Report from the Capitol - Day 20
by Margaret Ciccarelli on 2/16/2012
Day 20 Marks Midpoint

Gold Dome watchers might think, based on all the debate at the state capitol these days, that the only issues facing education revolve around charter schools. Unfortunately, focus has shifted away from thoughtful education reform and the budget crises felt by Georgia schools. Today marks the midpoint of the 2012 Legislative Session. Let’s hope that education advocates and policy makers can shift the conversation back to funding a full school year and improving student achievement.

New Version of HR 1162<http://www.ciclt.net/sn/leg/l_getbill.aspx?ClientCode=page&L_Session=2011-2012&BillType=hr&BillNo=1162&L_State=ga>—When Will it Hit the House Floor?

At this afternoon’s House Education Committee Meeting, a sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta) announced that House leaders are working on yet another version of HR 1162<http://www.ciclt.net/sn/leg/l_getbill.aspx?ClientCode=page&L_Session=2011-2012&BillType=hr&BillNo=1162&L_State=ga> and that the bill will be on the House calendar as soon as leaders think they have enough votes to pass it.

DOE Charter Report Undermines Pro-Charter Efforts

Georgian’s woke up today to the AJC’S account regarding a charter school report published at yesterday’s State Board of Education meeting. Access the AJC article:http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-charter-schools-dont-1350539.html. The report, compiled by the Georgia Department of Education, sheds light on the achievement of Georgia’s charter schools and shows that students there do no better, and in some instances do worse, than students in traditional public schools. The report indicates that 70% of charter schools hit AYP targets last year, while 73% of traditional public schools did so. View the whole report here:See the 2010-2011 Annual Charter Schools Report<http://www.pageinc.org/associations/9445/files/2010_2011_Annual_Report_Charter_Schools.pdf>

Senate Ed Passes Bills PAGE Supported Bill

PAGE spoke in favor of an amended version of SB 153<http://www.ciclt.net/sn/leg/l_getbill.aspx?ClientCode=page&L_Session=2011-2012&BillType=sb&BillNo=153&L_State=ga>, sponsored by Senator Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) which seeks to keep school employees laid off due to budget shortfalls from being penalized when later applying for employment. Currently, such employees are lumped into the same category as educators who are non-renewed for performance problems. The bill passed and now moves to Rules for placement on the Senate voting calendar.

Senate Ed also passed the following legislation which now moves to Rules:

  *   SB 289<http://www.ciclt.net/sn/leg/l_getbill.aspx?ClientCode=page&L_Session=2011-2012&BillType=sb&BillNo=289&L_State=ga> requires high school students to take at least one online course and provides for the administration of online end of course tests.

  *   SB 381<http://www.ciclt.net/sn/leg/l_getbill.aspx?ClientCode=page&L_Session=2011-2012&BillType=sb&BillNo=381&L_State=ga> directs that state budgets be transmitted to the state and also to the Carl Vinson Institute.

  *   SB 405<http://www.ciclt.net/sn/leg/l_getbill.aspx?ClientCode=page&L_Session=2011-2012&BillType=sb&BillNo=405&L_State=ga> excuses private colleges which transmit confidential information to the state in the instance of a confidentiality breach due to no fault of the college.

  *   SB 406<http://www.ciclt.net/sn/leg/l_getbill.aspx?ClientCode=page&L_Session=2011-2012&BillType=sb&BillNo=406&L_State=ga> names a recently-passed law mandating the emergency closure of a daycare after a child’s death the “Jace Hester Law.” The bill honors a child who died in daycare in an incident which gave rise to the law.



PAGE Day at the state Capitol is Tuesday, February 21, 2012. Visit with state education officials and your House and Senate member. Register online now at http://www.ciclt.net/sn/events/e_signup.aspx?ClientCode=page&E_ID=500055&RegType=ATT



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