by Georgia Charter Schools Association
[Editor’s Note: Andrew Lewis is Executive Vice President of the Georgia Charter Schools Association (91吃瓜) Here he updates听charter school advocates on the outcomes听of charter school-related bills that听made it to the very end of the听Georgia General Assembly’s 2015 legislative session.]
听
By Andrew Lewis,
听
The 2015 Session of the Georgia General Assembly has come to an end.听Many bills failed to pass out of both chambers.听Some bills receiving the necessary votes from the General Assembly will fail to become law if the Governor uses his veto powers.听The remaining bills will either become law with the Governor鈥檚 signature or if unsigned, will become law on July 1st, 2015.
听
Of the 139 K-12 education related pieces of legislation under consideration for the 2015 Session of the Georgia General Assembly, only 28 (20%) passed the House and Senate and await the Governor鈥檚 signature.
听
With the General Assembly finishing year one of two in a two-session cycle, bills that failed to pass both the House and Senate are considered 鈥渁ctive bills鈥� for the 2016 Session.听
听
听
Of the 139 K-12 education related pieces of legislation under consideration for the 2015 Session of the Georgia General Assembly, only 28 (20%) passed the House and Senate and await the Governor鈥檚 signature.
听
With the General Assembly finishing year one of two in a two-session cycle, bills that failed to pass both the House and Senate are considered 鈥渁ctive bills鈥� for the 2016 Session.听
听
91吃瓜 Has Successful 2015 Session
With an abundance of support from the Governor, State Legislative leaders and Members, as well as our members who made their voices heard, we are able to report a mostly successful 2015 Session.听91吃瓜 actively supported eight charter school related pieces of legislation, opposed two charter school related bills, and remained neutral on 2 charter related bills.
听
Of the eight charter school related pieces of legislation, only two bills did not pass out of the Georgia General Assembly.听House Bill 271, the 鈥渃harter schools in the workplace鈥� never made it out of the House Rules Committee while Senate Bill 80, attempting to clarify funding issues for state many approved charter schools was stymied in the Senate Education Committee just as it was in the 2014 Session of the General Assembly.听
听
91吃瓜, working with House and Senate leadership, as well as the Governor鈥檚 office, saw the passage of HB 372, the 鈥淯topian Academy of the Arts Act鈥�, HB 502, the annual 鈥淭itle 20 Cleanup Bill鈥�, SB 156, allowing the State Charter Schools Commission to establish a 501c3 non-profit entity, SR 287, the 鈥淥pportunity School District鈥� amendment and its enabling legislation, SB 133.
听
When it was determined House Bill 474, the weighted lottery bill, was in jeopardy of failing to receive passage on Day 40, 91吃瓜 worked with Representative Christian Coomer, the sponsor of HB 372, to have the language of HB 474 placed on HB 372.听 Though risky, these last minute actions on Day 40 allowed weighted lotteries for charter schools to be approved, pending the signature of Governor Deal.
听
91吃瓜 actively opposed two bills, HB 16, allowing students attending magnet schools to participate in extracurricular activities at the home high school and HB 525, unnecessarily attempting to hold charter schools accountable to measures for which charter schools are already held accountable.
听
Though 91吃瓜 was 鈥渘eutral鈥� on HB 65, requiring some charter schools and all local boards of education to conduct two open meetings regarding their annual budget before the budget can be approved, and HB 144, a weak bill attempting to protect online charter school student data.听91吃瓜 worked with the sponsor of HB 65 to vastly improve the language of the bill.
听
听
Of the eight charter school related pieces of legislation, only two bills did not pass out of the Georgia General Assembly.听House Bill 271, the 鈥渃harter schools in the workplace鈥� never made it out of the House Rules Committee while Senate Bill 80, attempting to clarify funding issues for state many approved charter schools was stymied in the Senate Education Committee just as it was in the 2014 Session of the General Assembly.听
听
91吃瓜, working with House and Senate leadership, as well as the Governor鈥檚 office, saw the passage of HB 372, the 鈥淯topian Academy of the Arts Act鈥�, HB 502, the annual 鈥淭itle 20 Cleanup Bill鈥�, SB 156, allowing the State Charter Schools Commission to establish a 501c3 non-profit entity, SR 287, the 鈥淥pportunity School District鈥� amendment and its enabling legislation, SB 133.
听
When it was determined House Bill 474, the weighted lottery bill, was in jeopardy of failing to receive passage on Day 40, 91吃瓜 worked with Representative Christian Coomer, the sponsor of HB 372, to have the language of HB 474 placed on HB 372.听 Though risky, these last minute actions on Day 40 allowed weighted lotteries for charter schools to be approved, pending the signature of Governor Deal.
听
91吃瓜 actively opposed two bills, HB 16, allowing students attending magnet schools to participate in extracurricular activities at the home high school and HB 525, unnecessarily attempting to hold charter schools accountable to measures for which charter schools are already held accountable.
听
Though 91吃瓜 was 鈥渘eutral鈥� on HB 65, requiring some charter schools and all local boards of education to conduct two open meetings regarding their annual budget before the budget can be approved, and HB 144, a weak bill attempting to protect online charter school student data.听91吃瓜 worked with the sponsor of HB 65 to vastly improve the language of the bill.
听
CHARTER SCHOOL RELATED BILLS
(Still Alive for 2015 Having Crossed Either the House听or the Senate)
– * House or Senate Resolution
– Updates, additions, or new bills from the last 91吃瓜 Legislative Newsletter
听
, Education; local boards of education and certain charter schools to hold at least two public meetings on the proposed annual operating budget; require; ,STATUS:听Feb/12/2015听–听House Passed/Adopted (), Mar/19/2015听–听Senate Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute, Mar/20/2015 鈥� Senate Read Second Time, Mar/30/2015 鈥� In Rules Committee,听BILL IS DEAD
91吃瓜 ANALYSIS:听 HB 65 would require boards of charter schools, along with local boards of education, to 鈥�hold at least two public meetings for the purpose of providing an opportunity for public input on its proposed annual operating budget before adopting any budget.鈥澨� The bill exempts 鈥�college and career academies that are charter schools; conversion charter schools whose charter is not held by a non-profit corporation; or system charter schools.鈥澨齏hile 91吃瓜 supports transparency, we continue to address with the bill鈥檚 sponsor the need to provide transparency for all public schools, not just a select few.听
TIMELINE:听 91吃瓜 has met with the bill鈥檚 sponsor on numerous occasions in an attempt to improve HB65.听Rep. Caldwell is seeking transparency for parents to better understand how education dollars are spent at district and school level.听91吃瓜 met with Rep. Caldwell immediately after the bill passed the House Education Committee to address concerns, most notably the burdensome requirement of holding board meetings in various parts of the state.听 Mar/19/2015 鈥� Rep. Michael Caldwell, working with 91吃瓜, provided a Senate Substitute to the Senate Education & Youth Committee, adjusting the language regarding charter schools with a statewide attendance zone having to conduct one of their board meetings in the City of Atlanta.听 Using suggested 91吃瓜 language, Rep. Caldwell changed the language to read, 鈥�The governing body of a charter school with a state-wide attendance zone and students residing in 25 percent or more of Georgia’s counties or in three or more counties which are not geographically contiguous shall conduct one such public meeting in the county in which its primary business office is located and one such public meeting in the metropolitan Atlanta area.鈥澨� Mar/30/2015 – Over days 39 and 40, HB 65 must receive a 鈥渄o pass鈥� from Rules Committee for a full Senate vote.听 HB 65 then must receive a House 鈥渁greement鈥� to be considered by the Governor for signature into law.听 April 2nd 鈥� House Bill 65 failed to receive a vote on the Senate floor and is considered 鈥渄ead鈥� for 2015.
91吃瓜 POSITION: NEUTRAL
听
听
, Utopian Academy for the Arts Act; enact, ,
STATUS:听Feb/19/2015听–听House Second Readers, Mar/3/2015 鈥揌ouse Education Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute, Mar/5/2015 鈥揌ouse passes (170 鈥� 0), Mar/30/2015 鈥� In Rules Committee, Mar/31/2015 鈥� Senate passes by Substitute (44 鈥� 8), Apr/02/2015听–听Senate Agreed House Amend or Substitute, AWAITS GOVERNOR鈥橲 SIGNATURE INTO LAW
91吃瓜 ANALYSIS: HB 372 would prohibit additional requirements of a charter school to operate that has passed state facility inspections and received a certificate of occupancy.听 This bill is a direct result from the continuous obstruction by Clayton County Schools to prevent Utopian Academy for the Arts from occupying their school facility.听HB 372 added the entirety of House Bill 474, the weighted lottery bill.
TIMELINE:听 Mar/5/2015 – HB 372 has passed the House and now travels to the Senate, Mar/20/2015 鈥� Senate Education Committee hear the bill and asked for further clarification on the impact a charter school working with a for-profit education management organization may have in bill were signed in to law. HB 372 will be heard and voted by the Senate Education & Youth Committee on Monday March 23rd. Mar/30/2015 – Over days 39 and 40, HB 372 must receive a 鈥渄o pass鈥� from Rules Committee for a full Senate vote.听 HB 372 then must receive a House 鈥渁greement鈥� to be considered by the Governor for signature into law.听 Apr/02/2015听–听Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub and awaits signature into law by the Governor.
91吃瓜 POSITION:听 SUPPORT
听
听
, Charter schools; enrollment priorities for educationally disadvantaged students and military students; provide, ,
STATUS:听Feb/26/2015听–听House Second Readers, Mar/3/2015 鈥� House Education Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute, Mar/13/2015 – House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (166 鈥� 2), Mar/20/2015 鈥� HB 474 awaits a hearing and vote in the Senate Education & Youth Committee. 听Mar/30/2015 – In Rules Committee, BILL IS DEAD
91吃瓜 ANALYSIS: HB 474 would allow charter schools to utilize federal guidelines around weighted lotteries to assist charter schools wanting to more proactively serve students considered 鈥渆ducationally disadvantaged鈥�.听 Often for many charter schools, changing demographics and more affluence within the communities they serve, prevent the charters from serving a diverse student population as their mission statement requires.
TIMELINE: House Education Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute last week.听HB 474 has three working days to get voted out of House Rules and receive a majority vote by the full House.听If the bill is unable to receive a majority vote by the full House, the bill will be considered 鈥渄ead鈥� for the 2015 session.听 91吃瓜 has worked very closely with the bill鈥檚 sponsor as well as member charter school leaders to seek passage.听After striking the term 鈥渕igrant students鈥� from the definition of educationally disadvantaged, HB 474 passed the full House 166 鈥� 2.听 Mar/20/2015 鈥� HB 474 awaits a hearing and vote in the Senate Education & Youth Committee. 听Mar/30/2015听–听Over days 39 and 40, HB 474 must receive a 鈥渄o pass鈥� from Rules Committee for a full Senate vote.听HB 474 then must receive a House 鈥渁greement鈥� to be considered by the Governor for signature into law.听 The language of HB 474 was placed in its entirety in House Bill 372, the Utopian School for the Arts Act.听 April 2nd 鈥撯�� House Bill 474 failed to receive a vote on the Senate floor and is considered 鈥渄ead鈥� for 2015.
91吃瓜 POSITION:听 SUPPORT
听
听
, Elementary and secondary education; update and clarify provisions and repeal obsolete provisions, ,
STATUS:听Mar/05/2015听–听House Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute, Mar/11/2015 – House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (170 鈥� 0), Mar/13/2015 – Senate Read and Referred, Mar/20/2015 鈥� HB 502 awaits a hearing and vote in the Senate Education & Youth Committee.听 Mar/31/2015 鈥� Senate passes by Substitute (46 鈥� 4), Apr/02/2015听–听Senate Agreed House Amend or Substitute, AWAITS GOVERNOR鈥橲 SIGNATURE INTO LAW
91吃瓜 ANALYSIS: HB 502 is the annual Title 20 鈥渃leanup鈥� bill.听 The bill had a late start this year.听The bill has adopted the language from SB 80, as SB 80 was not traveling on the Senate side.听There are some additional charter related changes; changing the date when charters must turn in their annual audit report to the state from October 1 to November 1.听This change allows charters to use the Oct FTE count, allowing audit numbers to more accurately reflect enrolled students.听
TIMELINE:听 Feb/19/2015 鈥� House Education Subcommittee for Academic Innovations to hear HB 502 on Wednesday March 4.听 Mar/05/2015听–听House Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute.听 HB 502 has three working days to get voted out of House Rules and receive a majority vote by the full House.听 If the bill is unable to receive a majority vote by the full House, the bill will be considered 鈥渄ead鈥� for the 2015 session.听 HB502 moved quickly out of Rules, the full House, and assigned to the Senate Education & Youth Committee last week.听 Mar/20/2015 鈥� HB 502 awaits a hearing and vote in the Senate Education & Youth Committee.听 Mar/30/2015 – Over days 39 and 40, HB 502 must receive a 鈥渄o pass鈥� from Rules Committee for a full Senate vote.听 HB 502 then must receive a House 鈥渁greement鈥� to be considered by the Governor for signature into law.听 Apr/02/2015听–听Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub and awaits signature into law by the Governor.
91吃瓜 POSITION:听 SUPPORT
听
听
, State Charter Schools Commission; authorize to establish a nonprofit foundation, ,
STATUS:听Mar/04/2015 鈥� Passed out of Senate Education & Youth Committee and is now in Senate Rules.听 Mar/09/2015 – Senate Passed/Adopted (44 鈥� 9), Mar/11/2015 – House First Readers, Mar/13/2015 – House Second Readers, Mar/20/2015 鈥� SB 156 received a 鈥渄o pass鈥� at subcommittee and will be voted on by the full House Education Committee later this week.听 Mar/30/2015 鈥� In Rules Committee.听 Mar/31/2015 鈥� House passes (151 鈥� 13), AWAITS GOVERNOR鈥橲 SIGNATURE INTO LAW
91吃瓜 ANALYSIS: SB 156 would allow the State Charter Schools Commission to establish a 501c3 nonprofit foundation, similar to 501c3 nonprofit foundations for numerous school districts across Georgia.听
TIMELINE:听 Mar/04/2015 鈥� Passed out of Senate Education & Youth Committee.听 SB 156 has three working days to get voted out of Senate Rules and receive a majority vote by the full Senate.听 If the bill is unable to receive a majority vote by the full House, the bill will be considered 鈥渄ead鈥� for the 2015 session.听 Mar/30/2015 – Over days 39 and 40, SB 156 must receive a 鈥渄o pass鈥� from Rules Committee for a full House vote to then be considered by the Governor for signature into law.听 Apr/02/2015听鈥撎鼿ouse passes and bill awaits signature into law by the Governor.
91吃瓜 POSITION:听 SUPPORT
听
听
* , Opportunity School District; allow the General Assembly to authorize the establishment; provide for state intervention for failing schools, , AND , Opportunity School District; establishment; provide for definitions; supervision of public elementary and secondary schools that are failing, ,
STATUS:听Mar/05/2015 鈥� * Senate passed SR 287 by Substitute
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听()
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 Mar/05/2015 鈥� Senate passed SB 133 by Substitute
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 ()
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 Mar/25/2015 – * House passed SR 287 ()
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 Mar/25/2015 – House passed SB 133 ()
– SB 133 AWAITS GOVERNOR鈥橲 SIGNATURE INTO LAW
– SR 287, AS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, WILL REQUIRE A 50 PERCENT PLUS 1 MAJORITY VOTE BY GEORGIA VOTERS IN NOVEMBER 2016 TO BE FULLY ADOPTED.
91吃瓜 ANALYSIS: An amendment to the Constitution of Georgia and enabling legislation so as to allow the General Assembly to authorize the establishment of an Opportunity School District to provide for state intervention for failing schools.听If passed, one option will be the reorganization of schools as charter schools.
TIMELINE:听 SR 287 and its enabling legislation, SB 133 was heard in the Senate Education & Youth Committee on Monday February 22nd for the first time.听 A second hearing will be held on Monday March 2.听 SR 287 and its enabling legislation, SB 133 followed identical paths last week, passing the Senate in a heated debate.听SR 287 required a constitutional majority of 38 votes to pass.听Both SR 133 and SB 287 travel to the House.听SR 133 and SB 287 will be heard by the full House Education Committee on Wednesday March 18 and will allow public comments.听 SR 133 and SB 287 will be voted on by the full House Education Committee on Monday March 23.听Both SB 133 and SR 287 have received the necessary votes by the House and Senate chambers and the Senate 鈥渁greed鈥� on the House amendments.听SB 133 travels to the Governor for signature into law.听SR 287, as a constitutional amendment, will require a 50 percent plus 1 majority vote by Georgia voters in November 2016 to be fully adopted.
91吃瓜 POSITION:听 SUPPORT
– Updates, additions, or new bills from the last 91吃瓜 Legislative Newsletter
听
, Education; local boards of education and certain charter schools to hold at least two public meetings on the proposed annual operating budget; require; ,STATUS:听Feb/12/2015听–听House Passed/Adopted (), Mar/19/2015听–听Senate Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute, Mar/20/2015 鈥� Senate Read Second Time, Mar/30/2015 鈥� In Rules Committee,听BILL IS DEAD
91吃瓜 ANALYSIS:听 HB 65 would require boards of charter schools, along with local boards of education, to 鈥�hold at least two public meetings for the purpose of providing an opportunity for public input on its proposed annual operating budget before adopting any budget.鈥澨� The bill exempts 鈥�college and career academies that are charter schools; conversion charter schools whose charter is not held by a non-profit corporation; or system charter schools.鈥澨齏hile 91吃瓜 supports transparency, we continue to address with the bill鈥檚 sponsor the need to provide transparency for all public schools, not just a select few.听
TIMELINE:听 91吃瓜 has met with the bill鈥檚 sponsor on numerous occasions in an attempt to improve HB65.听Rep. Caldwell is seeking transparency for parents to better understand how education dollars are spent at district and school level.听91吃瓜 met with Rep. Caldwell immediately after the bill passed the House Education Committee to address concerns, most notably the burdensome requirement of holding board meetings in various parts of the state.听 Mar/19/2015 鈥� Rep. Michael Caldwell, working with 91吃瓜, provided a Senate Substitute to the Senate Education & Youth Committee, adjusting the language regarding charter schools with a statewide attendance zone having to conduct one of their board meetings in the City of Atlanta.听 Using suggested 91吃瓜 language, Rep. Caldwell changed the language to read, 鈥�The governing body of a charter school with a state-wide attendance zone and students residing in 25 percent or more of Georgia’s counties or in three or more counties which are not geographically contiguous shall conduct one such public meeting in the county in which its primary business office is located and one such public meeting in the metropolitan Atlanta area.鈥澨� Mar/30/2015 – Over days 39 and 40, HB 65 must receive a 鈥渄o pass鈥� from Rules Committee for a full Senate vote.听 HB 65 then must receive a House 鈥渁greement鈥� to be considered by the Governor for signature into law.听 April 2nd 鈥� House Bill 65 failed to receive a vote on the Senate floor and is considered 鈥渄ead鈥� for 2015.
91吃瓜 POSITION: NEUTRAL
听
听
, Utopian Academy for the Arts Act; enact, ,
STATUS:听Feb/19/2015听–听House Second Readers, Mar/3/2015 鈥揌ouse Education Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute, Mar/5/2015 鈥揌ouse passes (170 鈥� 0), Mar/30/2015 鈥� In Rules Committee, Mar/31/2015 鈥� Senate passes by Substitute (44 鈥� 8), Apr/02/2015听–听Senate Agreed House Amend or Substitute, AWAITS GOVERNOR鈥橲 SIGNATURE INTO LAW
91吃瓜 ANALYSIS: HB 372 would prohibit additional requirements of a charter school to operate that has passed state facility inspections and received a certificate of occupancy.听 This bill is a direct result from the continuous obstruction by Clayton County Schools to prevent Utopian Academy for the Arts from occupying their school facility.听HB 372 added the entirety of House Bill 474, the weighted lottery bill.
TIMELINE:听 Mar/5/2015 – HB 372 has passed the House and now travels to the Senate, Mar/20/2015 鈥� Senate Education Committee hear the bill and asked for further clarification on the impact a charter school working with a for-profit education management organization may have in bill were signed in to law. HB 372 will be heard and voted by the Senate Education & Youth Committee on Monday March 23rd. Mar/30/2015 – Over days 39 and 40, HB 372 must receive a 鈥渄o pass鈥� from Rules Committee for a full Senate vote.听 HB 372 then must receive a House 鈥渁greement鈥� to be considered by the Governor for signature into law.听 Apr/02/2015听–听Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub and awaits signature into law by the Governor.
91吃瓜 POSITION:听 SUPPORT
听
听
, Charter schools; enrollment priorities for educationally disadvantaged students and military students; provide, ,
STATUS:听Feb/26/2015听–听House Second Readers, Mar/3/2015 鈥� House Education Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute, Mar/13/2015 – House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (166 鈥� 2), Mar/20/2015 鈥� HB 474 awaits a hearing and vote in the Senate Education & Youth Committee. 听Mar/30/2015 – In Rules Committee, BILL IS DEAD
91吃瓜 ANALYSIS: HB 474 would allow charter schools to utilize federal guidelines around weighted lotteries to assist charter schools wanting to more proactively serve students considered 鈥渆ducationally disadvantaged鈥�.听 Often for many charter schools, changing demographics and more affluence within the communities they serve, prevent the charters from serving a diverse student population as their mission statement requires.
TIMELINE: House Education Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute last week.听HB 474 has three working days to get voted out of House Rules and receive a majority vote by the full House.听If the bill is unable to receive a majority vote by the full House, the bill will be considered 鈥渄ead鈥� for the 2015 session.听 91吃瓜 has worked very closely with the bill鈥檚 sponsor as well as member charter school leaders to seek passage.听After striking the term 鈥渕igrant students鈥� from the definition of educationally disadvantaged, HB 474 passed the full House 166 鈥� 2.听 Mar/20/2015 鈥� HB 474 awaits a hearing and vote in the Senate Education & Youth Committee. 听Mar/30/2015听–听Over days 39 and 40, HB 474 must receive a 鈥渄o pass鈥� from Rules Committee for a full Senate vote.听HB 474 then must receive a House 鈥渁greement鈥� to be considered by the Governor for signature into law.听 The language of HB 474 was placed in its entirety in House Bill 372, the Utopian School for the Arts Act.听 April 2nd 鈥撯�� House Bill 474 failed to receive a vote on the Senate floor and is considered 鈥渄ead鈥� for 2015.
91吃瓜 POSITION:听 SUPPORT
听
听
, Elementary and secondary education; update and clarify provisions and repeal obsolete provisions, ,
STATUS:听Mar/05/2015听–听House Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute, Mar/11/2015 – House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (170 鈥� 0), Mar/13/2015 – Senate Read and Referred, Mar/20/2015 鈥� HB 502 awaits a hearing and vote in the Senate Education & Youth Committee.听 Mar/31/2015 鈥� Senate passes by Substitute (46 鈥� 4), Apr/02/2015听–听Senate Agreed House Amend or Substitute, AWAITS GOVERNOR鈥橲 SIGNATURE INTO LAW
91吃瓜 ANALYSIS: HB 502 is the annual Title 20 鈥渃leanup鈥� bill.听 The bill had a late start this year.听The bill has adopted the language from SB 80, as SB 80 was not traveling on the Senate side.听There are some additional charter related changes; changing the date when charters must turn in their annual audit report to the state from October 1 to November 1.听This change allows charters to use the Oct FTE count, allowing audit numbers to more accurately reflect enrolled students.听
TIMELINE:听 Feb/19/2015 鈥� House Education Subcommittee for Academic Innovations to hear HB 502 on Wednesday March 4.听 Mar/05/2015听–听House Committee Favorably Reported by Substitute.听 HB 502 has three working days to get voted out of House Rules and receive a majority vote by the full House.听 If the bill is unable to receive a majority vote by the full House, the bill will be considered 鈥渄ead鈥� for the 2015 session.听 HB502 moved quickly out of Rules, the full House, and assigned to the Senate Education & Youth Committee last week.听 Mar/20/2015 鈥� HB 502 awaits a hearing and vote in the Senate Education & Youth Committee.听 Mar/30/2015 – Over days 39 and 40, HB 502 must receive a 鈥渄o pass鈥� from Rules Committee for a full Senate vote.听 HB 502 then must receive a House 鈥渁greement鈥� to be considered by the Governor for signature into law.听 Apr/02/2015听–听Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub and awaits signature into law by the Governor.
91吃瓜 POSITION:听 SUPPORT
听
听
, State Charter Schools Commission; authorize to establish a nonprofit foundation, ,
STATUS:听Mar/04/2015 鈥� Passed out of Senate Education & Youth Committee and is now in Senate Rules.听 Mar/09/2015 – Senate Passed/Adopted (44 鈥� 9), Mar/11/2015 – House First Readers, Mar/13/2015 – House Second Readers, Mar/20/2015 鈥� SB 156 received a 鈥渄o pass鈥� at subcommittee and will be voted on by the full House Education Committee later this week.听 Mar/30/2015 鈥� In Rules Committee.听 Mar/31/2015 鈥� House passes (151 鈥� 13), AWAITS GOVERNOR鈥橲 SIGNATURE INTO LAW
91吃瓜 ANALYSIS: SB 156 would allow the State Charter Schools Commission to establish a 501c3 nonprofit foundation, similar to 501c3 nonprofit foundations for numerous school districts across Georgia.听
TIMELINE:听 Mar/04/2015 鈥� Passed out of Senate Education & Youth Committee.听 SB 156 has three working days to get voted out of Senate Rules and receive a majority vote by the full Senate.听 If the bill is unable to receive a majority vote by the full House, the bill will be considered 鈥渄ead鈥� for the 2015 session.听 Mar/30/2015 – Over days 39 and 40, SB 156 must receive a 鈥渄o pass鈥� from Rules Committee for a full House vote to then be considered by the Governor for signature into law.听 Apr/02/2015听鈥撎鼿ouse passes and bill awaits signature into law by the Governor.
91吃瓜 POSITION:听 SUPPORT
听
听
* , Opportunity School District; allow the General Assembly to authorize the establishment; provide for state intervention for failing schools, , AND , Opportunity School District; establishment; provide for definitions; supervision of public elementary and secondary schools that are failing, ,
STATUS:听Mar/05/2015 鈥� * Senate passed SR 287 by Substitute
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听()
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 Mar/05/2015 鈥� Senate passed SB 133 by Substitute
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 ()
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 Mar/25/2015 – * House passed SR 287 ()
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 Mar/25/2015 – House passed SB 133 ()
– SB 133 AWAITS GOVERNOR鈥橲 SIGNATURE INTO LAW
– SR 287, AS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, WILL REQUIRE A 50 PERCENT PLUS 1 MAJORITY VOTE BY GEORGIA VOTERS IN NOVEMBER 2016 TO BE FULLY ADOPTED.
91吃瓜 ANALYSIS: An amendment to the Constitution of Georgia and enabling legislation so as to allow the General Assembly to authorize the establishment of an Opportunity School District to provide for state intervention for failing schools.听If passed, one option will be the reorganization of schools as charter schools.
TIMELINE:听 SR 287 and its enabling legislation, SB 133 was heard in the Senate Education & Youth Committee on Monday February 22nd for the first time.听 A second hearing will be held on Monday March 2.听 SR 287 and its enabling legislation, SB 133 followed identical paths last week, passing the Senate in a heated debate.听SR 287 required a constitutional majority of 38 votes to pass.听Both SR 133 and SB 287 travel to the House.听SR 133 and SB 287 will be heard by the full House Education Committee on Wednesday March 18 and will allow public comments.听 SR 133 and SB 287 will be voted on by the full House Education Committee on Monday March 23.听Both SB 133 and SR 287 have received the necessary votes by the House and Senate chambers and the Senate 鈥渁greed鈥� on the House amendments.听SB 133 travels to the Governor for signature into law.听SR 287, as a constitutional amendment, will require a 50 percent plus 1 majority vote by Georgia voters in November 2016 to be fully adopted.
91吃瓜 POSITION:听 SUPPORT
Andrew Lewis is Executive Vice President of the Georgia Charter Schools Association.
The views and opinions expressed on CharterConfidential听are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency.听
Georgia Charter Schools Association
The Georgia Charter Schools Association (91吃瓜) is the membership organization for Georgia鈥檚 charter school operators and petitioners, established in 2001. Our mission is to be an effective advocate and service provider for all charter public schools in Georgia.
