[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6617986,"mediaKeyId","2838458-2696af19ff84981858a18f572eab3609","parentId",2838458,"title","Committee approves resolution to study chronic absenteeism, rejects partisan-makeup amendment","audioSeconds",326,"startMs",4519000,"endMs",4845000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838458-2696af19ff84981858a18f572eab3609&start=4519&end=4845","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838458-2696af19ff84981858a18f572eab3609/thumbnail_4519000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6617986/Georgia/Committee-approves-resolution-to-study-chronic-absenteeism-rejects-partisan-makeup-amendment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617986-f4b5ebd9d5a236dbda06e28ebcfa7664/orig.mp4?Expires=1771074573&Signature=ZUPvhkWwyW9I~GqgvgEimKk22PS8xieQeOJrmjmeUCRx20dXLPA-gJupB4qQBlxDdPQPkAItJxuN9f5PwhZhuvRmyGin4itdfKCPuCxJTKjFatFVHz8hnUET9DbYCkkUFMB7KIlwEkwqOvqJj6R6o5DmQr31NZTLB3T2QmwdenhjpZxKJ-LL0ptt0oM~7ANmFAjjGORMrVR6i8bEYU5kQSSVdC51CYhsv2KSqT~lXR6muq7HpYYBLfkF-aGub8Pxii2VVwamwoCPML1XyzZpcbU~yOh7nvYbdOTZo6XZ45TjAHTnKvP7EFwTQZK0DVqzPBUrAXpOYjaJUpdAioR0ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-04-01T18:11:26.353Z","article","The House Education Committee approved House Resolution 711 (LC492370) directing a House study committee to examine chronic absenteeism. The sponsor framed the resolution as aligning the House with a Senate effort (Senate Bill 123) to study absences and identify remedies.

During debate members proposed amending the committee composition to increase membership from six to seven and to specify that four members be appointed from the majority caucus and three from the minority caucus. The committee considered the amendment; members discussed precedent and Legislative Counsel said the common practice is to defer appointments to the Speaker but that language specifying membership can be included if the committee chooses.

A motion to amend the membership was put to a vote and members raised hands; the amendment did not carry. After disposing of the amendment the committee voted to approve HR 711 and instructed staff to proceed with the study. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the chair called for the ayes and then the nays during the proceedings and announced the resolution carried.

The study is intended to inform future legislative action on attendance and chronic absenteeism; committee members requested further information and data from school districts and state agencies as the panel convenes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Education 04.01.25","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved House Resolution 711 to create a study on chronic absenteeism. Members debated an amendment to change the study committee's membership from six to seven with a 4-3 majority/minority split; after a show-of-hands count the amendment did not pass and the resolution moved forward.","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},6617991,"Committee creates study panel to review education law after debate over membership makeup",688,2448000,3136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838458-2696af19ff84981858a18f572eab3609&start=2448&end=3136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838458-2696af19ff84981858a18f572eab3609/thumbnail_2448000.jpg","/articles/6617991/Georgia/Committee-creates-study-panel-to-review-education-law-after-debate-over-membership-makeup","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617991-3d432da67a90a9bfe94950d26512b57f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771074573&Signature=A5rtZppvvh3xZzD~4~O9~t2kwMbYNAHZb~HECA02HsiBzD~NJz1X1wZwxJmLlNWnUI9xnoauttIrUAod~bi3JZR547ApfVH3g~KOBujrJ5TvDBNIJJHOqx8QlWzmUfNw1MtSoHeeOoUVFqcHkw0ZsdSMTVMmzqTKCbvyfx3b1mFJ7iO7gDc9XpACQ0cSZbpuD6ZyV~uBFTtA8~MsGE8fs-tAE3SsccZ4B6mFcgDukqcgb0~8qHFicm5sjwmLu6Zb0GDyTInsArVCb527s6x6hK~wrF9kDQ1McYCaqJRj~f59v6Ryh4UxCl7xqccIZPe-KTbbYLzYaCOjk7hzVtYaqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee approved House Resolution 887 (LC492403) to create a study committee tasked with reviewing and recommending clean-up changes to education-related code sections.

Chairman Blackman, the resolution's sponsor, described the panel as a code-revision exercise to identify statutory provisions that are obsolete or in need of update to reduce administrative burden and restore local control where appropriate. The committee discussed membership and appointment authority at length.

A proposal to specify that the seven-member study committee be appointed with four members from the majority caucus and three from the minority caucus prompted debate. Legislative Counsel explained the common practice is to defer appointments to the Speaker for House study committees but said there is no legal prohibition on specifying makeup in the resolution.

Members attempted an amendment to set committee composition as seven members (4 majority, 3 minority). The amendment was put to a hand-count and the vote resulted in a tie; after discussion the chair allowed the amendment to fail. Committee members then moved to adopt the resolution without the specific membership language. The committee adopted the resolution by voice vote and the sponsor thanked the panel.

The resolution directs legislative staff and the appointed members (per the normal appointment process, which the committee left to the Speaker) to study the code sections identified in the resolution and report back with recommendations to the House in the next session.

Action: The committee voted to approve HR 887 (LC492403) as presented. The transcript records the failed amendment attempt on committee composition and the final passage by the committee.","The committee approved House Resolution 887 to create a study committee to review and recommend housekeeping changes to education statutes. An amendment to specify a particular majority/minority makeup of the study committee was debated, tied in a hand-count and failed; the resolution then carried.",{"_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},6617996,"Committee hears bill to provide $7,500 stipend to student teachers to address teacher pipeline",1092,4926000,6018000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838458-2696af19ff84981858a18f572eab3609&start=4926&end=6018","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838458-2696af19ff84981858a18f572eab3609/thumbnail_4926000.jpg","/articles/6617996/Georgia/Committee-hears-bill-to-provide-7500-stipend-to-student-teachers-to-address-teacher-pipeline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617996-1f58e92c90fcccccbb6afd0f02f39697/orig.mp4?Expires=1771074573&Signature=o~90RpnbIl3gPqIbti42YldwcCvBjseVAfhUyJ~kZAEj~0fWH4aiQ-Cjgf1QzoHcr1g73bM3jmnf85QWQhHZKrmepbVHhS54NhkdZ3GGs6PVvXTTGExb~Pv46GQHwvrM7bNAkgnMy12AYN59d5pMKxvMRA4ov5pgkdUGIwafOyk1gmUY6NcvQYFEF1HlVj7sIUg5JGqksjrjOkgHmN4p-JMMTC9fr8DMIUkJ-Dh1oLK~uE9ti0pksp~NSMmJTVx5tLrzNy-QI6KQ25QamkWMpwELZ448MDqSynSNRR0wIL16JPlWvxNd2R3R0aOqdsZdzoRVZje9oVmQW1a1dA9tRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee held a hearing on House Bill 310 (LC61100107), a proposal to create a grant program that would pay eligible college student teachers $7,500 each to compensate them for unpaid student-teaching internships. Representative Phil, the bill sponsor, told the committee student teaching commonly requires a full-time, unpaid commitment (commonly described as 40 hours per week or roughly 500 hours for the semester) that many candidates cannot reconcile with paid work, tuition and living expenses.

Representative Phil said the stipend would be distributed as a grant through local school districts and identified the proposal as a workforce development step intended to improve recruitment and retention of new teachers. He estimated approximately 6,000 student teachers participated in recent years and noted that if every student teacher received the stipend the program could approach a $50 million annual cost; the bill is subject to appropriations.

Student and union advocates testified in favor. Skyler Nunley, a former fifth-grade teacher and state student organizer for the Georgia Association of Educators who recently completed student teaching, described student teaching as frequently exceeding 40 hours per week and said living expenses rather than tuition were often the cause of debt in the last year of a preparation program. Austin Bowmer, a senior about to begin student teaching, described the financial stress of unpaid student teaching and said the stipend would help prospective teachers complete the program and start classroom careers.

Robert Aycock of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators told the committee his organization supports the proposal and noted that teachers who complete traditional student-teaching routes have higher retention rates than some alternative pathways, citing Professional Standards Commission data as part of the justification for supporting the in-class laboratory experience.

Committee members asked about grant mechanics and data. The sponsor said the stipend would be $7,500 per student teacher disbursed via districts, that the program would not be competitive (applications would be paid to qualifying student teachers who had not previously received the grant) and that an estimated headcount of student teachers in recent years is \"a little over 6,000.\" Questions also focused on whether installment payments or full payment at completion would be preferable; the sponsor said installment payments would better help students meet month-to-month expenses. The committee did not vote on the bill at the hearing.","House Bill 310 would establish a grant to pay student teachers $7,500 each (subject to appropriations). Sponsors and advocates said the stipend would reduce financial barriers that cause some teacher-candidates to drop out of preparation programs; the committee held a hearing but did not vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6618001,"Committee approves computer science graduation requirement and expands reporting for online schools",1272,3198000,4470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838458-2696af19ff84981858a18f572eab3609&start=3198&end=4470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838458-2696af19ff84981858a18f572eab3609/thumbnail_3198000.jpg","/articles/6618001/Georgia/Committee-approves-computer-science-graduation-requirement-and-expands-reporting-for-online-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6618001-bb14b07e280de118438472e616c84542/orig.mp4?Expires=1771074573&Signature=iEn9zK~XHrVnC00d7xe3pCovDMoWQwuFAhVBhXIl9EP0G8E~60xxkn6NX2HACfqyRmxpJsohZf6LHg3VJOsnIczcae2dCwwi9gE~EPhu7m-0ofZ0y5~SCgZryJPqxgaIaJbbnXYR4xqVqDaMgtjH2ZvyvhIKtCIIy3EMKDDRp~dsD52Vjeq1z-t8TbeQMxna0SJGt-JG5fzmUwh3o~bkZABhq5cX0ETDMzZ~HSoqBrTe841E6eo82EcBFGzMFZf16CeOboEzofj6HJgaLnN4g-CsrJLjLZb78NpeFmkD0tdkUzHW4t2r1dpDvEAsVFQV1hYXbAeKdq8JBZ6ywH52-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 179 (LC492409S) as amended, a bill that would make computer science coursework a graduation requirement and update reimbursement for Georgia Virtual School. Representative Ballard, the House sponsor, said the requirement would start for graduates in the 2036–2037 cohort (curriculum rollout beginning earlier) and that the measure allows the required credit to be earned as early as eighth grade and through CTAE (Career, Technical and Agricultural Education) courses that embed computer science.

Ballard told the committee the intent is to increase digital and computer science literacy statewide, with particular attention to rural districts that have fewer certified computer science teachers. The bill includes a virtual instruction option with a proctor on site to support districts that cannot hire certified teachers locally.

An amendment (AM490270) added a reporting requirement for private, nonpublic online high schools. The amendment requires those online providers to report enrolled students within 30 days of the school year start to the county where each student resides; it exempts such providers from the 180-day equivalency attendance rule because online providers use different pacing. Lauren Frayloot, representing nonpublic online providers, told the committee that more than 5,000 students attend nonpublic online high schools and that current state collections do not capture those enrollments.

The committee approved the amendment on a voice vote and then approved the bill, as amended. The committee sponsor and the Department of Education staff said they had worked with the author and the Senate on the computer science component over multiple sessions to reduce scheduling burdens on districts and to allow a multi-year ramp-up for teacher recruitment and program implementation. DOE staff told the committee the state board rule will designate computer science as a middle-school connections pathway to allow earlier credit accumulation.

Members asked about the rollout timeline and whether earlier funding could accelerate implementation; sponsors said districts may start offering courses immediately and that the timeline was chosen to allow rural districts and teacher recruitment and credentialing time to catch up. Supporters cited experiences in other states, including a reported increase in both graduation rate and female participation in computer science after some states made a similar requirement.

The committee approved the amendment (AM490270) and then gave SB 179 a do-pass recommendation as amended. The transcript records the amendment vote as a \"do pass\" and then the bill as passed as amended. No roll-call tally was recorded in the committee transcript; votes were recorded by voice vote.","The House Education Committee approved Senate Bill 179 (as amended) to require a computer science course (or CTAE-with-CS) for high school graduation starting in the early 2030s and approved an amendment to require private online schools to report enrollment to counties. The bill passed as amended.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6618004,"Committee advances bill changing Promise Scholarship eligibility for some foster and adoptive families",6221,1251000,7472000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838458-2696af19ff84981858a18f572eab3609&start=1251&end=7472","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838458-2696af19ff84981858a18f572eab3609/thumbnail_1251000.jpg","/articles/6618004/Georgia/Committee-advances-bill-changing-Promise-Scholarship-eligibility-for-some-foster-and-adoptive-families","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6618004-bf3adb5278dc4f47a5754cfb42f92731/orig.mp4?Expires=1771074573&Signature=ClX-p7gEq9~jPZDvmI32scoAORR8jMdyn0lXPGWhXjtlJ3YUlNmWGDydA0cLcKVvBH0IAVSqKYLPoyo6~Z5YNWgKHZvoTpvKR32oyL5UWiPGbxkGyeO3jSEzqQOyRGgK5qRxp-H9davVAoA7ckX8dJPZbwPBFXyaHOwCWT52nT-92achBmLo8zwHN3Y10G8GwXpb0E1y3pX7An-pzR~twv3I8Hl1nFOG0UWxhL2NMcvpPWkbryVotaWXBCOfHacq9qAHc8WEx6E1zFo8MeicrEAASQCzmdGoSL3SgoG~a80xv1ZvyVlUwEO-pEuMNbi6O7S2re5cg7AnBhus029h4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee voted to give Senate Bill 152 (LC492402S) a favorable recommendation after extended discussion about who would qualify for the Georgia Promise Scholarship under the substitute now before the chamber.

The substitute would expand Priority access to the Promise Scholarship (the state program that reimburses families for K–12 tuition) to include adopted children from foster care and the biological children of parents who have participated in the state foster care program within the previous 10 years. Senate author Senator Dolan told the committee the Senate had intended the change to include foster children who are already in the adoption process but that language did not make it into the substitute and he wanted to work with the House before final passage.

The substitute also alters how the program treats the attendance-zone requirement and the program's existing income priority. Senator Dolan described the change as moving some foster-related applicants \"to the front of the line\" by removing the requirement that applicants reside in the attendance zone of a school in the bottom 25 percent and by changing the role of the 400-percent-of-poverty priority.

Committee members raised concerns about timing and fairness. Committee members noted the current application window is open through April 15 and that roughly 10,000 students had already applied under the existing rules. Several representatives asked whether the bill would \"strip away\" eligibility from families who have already applied; Senator Dolan said the effective date in the bill is July 1, 2025, and acknowledged some applicants who had applied under the prior standard could lose eligibility under the change.

Several members pressed on fiscal constraints. Senator Dolan and other committee participants reminded the panel that the House previously capped the program at 1 percent of QBE (Quality Basic Education) funding; the sponsor said that cap remains in statute and the current executive budget as represented to the committee funds approximately 22,000 scholarships, leaving headroom this year but not guaranteeing long-term capacity.

Members also debated the bill's narrower treatment of foster-related children: the substitute would include adopted foster children and biological children of foster parents but, as presented to the committee, would not automatically include all children currently in foster placements. Senator Dolan said the Senate worked with DFCS (Department of Family and Children Services) and had concerns about administrative feasibility and parental custody during short placements.

After questions and public testimony earlier in the hearing, the committee moved the bill forward with a \"do pass\" recommendation to the full House. The transcript records discussion, a motion to recommend passage and a voice vote; the committee chair announced the ayes had it and that the bill would carry forward for calendaring.

Committee discussion and public testimony indicated several outstanding policy and implementation questions that sponsors said they will negotiate in conference with the Senate: (1) whether to add children who are in the process of being adopted but not yet finalized; (2) how to treat families who applied under the prior rules during the current open window; and (3) how the 1 percent-of-QBE cap will operate if applications exceed current appropriation levels.

Votes at a glance: The committee recorded a motion to give SB 152 (LC492402S) a favorable recommendation (\"do pass\"). The transcript identifies a motion and second and a voice vote; no roll-call tally with member names was recorded in the transcript.

The bill will next be scheduled for the full House calendar under the sponsor's stated plan to continue negotiations with the Senate author prior to final passage.","The House Education Committee gave Senate Bill 152 a favorable recommendation after debate over how the bill changes who may receive the Georgia Promise Scholarship and how attendance-zone rules are applied. Lawmakers and witnesses expressed concern about current applicants and how changes could affect families already in the application process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves resolution to study chronic absenteeism, rejects partisan-makeup amendment

Committee creates study panel to review education law after debate over membership makeup

Committee hears bill to provide $7,500 stipend to student teachers to address teacher pipeline

Committee approves computer science graduation requirement and expands reporting for online schools

Committee advances bill changing Promise Scholarship eligibility for some foster and adoptive families