SR 476: 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, aiming to improve student performance. These waivers can cover class size limits, teacher salary minimums, special education rules, curriculum standards, and other operational matters. The resolution notes that all but two of Georgia's 180 school systems currently hold class size waivers, and that the State Board recently extended existing waivers for another five years. This resolution creates the Senate Study Committee on Local School System Flexibility Options to examine whether these waivers have improved educational outcomes, operational efficiency, equity, and accountability. The committee will have six senators, four appointed by the Senate President and two by the Senate Minority Leader. It can meet, study the issue, and recommend legislation. It must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the Senate Study Committee on Local School System Flexibility Options, made up of six senators.
• Directs the committee to study how local school systems and charter schools use waivers from state education laws and their effects.
• Allows the committee to recommend legislation based on its findings.
• Sets committee member travel and per diem allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days unless extended, funded through Senate appropriations.
• Requires any approved report to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee is abolished.
• Abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

Georgia's local school systems and charter schools that hold waivers from state education requirements, state senators appointed to the committee, the State Board of Education, and by extension teachers and students affected by class size, salary, and curriculum waivers.

The study could shape future legislation on how much flexibility Georgia school systems have to opt out of class size limits, teacher pay minimums, and other state education rules, potentially affecting classroom conditions, teacher retention, and oversight of nearly every district in the state.

• Paragraph (1) creates the Senate Study Committee on Local School System Flexibility Options.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at six senators, with four appointed by the Senate President and two by the Senate Minority Leader, and names a chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying waiver-related issues and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (5) sets member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, limited to five days unless extended, funded from Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires a report only if approved by majority vote before the committee's abolishment, filed with the Secretary of the Senate.
• 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-39)Primary sponsor
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
• Freddie Powell Sims (D, SD-12)
• Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-35)
• Michael 'Doc' Rhett (D, SD-33)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-38)

1. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

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

   CONSENT CALENDAR FOR SENATE STUDY COMMITTEES: Senate Vote #380

• public schools
• education policy
• school waivers
• class size
• teacher pay