Legislative Special Report PAGE Day on Capitol Hill
Educators Gain Insight on 2015 School Funding and Proposed Bills By Josh Stephens, PAGE Legislative Policy Analyst Photos by Robert Matta
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PAGE Executive Director Dr. Allene Magill
State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge
Teacher and State Representative Amy Carter (R-Valdosta) 14 PAGE ONE
n February, scores of educators gathered at the state capitol for the annual PAGE Day on Capitol Hill. Attendees heard reports from the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, House Education Committee and Professional Standards Commission, and they were encouraged to meet with legislators. Claire Suggs, the senior education policy analyst for the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, stressed the impact of state education budget cuts and summarized the fiscal year 2015 state education budget. Next year’s budget will reduce school austerity cuts by $314 million, which Gov. Nathan Deal said will help districts fund a 180-day school year, eliminate furlough days and increase teacher salaries. However, Suggs warned that while reducing austerity cuts is a positive step, $314 million will not allow districts to accomplish all three priorities. She predicted that districts will likely focus on the full school year and ending furlough days. Rep. Mike Dudgeon (R-Johns Creek), vice chairman of the House Education Committee and chair of the House Subcommittee on Academic Innovations, highlighted House Bill 897, the Title 20 Rewrite Bill. The bill, which he sponsored, would tweak Georgia education laws. Earlier in the session, the Title 20 Rewrite Bill was watered down when a section was removed that would have changed how charter schools are funded locally. Dudgeon also addressed House Resolution 1109 and House Bill 802, proposed constitutional amendments allowing a portion of education special local option sales tax
(ESPLOST) revenues to be used on educational programs and materials. He also described House Resolution 486 as a proposed amendment that allows the creation of new school districts in metro cities chartered after 2005 and in adjacent communities. Spotlight on Tiered Certification
To close out the morning, a panel representing the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, including Kelly Henson, Dr. David Hill, Penney McRoy and Kelli Young, addressed the certification rule change to take effect on July 1. It creates four tiers of certification for educators: preinduction, induction, professional standard and professional performance. Hill, who heads the Commission’s Educator Preparation and Certification Division, detailed the change in a video interview with PAGE Week in Review. He said that the pre-induction and induction tiers will help new teachers become better educators and improve student learning. Most current educators will fall under the professional standard tier, he adds. When fully implemented, the tiered system will require teachers to meet performance levels to renew certification. Commission Executive Secretary Kelly Henson said pointedly that educator salaries would in no way be affected by the change. State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge delivered the luncheon keynote address during which he heralded educators for their service and warned attendees about the dangers of Senate Bill 167, legislation n related to Common Core. March/April 2014
