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Committee advances ‘Boundless Opportunities’ bill to let virtual students enroll across districts with funding floor
Summary
SB 147 would allow out‑of‑district virtual enrollment while preserving at least $10,000 for the student’s residency district and limiting tuition charges; the Senate Education Committee advanced the bill 4–2 after sponsor Sen. Steele explained funding flow and answered questions about tuition setting and scope.
Sen. Steele presented SB 147, the Boundless Opportunities for Georgia Students Act, telling the Senate Education Committee the bill is designed to let Georgia families seek broader public education options for their children without taking money out of the public system.
Steele said the bill applies to virtual instruction only and includes a floor so the residency district retains at least $10,000 per student. He also described a tuition cap for virtual instruction that limits how much a receiving district may charge. To illustrate funding flow, Steele used Clayton County as an example: total per‑pupil cost cited at $10,406.50 would leave $406.50 available to a family for a full‑time virtual transfer once the $10,000 floor is preserved.
Committee members asked how transfers and funding would be validated and who would set tuition. Steele said the receiving district sets the tuition rate but that the residency and receiving superintendents must agree on the transfer; the language also includes a formula limiting charges so the residency district is not left below the $10,000 threshold. Senator Sessler confirmed the bill is limited to virtual instruction, not bricks‑and‑mortar transfers.
After discussion, the committee recorded a do‑pass motion for SB 147 (LC 491675 S). The bill passed the committee by a 4–2 vote as recorded in the hearing; the transcript does not list individual votes.
Next steps: SB 147 will move from committee to the next Senate stage for further consideration.
