[{"_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",6305037,"mediaKeyId","2452006-38c29cb85b768379efce35772b71d1b1","parentId",2452006,"title","Committee advances bill to add active-duty military children to Georgia Promise Scholarship priority","audioSeconds",637,"startMs",2795000,"endMs",3432000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452006-38c29cb85b768379efce35772b71d1b1&start=2795&end=3432","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452006-38c29cb85b768379efce35772b71d1b1/thumbnail_2795000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6305037/Georgia/Committee-advances-bill-to-add-active-duty-military-children-to-Georgia-Promise-Scholarship-priority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305037-fe5b7c2a7e1463d4dd7bc41fcdb4e7be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186425&Signature=RdpV3r0V4FNaFCUa97OygKyKsT4QXFT1GNqOtd4LZRZQaMqWh2J46zsrN0o9KCkAXKD2IsEd6Pj-kao5WuSntCUQxICZY78Z2Z4ZKGiFfNGBQ0QRW3i2tdiwX2u0XXjryAzgkYo-817EkjcMWvnFfjiRIaZZO0dFQnJbT2FutZicOmY7HKLmk6IiJ4k-CY-2C9ipEcOrBBYP9RtcoNM1jzqFeHLMUz9lB2b1XG0-JWGyhSIOyQhP1Oq59viWrcyhBNIu3ZOnOGHfk9Baya51IQs8IzN9Mfpe5mMjuTtDWA31CmDrM~DOgB9xvVlbMOZcyZhNBmA~oRazXBXdRD4qNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author"," Georgia State Legislature ","date","2025-02-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Education and Youth Committee advanced legislation to add children of active-duty military personnel to the eligibility priority list for the Georgia Promise Scholarship and to authorize the Department of Education to adopt rules to implement related federal guidance.

Sponsor Senator Sean told the committee the bill does not add dollars to the scholarship fund; rather, it clarifies eligibility so the state will be prepared if federal guidance or directives change how federal dollars are administered. “All it does is expand, not by dollars, to the Georgia Promise Scholarship Fund,” the sponsor said, and asked the department to set rules for implementation rather than codifying detailed procedures in the statute.

Lynn Riley, identified in the hearing as president of the Georgia Student Finance Commission and speaking for the Department of Education, explained how the Promise Scholarship’s priority list would be adjusted. She said low-income families (total family income below 400% of the federal poverty limit) retain first priority; children of active-duty military would be subsequent to those low-income families. Riley also described the program’s existing eligibility triggers, including an attendance-zone requirement tied to the governor’s student achievement list and the program’s 1% QBE cap.

Committee members asked whether federal dollars currently follow students to private schools. Sponsor Sean and Riley said the recent federal directive is open-ended and that the bill is intended to prepare the state for forthcoming guidance; the transcript records committee discussion that executive actions may require additional legal interpretation.

Members also discussed interactions with other bills, including proposals to prioritize foster-family children; Riley said those other measures carve out attendance-zone and prior-QBE requirements differently.

A motion to pass the bill carried; the chair counted opposing hands and, during the roll call, announced “1 2 4 opposed.” The chair nonetheless declared the bill passed by the committee. The transcript records that a committee amendment clarifying DOE and State Board rulemaking authority was included at the department’s request; the bill as amended was approved.

Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 124 — motion to pass as amended approved by committee; chair announced opposing hands as “1 2 4 opposed” during the roll call.

Next steps: the committee reported the measure favorably for further Senate consideration; agency staff requested DOE rulemaking authority to implement any federal guidance that may arrive before the fall school year.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02/27/2025 Senate Committee on Education and Youth","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Education and Youth Committee advanced a bill to add children of active-duty military personnel to the Georgia Promise Scholarship priority list and to authorize the Department of Education to adopt rules to implement federal guidance.","taxTitle","Education and Youth, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",17664,"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},6305042,"Senate panel orders summer study on chronic absenteeism, cites 360,000 chronically absent students",100,1594000,1694000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452006-38c29cb85b768379efce35772b71d1b1&start=1594&end=1694","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452006-38c29cb85b768379efce35772b71d1b1/thumbnail_1594000.jpg","/articles/6305042/Georgia/Senate-panel-orders-summer-study-on-chronic-absenteeism-cites-360000-chronically-absent-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305042-b9a68001e1eacd24bd926e18552ba219/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186425&Signature=Wfa4wvwUns485Yjt86FnFRN1~eTQS4heYpiVkqizULyCCbrrxoLzqgxjIkJhxdWLRZtP5CKK-U~xj~vlXtAu-38WzisLFMCFlSN6PJ0-~WhFOgh8~9Q8wV5bVGUF5xys3B11J1R8DLvYTusxwvw31FPA6FVgwfz-0JbXgFjJJjUq26qWlA5W4Lm5LSxWhXGomGEBQU-myE3bRNuUEQ2LZzIJAqIz2PjDkM4Kr1sBbAA20xmpbVXLe9sxHSNHuBWwKjmM4n0YY6gBtZ2Ox6WXneJeJa~H-7UQAidOy5TzJW-C5nYDy6779uE47k9Rkwj9SevpSvCRJ3mpK9WTgs~0oQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Education and Youth Committee voted to create a study committee to examine chronic absenteeism across Georgia, after members described statewide rates and asked for an off-season review of causes and possible solutions.

A committee member identified as the Pro Tem asked the panel to consider forming a study group following passage of related legislation the previous day. He said the request was meant to allow more time over the summer “to address the questions and causes and concerns and also trying to fashion solutions.”

The Pro Tem cited state figures that he said mean 21.7% of Georgia students were chronically absent last school year and that the percentage corresponds to roughly 360,000 children. He clarified how chronic absenteeism is measured in the transcript: 10% of instructional days missing — about 18 days in a 180-day school year.

Committee members discussed variation among counties. The sponsor cited Wilkinson County as the state’s lowest chronic absenteeism rate (about 5.3%) and named higher-performing and lower-performing systems as possible case studies. Members asked the study group to look at local truancy programs, interventions that keep students in school while addressing absences, and whether existing committee structures are the appropriate vehicle for the work.

A motion was made and seconded to pass Senate Resolution 217 (the study request). The chair called the question and the committee approved the resolution by voice vote; the chair reported bipartisan support.

The study will convene over the summer to gather evidence and recommend whether the current absenteeism committee is the proper forum or if a different model is needed. Committee members asked staff to include district examples and to examine program designs that keep students engaged when they are identified as truant.

","The Education and Youth Committee voted to form a summer study group to examine chronic absenteeism after a sponsor cited state data showing roughly 21.7% of students were chronically absent last school year, about 360,000 children; the committee approved the study by unanimous voice 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},6305047,"Senate committee approves bill letting homeschool students take college-prep tests at resident public schools",378,1205000,1583000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452006-38c29cb85b768379efce35772b71d1b1&start=1205&end=1583","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452006-38c29cb85b768379efce35772b71d1b1/thumbnail_1205000.jpg","/articles/6305047/Georgia/Senate-committee-approves-bill-letting-homeschool-students-take-college-prep-tests-at-resident-public-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305047-7936bdf91af842c22be8ab011530897d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186425&Signature=HAmFZPqsR7JnwcP2SsrFzQtgFByt4R2eiJgCUVd9nbNZXBS3wvUIRQqsMBHIt87ZDB8d4oUye19wla9PnoYJeNlSPZDvwtzlhsuYYoFAHhIGFsFHnVO249ARyaEQmis~TMdAhJnAVFnR~w4Gi72bOH3fCv906bJfvWPqGzplpkN23WEHGQGCyU5WB5FFgByZeljryXrfguKm6hwchDoodIwHVqjOyhHbSzMt1zrpzPRmDOXDKI5ID4pa918j~Eu-QsXcl6X6z~Lmr6xzqy~ncO2yDAM4ywQgrYrqXfywDtrFsXMyF6UdD6zGvP-zOZ5fFwML1DE2bTtLnL-qo2h9ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate lawmakers on the Education and Youth Committee voted to advance legislation that would let homeschool students take college-entrance and college-prep exams at their resident public school, provided they follow the same registration requirements as other students.

Sponsor Senator Dixon told the committee that Senate Bill 63 would let homeschool students take the PSAT, SAT, ACT or Pre-ACT “at their resident school,” and that homeschool families would register so school systems would have student information. Dixon said local practices vary: “Currently in Gwinnett, had issues with homeschoolers ... Gwinnett would some years would allow them to take it and other years they wouldn't.”

The bill ties fees for homeschool students to the school system’s treatment of enrolled students. As Dixon described it, if a district does not charge its enrolled students to take the exam, it may not require payment from homeschool students; if the district charges enrolled students a fee, homeschool students would be charged the same. Dixon said homeschoolers would register like other students so the district could plan testing logistics and seating.

Committee members discussed access and equity. Dixon said some Gwinnett test locations can require long drives across the county. A member who identified themselves as a parent of AP students raised access concerns for South Georgia and said many enrolled students face charges to take AP tests; that member said, “I’m gonna be a no—not exactly because I'm totally opposed to your particular issue, but I don't think that we need to be paying for things for homeschool students when we're not covering our own kids to be able to even take APs.”

Another committee member asked whether the bill would require districts to waive fees; a committee member clarified that the legislation would prevent districts from charging homeschool students when they do not charge their own enrolled students, and would require the same fee when a fee is assessed for enrolled students.

The committee moved to pass the bill. The chair called the vote and, after a count, announced “3 opposed.” The bill was reported favorably out of committee.

Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 63 — motion to pass reported favorably by the Education and Youth Committee; chair announced “3 opposed.”

The measure now proceeds as a committee-approved bill (reported favorably) for further consideration in the Senate.

","A Senate education committee voted to advance legislation allowing homeschool students to take PSAT, SAT, ACT and Pre-ACT tests at their resident public schools if they register; the measure also ties any test fee for homeschoolers to whether enrolled students are charged.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances bill to add active-duty military children to Georgia Promise Scholarship priority

Senate panel orders summer study on chronic absenteeism, cites 360,000 chronically absent students

Senate committee approves bill letting homeschool students take college-prep tests at resident public schools