cardoza pointed to GaDOE's decision to waive certain requirements for school districts that experience unforeseen disruptions, such as school shootings and severe weather events, as examples of limiting administrative burdens. Cardoza explained federal requirements can also contribute to administrative burdens, though the study committee does not have purview over federal laws. He also pointed out that federal oversight may be altered in the coming months as changes are made to the US Education Department (USED).

Office of Legal Counsel Perspective

Michael Walker, deputy legislative counsel for the Office of Legislative Counsel (a team of attorneys who help legislators draft bills and offer input on the legal perspective of bills as they move through the legislative process), highlighted two areas that legislators could change to "clean up" Title 20.

First, due to legislative changes throughout the years, several sections reference terms and definitions that have become inconsistent. Walker recommends legislators make terminology more congruent throughout the code section to ease any confusion administrators may have when implementing policies.

Second, Walker noted that the two types of flexibility waivers offered to districts - charter systems and Strategic Waiver School Systems (SWSS) - have been in place for 15 years. Recently, more bills have been introduced that include language preventing policies from being waived. He suggested the need for clarity regarding the limitations of waivers.

Walker also suggested that legislators begin planning for how Georgia Code will need to be modified to reflect potential changes to or the abolition of USED. He cautioned committee members to be mindful of a constitutional provision prohibiting multiple subject areas in one bill. He mentioned that legislation labeled as "clean-up" bills typically receive heightened scrutiny.

Education Organization Input

Blackmon allowed representatives from PAGE, Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL), Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA), and Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA) to share their respective organizations' thoughts with the committee. PAGE Director of Legislative Services Margaret Ciccarelli offered to partner with GAEL to collect feedback from school administrators on the topic during her GAEL conference legislative presentation, which occurred July 14. GAEL also plans to convene small groups of school administrators from school districts of different sizes to contribute to the discussion.

PAGE members can provide feedback to the committee here or by clicking the white button above in the blue box.

Next Steps

Blackmon said the committee will next meet on Aug. 26 at a school in Houston County. He intends to hold several of the remaining meetings at schools throughout Georgia.