HR1668: HR1668 Education, Department of; local school systems; prioritize the inclusion of ex officio, honorary, and nonvoting student representatives on its local boards of education; urge

This resolution does not change Georgia law. Instead, it expresses the House of Representatives' position that the Department of Education and local school systems should prioritize adding ex officio, honorary, and nonvoting student representatives to local boards of education. The idea is to give students a stronger voice in the policy decisions that affect their academic outcomes. The resolution points to City Schools of Decatur as an example, noting that district already includes a student representative on its board and has seen positive results. It also notes other states allow local boards to appoint student representatives who can attend and participate in meetings but cannot vote, make motions, determine quorum, or join executive sessions. The resolution asks that any policy developed be presented to the chairpersons of the House Committee on Education, and directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the Department of Education and local school systems.

• Urges the Department of Education and local school systems to prioritize adding nonvoting student representatives to local boards of education.
• Describes the intended role of such representatives: they could attend and participate in open board meetings but could not vote, make motions, determine quorum, or join executive sessions.
• Requests that any policy developed on this issue be presented to the chairpersons of the House Committee on Education.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the Department of Education and each local school system.
• Cites City Schools of Decatur as an existing example of a district with a student board representative.

The Georgia Department of Education, local school boards and school systems statewide, and students who might serve as nonvoting representatives on those boards are the groups named in the resolution's text.

Because this is a resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia law, it creates no legal requirement. If school systems act on the request, students could gain a formal but nonvoting seat at board meetings, potentially increasing their input into decisions about academic policy.

• The resolving clause urges the Department of Education and local school systems to prioritize including ex officio, honorary, and nonvoting student representatives on local boards of education.
• A further resolution clause requires any resulting policy to be presented to the chairpersons of the House Committee on Education.
• A further resolution clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the Department of Education and each local school system.
• The whereas clauses describe the model used in other states and cite City Schools of Decatur's experience as supporting context, though these carry no binding legal effect.

1. 2026-03-18House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-16House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-12House Hopper (House)

• Omari Crawford (D, HD-089)Primary sponsor
• Mary Oliver (D, HD-084)
• Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)
• Phil Olaleye (D, HD-059)
• Saira Draper (D, HD-090)
• Long Tran (D, HD-080)

• student representation
• local school boards
• education policy
• student engagement