HB 1030: Math Matters Act; enact

Georgia currently has no statewide requirement for advanced math course offerings or a minimum amount of daily math instruction in elementary school. This bill creates the Math Matters Act inside Georgia's education code (O.C.G.A. Title 20, Chapter 2) to change that. Starting with the 2027-2028 school year, local school districts must provide at least 60 minutes a day or 300 minutes a week of core math instruction in grades four and five. The State Board of Education must set standards for advanced math courses in grades eight through ten by January 1, 2027, and the Department of Education must help districts build advanced courses in grades six and seven. Districts must automatically enroll high-scoring students in advanced math, let parents opt out, and let parents request enrollment for other students. Districts must report enrollment data yearly, and the law cannot be waived by charter systems or strategic waiver schools. The bill also directs the Professional Standards Commission to update teacher certification standards to cover evidence based math instruction. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

• Creates the Math Matters Act, adding a new Georgia Code section requiring math instruction and advanced course reforms in public schools.
• Requires at least 60 minutes daily or 300 minutes weekly of core math instruction for students in grades four and five starting in 2027-2028.
• Requires the State Board of Education to set content standards for advanced math courses in grades eight through ten by January 1, 2027.
• Requires local school districts to automatically enroll high-scoring students in advanced math courses in grades six through ten, with an opt-out process for parents.
• Requires the Department of Education to publish an annual report on advanced math enrollment, broken down by race, sex, income, disability, and language proficiency.
• Requires the Professional Standards Commission to update teacher certification standards so future elementary teachers are trained in evidence based math instruction.

Students in Georgia public elementary and middle schools, especially those in grades four through ten; parents and guardians who will receive enrollment notices and opt-out or opt-in choices; local school districts and charter systems, which must build new courses and reporting systems; and colleges training future elementary school teachers.

Georgia students who test well in math would be automatically placed into more challenging courses unless a parent opts them out, and younger students would get more guaranteed math class time. Teacher training programs would also have to change what they teach about math instruction, affecting how future teachers are prepared.

• Section 1 adds O.C.G.A. § 20-2-153.2, naming the law the 'Math Matters Act' and defining terms like 'advanced math course' and 'four strands of mathematical proficiency.'
• Section 1(c) sets a minimum of 60 minutes daily or 300 minutes weekly of core math instruction for grades four and five beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.
• Section 1(e) requires the State Board of Education to adopt advanced math content standards for grades eight through ten by January 1, 2027, including Enhanced Algebra: Concepts and Connections.
• Section 1(f) requires automatic enrollment of high-scoring students into advanced math courses in grades six through ten, with a parent withdrawal procedure and a request process for other students.
• Section 1(f)(4) requires the Department of Education to submit an annual report to House and Senate education and appropriations committees starting October 1, 2028.
• Section 1(g) blocks charter systems, strategic waiver school systems, and certain other schools from waiving out of these requirements.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 20-2-984 to require GACE teacher certification tests, beginning July 1, 2028, to align with evidence based math instruction as well as literacy instruction.
• Section 2 also requires teacher certification programs to ensure elementary education graduates can teach the four strands of mathematical proficiency and use evidence based math instruction and interventions.

1. 2026-05-05Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-05Act 394
3. 2026-05-05House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-27House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2026-03-23Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2026-03-23Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2026-03-18Senate Read Second Time (Senate)

• Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)Primary sponsor
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)
• Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)
• Steven McNeel (R, SD-018)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 25, 2026

   171 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #560

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 23, 2026

   51 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #785

3. PassedHouse voteMarch 27, 2026

   158 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 13 absent)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #778

• math education
• public schools
• teacher certification
• advanced coursework
• K-12 curriculum