The Georgia Department of Education is seeking input on Draft: State
Board
of Education's Minimum Direct Classroom Expenditures Rule.

During its 2006 session, the Georgia State Legislature enacted the
"Classrooms First for Georgia Act."  Beginning with fiscal year 2008,
and
for every year thereafter, local school systems are required to either
spend a minimum of 65 percent of their total operating expenditures on
direct classroom expenditures, or increase their direct classroom
expenditures as a percent of total operating expenditures by two or more
percentage points over the previous fiscal year.

The draft of the rule and related documents can be accessed from the
Department's website by clicking on the following link, Minimum Direct
Classroom Expenditure Rule, or by pasting the following address in your
preferred web browser:

http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/pea_policy.aspx?PageReq=PEAExRule


Below is the current schedule for public comment, initiation and
adoption
of the Minimum Direct Classroom Expenditures Rule.  These are proposed
dates and are subject to change.

October 1, 2007
Public Input Session - Phone Conference
(2:00pm-3:00pm)
Conference dial-in number:  1-866-237-3252
Conference passcode:  936407


October 4, 2007
Public Input Session - Phone Conference
(6:00pm-7:00pm)
Conference dial-in number:  1-800-214-0745
Conference passcode:  984020
Participant information:

October 11, 2007
Initiation of the Minimum Direct Classroom Expenditures Rule by the
State
Board of Education.
(This is the beginning of the formal rule adoption process.)


December 12, 2007
State Board of Education Public hearing on the Minimum Direct Classroom
Expenditures Rule.
The public hearing will be held at:
Georgia Department of Education
State Board Room, 20th Floor - East Tower
205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE
Atlanta, GA  30334


December 13, 2007
Adoption of the Minimum Direct Classroom Expenditures Rule.
(This is the end of the formal rule adoption process.)


Written comments on the Minimum Direct Classroom Expenditures Rule can
be
sent by:

      E-mail :

      [log in to unmask]


      U.S. Mail to:

      Minimum Direct Classroom Expenditures Rule
      c/o Georgia Department of Education, Policy Division
      2053 Twin Towers East
      205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive
      Atlanta, GA  30334


Allan Meyer
Interim Policy Director
Policy & External Affairs
Georgia Department of Education
205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive
Suite 2053
Atlanta, GA 30334
[log in to unmask]
http://www.gadoe.org