Georgia CommonsSearch every collection
Search Georgia Commons
Bills, Supreme Court opinions, the Code and the two constitutions, and House and Senate meeting transcripts, in one search. Ask in plain words: the search ranks passages by meaning as well as by their words.
Filters:Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee Clear filters
Found 14 matching 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.
... 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...
Mm-hmm. And so it's an issue. I can tell you, I have, I have twins. They've just graduated. They're in their first year of college. Their high school had already done it. Uh, now they didn't take it from them, but they had a process in place where they could not touch their phone, uh, during class time, and that helped a lot for them, I can tell you. Okay....
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.
Right. Yes, sir. That's exactly right. And he said, "And, and that's just something, it's something we take for, as common knowledge in the adult world, and the young people don't know until they have to know." That's right. And so that is such a great advantage to giving these people, these young people the, the opportunity for under- understanding...
Mm-hmm. It's, it's more or less just instructing the students that they're, you know, on, you know, things that deal with digi- digital literacy. A- and so, like, is there, like, a, like, a model curriculum or, like, something, an example from another state? 'Cause my concern, what I'm getting at, is teachers are already stretched thin, and we have 70% of...
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 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 · 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 · 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 · 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
Thank you. But that's my concern. I, I don't think I can get an answer from today. Any more comments from the committee? I've got one question, if I may. Oh, you do? Okay. Oh, okay, I didn't see you online. Okay. Uh, Michael, in the states that have done this, is the criteria typically a certain percentile within the school, or is the criteria a statewide...
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.
Now, uh, Senator Waiter, if you'd, uh, come forward and you can present your bill. What... This is House Bill 907. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Um, this is, uh, another bill that is oriented to students at risk of dropping out or who have dropped out. And so y'all, many of you who've been on the committee for a while know we've had...
And the s- the, um, bill on line 74 also makes it clear that every student has the right to attend one of these public schools if they want to. Uh, there's no gatekeeping here. We have seen that in a few areas of the state, where because these students stay in their graduation rate, they might be tempted to encourage them to, um, leave the school system....
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.
Yes. Okay. So the ... Okay, the first, First Amendment. Oh, wait. Yeah. Hold on. One thing we can do. Can you do the other one? Huh? Start with the, start with the- Start with his. Yes. Okay. That's why I asked y'all for a consensus. And the date. If her date passes, then we still ... Then your 65 can get the date. So we could split them out to three...
Yes. Now you gotta get another bill. Huh? Now you gotta- 65 and 27. So we got, we got, we got 65%- I, I got one more. Yeah. Oh, oh. Well. You what? I have another amendment. He's probably gonna do what I was gonna do. So, okay. So- Senator, I just Well, we're doing all we can, man. You just gotta bear with us. I, I was like, I, I feel like you guys are 40...
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.
So we got five minutes left, so. Okay. Big Bird called. He wants those socks back after this hearing, if we can do that, so. I'll remember that. Um, piggybacking on Chairman Dolezal, um, Senate Bill 233 from a couple years ago, a, a major component of it was, uh, virtual transfers, kids that want to be able to do a ful- full virtual transfer if there is an...
Is there, any time we have a school that is below, um, using line 35 in the bill, uh, "failed to maintain an average of 70 or above in the CCRPI over the previous two school years," do we use that same metric on public schools, private schools, or anything else where they may fall behind for whatever reason to give them an opportunity to pull back up? Um,...
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.
Bill, if not great bills today, and I think you'll enjoy both of those. Um, very, very good. So, but, but, uh, first of all, let's start off with a prayer, and, um, Sir Dolezal, you want to pray for us? Sure. Oh, I'm sorry. Hold on. Team. Okay. God, thank you for the gift of life today. Just thank you for the way you've uniquely gifted each one of these men...
One being the lowest rating and five being the highest. And I think you'll be, be very interested. In my, in my county, the school that I thought was probably the lowest was the highest, and the highest was the lowest. So that, that was very, very encouraging. And then, then the last thing you, that, uh, we're gonna, we've sent to you is the
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.
About these three bills. These bills are very special to, uh, the presenters, but also special to the Senate members too. So, um, we're gonna start off with, um, Senator Payne, uh, doing a prayer for us. Please, sir. Number 10. Number nine. Nine, I'm sorry. Right next to me. If you'll pray with me. Dear heavenly Father, Lord, we just thank you for this time...
South Gwinnett High School. South Gwinnett. Yes. Okay. A good-looking young man. He takes after his mom. Well, well, well he looks a lot like his brother that's sitting here. Yeah. For sure. For sure. Wow. There's a lot of parents and grandparents in this room, and there may be some great-grandparents, so we, uh, we... God bless y'all. That's about all we...
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.
Correct. So they should be, they should be making improvements on that, um, which also then benefit that charter school that's housed there. So I'm not precluding, I'm not trying to say only what they own today, but just if it's owned by the school system, then it should. And, and there are different contractual agreements in place also for charters based...
Okay ... again, at the end of line 63, perhaps this covers the discussion. Um, provided however that the local school system shall have no obligation to expend proceeds of such sales tax for the purchase or improvement of property or facilities owned by a local charter school or any entity other than the local school system. That probably does it Yes, sir...
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.
What's the difference? Financial audit is when you l- look at the numbers. A, a compliance audit is when you look at a process. Are, are, are, are invoices being approved properly? Are, um, uh, are che- are checks signed, dual signatures, or, you know, those type of things. Well, this particular school system that created the majority of the work on this...
And I'll share some of that with you in a few minutes. So, so what happened was w- w- whenever a, a group of us started, uh, DOE started calling weekly, we actually have weekly meetings with this, uh, on this project, and DOE sent people in to kind of take over running the operations of the school system. Um, they were behind s- they were behind $6.1...
Narrow the results
Counts are of the documents this search found.