HB245: HB245 Georgia Educational Opportunity Act; enact

Georgia funds public schools through a formula in the Quality Basic Education Act (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-160 et seq.) that gives extra funding weight to certain groups of students, such as those with disabilities or in specific programs. This bill, called the Georgia Educational Opportunity Act, adds a new category to that formula for 'students living in poverty.' The bill defines a student living in poverty as one who is in a family unit certified to receive SNAP or TANF benefits, is in foster care, or lacks stable housing under the federal definition of homelessness for children and youth. It also adds definitions for 'student in foster care' and 'student without stable housing' to the law's short title section. The new program would carry a funding weight of 1.75 and a student-teacher ratio of 1 to 15, meaning schools would get more state funding per qualifying student and could staff smaller classes for this group. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not state a separate effective date beyond standard enactment.

• Adds a new 'students living in poverty' category to the Quality Basic Education funding formula (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-161) with a 1.7500 funding weight and a 1-to-15 student-teacher ratio.
• Defines 'student living in poverty' to include students certified for SNAP or TANF benefits, students in foster care, or students without stable housing.
• Defines 'student without stable housing' using the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act's definition of homeless children and youth as it existed on January 1, 2025.
• Adds a definition of 'student in foster care' to the Quality Basic Education Act's short title section (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-130).
• Names the bill the 'Georgia Educational Opportunity Act' as its official short title.

Georgia public school students who qualify as living in poverty because of SNAP or TANF benefits, foster care placement, or homelessness, along with the local school districts and the state Department of Education that administer education funding under the Quality Basic Education formula.

By adding a funding weight and smaller class-size ratio for students living in poverty, the bill would direct additional state education dollars toward schools serving these students, potentially supporting smaller classes or added resources for children facing housing or economic instability.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'Georgia Educational Opportunity Act.'
• Section 2 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 20-2-130 to add definitions for 'student in foster care,' 'student living in poverty,' and 'student without stable housing.'
• Section 2 defines 'student without stable housing' by reference to the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11301 et seq.) as in effect January 1, 2025.
• Section 3 adds paragraph (19) to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-161, creating a 'Students living in poverty program' with a 1.7500 funding weight and a 1-to-15 student-teacher ratio.
• Section 4 repeals all laws in conflict with the Act.

1. 2025-02-06House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-05House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-04House Hopper (House)

• Phil Olaleye (D, HD-059)Primary sponsor
• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)
• Karlton Howard (D, HD-129)
• Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)
• David Wilkerson (D, HD-038)

• school funding
• poverty
• education policy
• foster care
• homeless students