SR476: SR476 Senate Study Committee on Local School System Flexibility Options; create

Georgia law lets the State Board of Education waive certain requirements in Title 20 of state law for local school systems and charter schools, in areas like class size, teacher salary minimums, special education rules, and curriculum standards, with the goal of improving student performance. Nearly every one of Georgia's 180 school systems currently holds a class size waiver, and the State Board recently extended all existing waivers for another five years. This resolution creates the Senate Study Committee on Local School System Flexibility Options to review how these waivers are being used and whether they have helped or hurt educational outcomes, operational efficiency, equity, and accountability. The committee will have six senators, four picked by the President of the Senate and two by the Senate Minority Leader. It can meet, gather information, and recommend legislation. The committee must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the Senate Study Committee on Local School System Flexibility Options to examine state education waivers granted to local school systems.
• Sets committee membership at six senators: four chosen by the President of the Senate and two by the Senate Minority Leader.
• Directs the committee to study waiver impacts on class sizes, teacher pay, special education services, and curriculum, and recommend possible legislation.
• Authorizes standard legislative per diem and travel allowances (under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five meeting days unless more are approved, paid from Senate funds.
• Requires the committee to file a report or committee meeting minutes with the Secretary of the Senate if it approves findings by majority vote.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

Georgia senators appointed to the committee, the State Board of Education, local school system administrators and school boards, teachers, students, and charter schools that currently operate under state waivers from class size, salary, and curriculum rules.

Because nearly all Georgia school systems already use waivers affecting class sizes, teacher pay, and other rules, this study could shape future legislation on how much flexibility schools keep and how that flexibility is monitored, though the resolution itself changes no waiver rules.

• Paragraph 1 creates the Senate Study Committee on Local School System Flexibility Options.
• Paragraph 2 sets committee composition at six senators, with the Senate President naming the chairperson.
• Paragraph 3 charges the committee with studying waiver-related issues and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph 5 caps paid allowances at five meeting days unless additional days are authorized, funded through Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph 6 requires a report or committee minutes to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate if approved by majority vote.
• Paragraph 7 abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-03-31Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
3. 2025-03-31Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
4. 2025-03-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
5. 2025-03-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)Primary sponsor
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)

1. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 1 absent)

   Consent Calendar For Senate Study Committees: Senate Vote #380

• education policy
• school waivers
• class size rules
• teacher pay
• legislative study committees