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Found 93 matching passages in 14 documents.
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · February 10, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, February 10, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee heard a teacher recruitment and retention report prepared in response to SR 237, including recommendations on training, financial support, working conditions and school leadership. Members asked about transferring course credits, classroom phone restrictions, reducing teachers’ duties and recognizing prior teaching experience. No action was taken on the report. The committee also held a vote on SB 471, which would make permanent the parental opt-out requirement for school mask mandates, but the chair did not expressly announce the result. The committee unanimously approved a substitute for SB 369 establishing a dropout recovery charter school category and separate performance reporting.
Yeah. But I'm happy to sit down with you and talk. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer those. By the way, I do wanna tell you, there's a lot of people here- Yeah ... that worked on this. Oh, yeah. So they, they'll wave at you. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Uh, yeah. Um, first of all, as, as I've, I've sat through, Senator Payne, I've sat through two,...
... technical schools? ... plus two with nurses. That's already done. But the one that we're pressing for now is education. If, if a person, if they start with a TAP, the Teacher As a Professional, if they start in high school, they're gonna take several courses there. If it transfers up, maybe they go to a technical school, or maybe they go to a USG...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · March 19, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, March 19, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved four bills: HB 1220 on scholarship eligibility, HB 1114 on digital and financial literacy instruction, HB 451 on religious instruction during school release time, and HB 634 on administration of the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program. The vote on HB 1220 was 5 to 4. Members raised concerns about private-school access, younger students’ instructional time, teacher workloads, and rules for religious classes on school property. The Senate sponsor of HB 451 committed to reviewing the school-property language with legislative counsel before floor consideration. No exact vote totals were stated for the other three bills.
Okay. I- I'm, I'm Representative Bill Yeutter. Uh, it's the, uh, substitute to House Bill 1114. It's LC 492797S. And what this bill, uh, does, it deals with digital literacy in the schools and financial literacy also. The digital literacy portion, uh, actually modernizes Georgia's, uh, existing online internet safety statute by adding K through 12 digital...
Uh, also, as I said, preserve local control. Uh, and they have full discretion on how to in- incorporate digital literacy as well as online safety instruction, including, uh, how they wanna approach the instruction. The second part of the bill deals with financial literacy. Back in '22, uh, we adopted a financial literacy bill that required, uh, financial...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · January 27, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, January 27, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered SB 412, which the sponsor said would let teachers and other school personnel use up to five days of accumulated sick leave each school year for personal or professional reasons, rather than three. Members discussed who could approve the leave. Witnesses from the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, Georgia School Boards Association and Department of Education supported the proposal. The committee approved the bill unanimously. The chair announced that there would be no Thursday meeting and that meetings would resume the following Tuesday.
We have a long way to go, but Senate 412 is a good start. We did a survey of, um, well, I asked, um, Richard Smith, who's the director of First District RESA, to do a survey of the RESA, of the school superintendents in our district, First District RESA, and 9 out of 14 of the superintendents, or 65%, supported this bill As, as we all kn- also know, PAGE,...
Yes, ma'am. I'm just... I guess I'm a little worried about that piece, but maybe it'll work out. I'm not, I'm not certain. Yeah. Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you for the question. Well, I think that that would also come in where the- That part's correct ... in his or her authorized- Yeah ... representative, someone who would have the...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · March 3, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, March 3, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered four bills. Members approved SB 589 after removing proposed school-entry cutoff changes and retaining a parental choice provision for pre-K enrollment. They also approved an amended substitute for SB 445, covering Georgia Promise Scholarship eligibility, administration and oversight. After debate over removing discipline data from school climate ratings, the chair postponed action on SB 557 until Thursday. Witnesses supported SB 554, a proposed childcare facilities grant program, describing repair needs, waiting lists and difficulty financing expansion. The committee adjourned without voting on that bill.
That's all right. What number are you? She's- I think- No comment? No, I'll make it. I'm good. Um, thank you, Mr. Chairman. School climate is extremely important, um, in the, the way we r- rate and rank schools, and it's not something that's, that can be, uh, that's predictable. You're dealing with children every day. You're dealing with human beings....
Our school districts and how they're rating the climates of the schools. Okay. Thank you. Senator Kemp? Yeah, I, I wanna just continue on this line 180 to 181, 'cause it seems to me we're throwing the baby out with the bath water, and, you know, we're saying, "Okay, continue to brush the issues under the rug. Now just like, just don't even report it." I...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · February 23, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, February 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved SB 425, requiring cursive handwriting instruction, and SB 497, requiring parental notification and school records for certain noninstructional student services. Members questioned the timing and learning needs involved in cursive instruction. On parental notification, witnesses raised concerns about student privacy and whether reporting requirements could discourage children from seeking help. Seven members voted in favor of SB 497, and opposing votes were acknowledged without a count. The committee postponed SB 475, concerning charter school funding and a proposed change to school district consolidation petitions, until the next day's meeting so members could clarify amendments.
Behm like Baum Okay. Okay. Thanks, sir. Thank you, Chairman. And thank you, Committee. Um, my name's Darlene Lynch. I'm the legal and policy director at Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice. Um, Appleseed is a 20-year-old nonprofit law center that works across the state to ensure every child has a safe and supportive school environment. This year,...
In 2024, 20,000 Georgia sixth graders reported seriously considering harming themselves, and 11,000 considered suicide. If one of them had confided in someone at school, a record of that conversation would follow that child until she graduates or leaves the state, and there would be nothing a parent could do to protect their child's privacy. Indeed, this...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · February 19, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, February 19, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee unanimously approved an amended substitute for SB 472, after discussing school financial oversight and superintendent contracts. It also heard SB 513, which the sponsor said would require attendance support plans and could affect extracurricular participation and access to new driver's licenses or permits. Committee members supported addressing absenteeism, while DeKalb County students and an IDRA witness raised concerns about inconsistent attendance records, transportation barriers and unclear requirements. Members also questioned the driver's license provisions. The committee voted on SB 513, but the transcript does not clearly announce the result or a vote count.
Um, Mr. John Cousins, um, if you'd come up and intro- introduce yourself. You... We, we, we on a tight schedule, so, um, about two minutes at the most. Okay. Yeah. Right here? Yes. Yes, brother. Uh, good aftern- Good afternoon, y'all. Uh, I'm John Cousins. I'm a student from DeKalb County. I'm here with some other students from other schools in DeKalb...
Thank you. I think that would go back to the local school system. I mean, the bill, the bill do- does not address the local system. It, it just makes this mandatory for local systems to put these in, in existence, correct? That is correct. Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. Yeah. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Um, next person is, I have a hard time. D-U,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · February 24, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, February 24, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved SB 475 with an amendment limiting school districts’ obligations to spend education sales tax proceeds on property they do not own. Two members voted against the amended bill. The committee also held hearings, without votes, on SB 519, addressing educator employment and working conditions; HB 200, creating an elementary-school writing pilot; and SB 484, creating a certification pathway for experienced private-school and college teachers. Questions focused on writing-program providers and funding, and on the training and experience needed to enter public-school teaching.
... and committee. Um, this is HB 200, LC number LC61-0408S. And thank you for allowing me to present this bill to you. Um, those that heard it last year, you might remember, um, while I was presenting, this bill, um, it establishes a three-year pilot immersive writing program for elementary schools in Georgia. The program is designed to improve literacy...
And I think if you remember from last year, this book is now on Amazon. Mm. And guess who gets the proceeds? The 11-year-old. Well, she's not 11 years old now. But she gets all the money every time that book is purchased. So what are we doing now? We're creating entrepreneurs. Mm. So that's why I'm so excited about this program and allowing all of our...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · February 3, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, February 3, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered SB 171, which the sponsor described as creating a statewide advanced mathematics pathway to prepare students for higher-level high school courses. Members discussed access, enrollment criteria, teacher preparation, existing programs and options for small school districts. The committee adopted amendments guaranteeing enrollment at a parent or guardian’s request and requiring the State Board of Education to develop the pathway by January 1, 2027. The committee then approved the amended bill, with two members opposed. The total number voting in favor was not stated.
Not necessarily. Thank you
Mr. Chairman, I got another- Yes ... amendment to propose. Sir? I have another amendment to propose. Okay. O- oh, okay. Um, on line 16, at the very beginning- 16 ... on or before July 1, 2026, is what I'd like to insert before the State Board of Education shall develop an adv- advanced mathematics pathway for grades three through eight. Could just put a...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · March 17, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, March 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 971, which the sponsor said would expand access to college and career academies for home-study and private-school students, and unanimously approved HB 907, concerning access to completion schools for students at risk of dropping out or who have already left school. The committee also discussed HB 1220, which the sponsor said would ease scholarship eligibility requirements for certain students and allow larger individual awards without increasing the program’s overall tax-credit cap. Members raised concerns about accountability and the balance between larger awards and serving more students. A motion to recommend against passage tied 5-5 and failed. The acting chair then left the bill without further action for possible consideration at a future meeting.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, committee. I am, uh, talking about LC492473. Yes, sir. Just wanna make sure. Okay. Uh, this is the, uh, what I refer to as a c- a Career Academy Bill. This actually, uh, enhances the current law that we have now for College of Career Academies regarding homeschool kids and private school kids. Basically, the current law...
It's, uh, the key when I, we talked about it in the House was it was opt-in for the school system. And a couple of the opponents at first kind of said, "You know what? It's kind of nice having some homeschool and private school kids at a public school hanging out half a day." Well, they're not hanging out, they're working. If you know anything about...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · March 10, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, March 10, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered and unanimously approved two bills. HB 1107 would establish statewide measures for evaluating teacher preparation programs and make overall performance data public. Discussion focused on teacher readiness, program transparency and reporting requirements for colleges. HB 1164 would strengthen oversight of school system finances through an audit committee, financial risk ratings, reporting requirements and corrective action. The sponsor answered questions about overdue payments, public notice and outside audits. The chair also shared updates on teacher workforce recommendations, school climate ratings and the state literacy plan before the bill presentations.
Thank you for admitting it, and then you can work to renew and then have your contract go back to the standard three year." Uh, it's meant to be a urgency, uh, measure. And then lastly, I would say that the state board, I think, will be very careful when they remove any specific waivers, and those waivers that would be removed would be tied specifically to...
So yeah, they have to notify, Senator, uh, you as the chair of the Education and Youth Committee- Yeah ... the chairman of House Education, both appropriations chairmen in each, um, body, as well as the state board, the governor, the speaker, and lieutenant governor. Yeah. Yeah. And their local community as well. So they would have to post that information...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · March 26, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, March 26, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered three study committees and three education bills. It passed HB 1259 after lowering the proposed school-performance threshold from 70 to 65 and delaying implementation until 2027. Members also proposed limiting new enrollment, but that amendment did not receive a vote. The committee heard proposals to study paid student teaching, charter-school building funding and Rosenwald schools, updating the dates in the first two resolutions to 2026. It also considered a school emergency-preparedness and teacher-planning-time substitute to HB 629, and an education-program reporting substitute to HB 419. Members held show-of-hands votes on those five measures, but the transcript does not clearly announce their final outcomes.
All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of committee. I bring before you the substitute to H- House Bill 629. Yeah. LC 610511S Is that, is that the bill we working, working on? Yes. Okay. All right, that, that's the bill we have. Uh, Mr. Chairman, again, th- this bill is about two things, uh, saving lives in our schools and protecting our- Yes, it is...
Scared life out of me today. You know what? You know what? I'm, I'm laughing at that, but that a- that is not funny. Hey, Lord. Thank you. Um, okay, all all in favor of LC 610508S, as in Sam, please raise your right hand. Thank you. Okay. Thank, thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. And, and Senator Payne has agreed to carry this in, in the Senate. Oh, good. You...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · March 12, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, March 12, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered and advanced three bills: HB 1030, on math instruction and access to advanced courses; HB 1284, on diplomas for high school students facing terminal illness; and HB 1293, on expanding a technical-college program for students who left high school. Discussion covered access to rigorous math instruction, diploma eligibility and medical documentation, and funding for student support services. One member opposed HB 1030. No vote totals were announced for the other two bills.
Uh, or is there an opportunity in this bill to give other students the same at some point in time during their, um, elementary formative years when it, when it is most important? Are we doing that? Or we just, this is just for a few? Let, let me hear what you have to say. Well, Senator, speaking from the business communities, as we see the bill, getting...
No. Okay. Thank you. How are you? He's limping. You doing good? How much time are our students in school, in, in, in school right now spending in math? How much time are they working in math? How much teaching is going on? It, it, it, probably now from doing a lot of, uh, is that on there? Yeah. From doing, uh, many, many schedules probably in your dense...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · February 17, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved SB 487 by committee substitute after adding a Georgia Student Finance Commission representative and a July 1, 2036 expiration date. The sponsor said the bill would continue cooperation among state agencies on teacher workforce data, recruitment and retention. The committee also heard SB 472, which would expand financial monitoring of school districts and allow audit findings to trigger proceedings to suspend school board members. A committee member questioned targeting elected board members when superintendents and financial staff manage daily operations, and proposed allowing board members to seek a superintendent’s suspension. The committee tabled that bill without opposition so the sponsor and the member could work on the concerns.
Effective date ... you can play the sunset off that? Yeah, so without an effective date stated, the default is July 1st- Right ... of the year it's passed. Um, so if y'all wanted to make it a different date, we could add that, but we could keep it July thir- July 1st. Well, in terms of the effective date- Um- ... I would certainly defer to the author. Uh,...
That ties in with what's in 237. So we've tried to take the same people, for the most part, that was involved in 237, just roll them into this bill. Okay. Okay. And- All right. Does everybody have that language? Can somebody say it again? It's on line 35. Mm-hmm. Adding a number six. Correct. Okay. And then add one representative from the Georgia Student...
Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · March 24, 2026
Senate Education and Youth Committee, March 24, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee unanimously approved HB 310, which the sponsor described as a pilot program to help low-income student teachers cover expenses and encourage them to teach in Georgia public schools. Two college students testified about the financial strain of preparing to teach. The committee also heard HB 1259, concerning academic requirements and funding for district-operated virtual schools enrolling students from outside the district. Members debated school performance, oversight, parental choice and the consequences of requiring students to move elsewhere. The chair postponed a vote and said discussion and testimony from the other side would continue Thursday.
Um, I think in this case, you know, this, this, for the, with respect to this program, it's kind of the, the death penalty. Like, we're kind of gonna, gonna put an end to it. Um, why do you think parents choose these options? I mean, if this is, um... A- a- and I, and I don't want to ask you questions you don't have the sta- uh, I don't want to death by...
1,524 students. Yeah. I, I think we should do that carefully. Thank you. We're going, we're, we're out of time, but I am going to recognize there's a couple patient senators down on this end. Um, Senator Parent. Great. I'll be real fast. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, please. Um, I had a similar question as was just expressed about why- Yeah, we're out of...
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