Prepared by Paul Smith, Executive Director, Citizen Impact

Updated March 15

Race to the Top/Common Core

A meeting took place on March 14 with Gov. Deal and numerous groups regarding the Common Core standards. It gave me the opportunity to express concerns for Christian schools and home schools. The governor agreed that college entrance exams will begin to reflect these standards. He was very cordial and open to listening to our comments/concerns, but ultimately gave no indication that he would change his position on it.

Georgia’s Tax Credit Scholarship Program/Student Scholarship Organizations (SSOs)

Senate Bill 243 is supported by the Gov. Deal, and is aimed at addressing the criticisms leveled at this program. The transparency and accountability components are mostly good, but there is also a provision to require students to be enrolled in a Georgia public school for at least six weeks. (NOTE: This bill does not change the existing stipulation that students which are eligible to enroll in first grade, kindergarten, or pre-kindergarten are eligible for scholarships.)

During debate on the Senate floor this bill was amended so that the 6-week enrollment requirement “shall be waived in the case of a student:

• would be assigned to a public school that the Office of Student Achievement determines to be a low-performing school,
• who is the subject of officially documented cases of school based physical violence or student related verbal abuse threatening physical harm, or
• whose parent or parents inform the public school in writing that they do not wish for their child to participate in classroom instruction or exercises that conflict with their religious beliefs.”

Unfortunately, Gov. Deal wants the bill amended in the House to remove #3, the religious belief exception. I do not believe it will be easy to keep that exception in. I think a bigger issue would be to get the bill amended in the House to raise the annual cap so that more money can be donated to scholarship organizations.
STATUS: passed Senate 3/7; now in House Ways and Means Committee, had one hearing in Income Tax Sub-Committee on 3/13 and will likely have one more before being voted on in the full Ways and Means Committee.

Georgia Virtual School

No legislation has been introduced to change the law back to the original benefit that all Georgia students may take these classes at no cost. However, I spoke with the State School Superintendent, John Barge about it on March 14, and someone from his office is supposed to set up a meeting for me to try to address this. I will keep you updated, as I know that this has a financial impact on Christian schools and home school families who utilize these classes.

HOPE / Zell Miller Scholarship

House Bill 372 lowers the minimum grade point average for maintaining eligibility to 2.0 (from 3.0). This does NOT change the GPA requirement for high school students to initially qualify for the scholarships.
STATUS: passed House 3/7; now in Senate Higher Education Committee

“Return to Play Act of 2013”

House Bill 284 requires public and private schools which provide youth athletic activities to provide information to parents on the nature and risk of concussion and head injury and to establish concussion management and “return to play” policies.
STATUS: passed House 3/01; now in Senate Education and Youth Committee.

Georgia’s Special Needs Scholarship

House Bill 70 allows for a waiver, in certain circumstances, of the requirement of one school year in attendance at a Georgia public school.
STATUS: passed House 2/25; Senate Education and Youth School, Choice and Policy Sub-Committee will have a hearing or this bill on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 8:00 a.m.