[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6664433,"mediaKeyId","2381649-a2f714263f84bd24d2383993952558c1","parentId",2381649,"title","Committee approves \"Distraction‑Free Education\" bill to restrict personal devices for K–8; sponsors add implementation timeline","audioSeconds",1868,"startMs",2566000,"endMs",4434000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381649-a2f714263f84bd24d2383993952558c1&start=2566&end=4434","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381649-a2f714263f84bd24d2383993952558c1/thumbnail_2566000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6664433/Georgia/Committee-approves-DistractionFree-Education-bill-to-restrict-personal-devices-for-K8-sponsors-add-implementation-timeline","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664433-96a34dd02ac01dec668bb804cf0d2528/orig.mp4?Expires=1775108178&Signature=QboUShNdkptIygfkvIBnYVjirqzkOEXyHzlz~Jvm9gXuHkqPoJs6VIFgTogp6qnP43ns1~uiaKsUgFdEIE2U9SWgzd55mpSuC9GzCmL-Rjko4XPzjbmsBN2JInhpxJD7NSvBnWUs-GOomgbEiSVFFgCYAozqlVXJOAlHaLr1UAaN7pxwS4n05BjxjCU7dV1sGNso7E92iyF6XjgdRaU7imcSKAwlSWaiWTr~FRs5KfygVXFDtKclkcceIt3fVW1TTQU3r4OCrCzg~HYUmySYA6mYcUvp7cm41EGDs~5wM7bo2topnH9iJIEhr~QNpyQXheyjSLcr~BbDpuIGOve7OA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-02-24T21:11:11.117Z","article","The House education committee approved HB340 (LC492272S), the \"Distraction‑Free Education Act,\" which would bar most personal Internet‑connected devices during the school day for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and direct local school systems to adopt policies implementing the restriction.

The sponsor described the bill as a local‑control framework with state guardrails: the restriction applies bell to bell for K–8 students (not high school), excludes students covered by Section 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and does not apply to virtual schools or to school‑issued devices. \"Texting while learning is probably just as bad,\" the sponsor said, noting studies cited in committee that show extended on‑device time correlates with lost instructional focus and other harms. The sponsor cited teacher surveys and research suggesting students take about 23 minutes to refocus after checking a phone and argued the change could reduce bullying and mental‑health school visits while improving academic outcomes.

Committee members debated local control, how to treat extracurricular/co‑curricular activities and field trips, disciplinary consistency across schools in a district, and an implementation timeline. Legislative counsel and members described an approach that requires local boards to adopt policies consistent with the statute while tailoring details to local circumstances.

Members offered and adopted a friendly amendment adjusting the timeline: each local school system must adopt policies by January 1, 2026, and statewide implementation must begin no later than July 1, 2026. The amendment was read into the record and carried. The bill also explicitly excludes students with 504 plans or IEPs and excludes virtual schools from the ban. After final discussion and a voice vote, the committee approved HB340 as amended.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Education 02.24.25","oneSentenceSummary","HB340 would prohibit personal Internet‑connected devices during the school day for kindergarten through eighth grade, exclude students with 504/IEPs and virtual schools, and require districts to adopt policies by Jan. 1, 2026 with statewide implementation no later than July 1, 2026; the committee passed the bill as amended.","taxTitle","Education, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",16944,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6664438,"Committee advances bill encouraging school access for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other groups under federal \"patriotic societies\" list",1453,1109000,2562000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381649-a2f714263f84bd24d2383993952558c1&start=1109&end=2562","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381649-a2f714263f84bd24d2383993952558c1/thumbnail_1109000.jpg","/articles/6664438/Georgia/Committee-advances-bill-encouraging-school-access-for-Boy-Scouts-Girl-Scouts-and-other-groups-under-federal-patriotic-societies-list","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664438-f508d83c45372fedf20a2b1acba2fbca/orig.mp4?Expires=1775108178&Signature=FVRGLipJr2JBJ4h8VIefzS-oWQls9tqIHX3NKAmetrRVm4rkeKiepvoJQOruFyEQvcM~Z11g696PvOD3YdwHxKRYyrovdnqzbFxRckUjtblzLxCqETKaUEOY-hFySTwFwwFGe2~zj3Z50DhgQKtPSyNvX8LJPGkLR0Y6mPcE2kJQaee05KaSXL08KFnU-GZaFoEmJ~q-AJpJ6qP6y-zX4GZEWPUmMn86G08vWv4~FdWFEMAvvJm3NvNJvWoDeBsIO~RbS-JPWjp4qvar7nhJ5qiP2EG0912NUENyoLWVhNge1gevlEe1oXte2Phm5lEf3lKYjKfiPuw1UrojqVF-Ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A bill that would require public schools to allow access for groups identified as \"patriotic societies\" under Title 36 of the U.S. Code — including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts — received a narrow do‑pass recommendation from the House education committee. The bill was presented as HB198 (LC620116S).

The author said the bill's purpose is to \"encourage schools to facilitate access for students\" to youth groups such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and similar patriotic organizations. \"This bill is just to encourage if there are schools out there that are not letting them participate,\" the sponsor said when asked why the measure was needed. The sponsor identified the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts specifically as groups the bill aims to cover.

During questioning, committee members and legislative counsel noted a constitutional and legal complication: public schools that open their facilities to outside groups create a \"limited public forum\" and generally cannot exclude other groups based on viewpoint. Legislative counsel explained that if a school allows one outside group to use facilities, it may then be required to allow other groups and cannot engage in viewpoint discrimination. Committee members asked whether the bill would obligate schools to admit groups that are not youth‑oriented and whether the bill would effectively require schools to admit any group once a door was opened; counsel confirmed that could be an outcome without further limiting language.

Members sought clarity about whether any Georgia schools have denied access to scouts; the sponsor said they did not know a specific example but offered the bill to encourage access where it is currently restricted. Concerns were raised about local control, administrative burden on principals, potential advantage to certain programs over others and whether the statute’s list includes adult organizations. One member asked whether the National Education Association (NEA) would be covered; counsel confirmed the list is wide and could include groups beyond youth organizations.

A motion to give HB198 a do‑pass recommendation passed after a hand count, 8–7, according to the transcript.","HB198, which would require schools to facilitate access for groups listed as patriotic societies under Title 36 of the U.S. Code, received a do‑pass recommendation after committee debate highlighted constitutional limits, potential unintended scope and an 8–7 recorded vote.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6664443,"House committee advances bill to standardize literacy coaching, add dyslexia to state law",833,223000,1056000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381649-a2f714263f84bd24d2383993952558c1&start=223&end=1056","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381649-a2f714263f84bd24d2383993952558c1/thumbnail_223000.jpg","/articles/6664443/Georgia/House-committee-advances-bill-to-standardize-literacy-coaching-add-dyslexia-to-state-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664443-b60296642a17ed53dc44268ae4070de5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775108178&Signature=XRaZTFtTWVPHenqnnmy4GZmQ5kTVw6l5hmsXpMP-qWgwqKP7whun5Aom~TeqspjbpAora8l7d3krhIvvkJOUllGgKj7Wg-kbUgVhu8xSLlBBtLm9qPg894pvaLRlfkCzDsmnIP~B9bHDiZRGX5mo5uXmjqbB4S9KdEcOve-ZEMKfDPPZBcKSrzfATV3B1Gl0LifZRzogGnq5nNdAvghN0savmP8NWMpoU6gtAeWbIYFusOGkDtaXp-ykfNhLDaQHLqtAJ5OnUrezP3hjRokvu7eOQuvajj5sOV9HcYYmjZ5lAwXfPjo7Vyjx9nGAGEzo8qsYj0gVQpStrvWGImpxDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Ballard, chairwoman of the curriculum group, told the House education committee that HB307 (LC492276S) aims to build on earlier literacy work and align classroom practice with the 2023 science of reading standards. \"We can do much better than the 30% proficiency level that we have arrived at,\" Ballard said, arguing that some current curricula \"do not align with the science of reading.\"

The bill would remove statutory language tied to outdated programs, clarify that three‑cueing methods are not to be used as a primary means of instruction, add dyslexia to the Georgia early literacy act and define dyslexia characteristics, and create a Georgia coach coordination council and a literacy coach coordinator inside the Office of Student Achievement to standardize training for literacy coaches. \"We want everything to be standardized for our students, especially if they move,\" Ballard said, noting state and federal funding currently support coaches in different ways.

Sarah Richards, identified in the presentation as the Georgia reading literacy coach, and the literacy council contributed recommendations incorporated into the proposal, Ballard said. Committee members asked how many coaches and how much funding the changes would require; Ballard and staff said 60 federally funded coaches were already in place for struggling schools and that the proposal would add roughly 86 coaches statewide. One speaker estimated an overall appropriation ask of about $1,010,000,000 to implement the broader plan, though speakers acknowledged that figure covers both new hires and existing funds.

Committee members also asked how the literacy council and existing statutes (including prior bills cited as part of the 2023 effort) fit with HB307; Ballard referenced earlier measures that created the council and related structures. Supporters, including members who said they knew families affected by dyslexia, praised the bill’s emphasis on coaching, training and standardized supports.

At the close of debate, a committee member moved that HB307 receive a do‑pass recommendation; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The transcript reflects a voice vote and the chair declared the motion carried.","The Georgia House education committee voted to give HB307 a \"do pass\" recommendation after a discussion on removing outdated reading methods, defining dyslexia, and creating a statewide literacy coach coordinator to standardize training across districts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves "Distraction‑Free Education" bill to restrict personal devices for K–8; sponsors add implementation timeline

Committee advances bill encouraging school access for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other groups under federal "patriotic societies" list

House committee advances bill to standardize literacy coaching, add dyslexia to state law