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Friday, March 21, 2025 - Day 34
Archive of past GAE Legislative Alerts this year
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TRUMP ORDERS CLOSING OF
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
President Trump signed an executive order yesterday to start the process of dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. Trump previously announced a 50% cut in staff at the Department.
There are limited details available at this moment but Congressional approval is required, which means in the U.S. Senate, seven Democrats votes in support would be required.
The White House later sought to clarify Trump's statements by saying that the following services will not be affected by the order: student loans, Pell grants and Title I, which provides financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Dismantling the department will:
• Increase class sizes,
• Wipe out resources from our most vulnerable students,
• Eliminate services for students with ADHD, dyslexia, and other disabilities,
• Cut job training programs,
• Increase class sizes,
• Force layoffs of educators,
• Increase funding for private school tuition vouchers,
• Cuts to after-school and summer programs,
• Make higher education more expensive and out of reach, and
• Gut student civil rights protections.
According to GAE President Lisa Morgan, "On average 16.1% of total education funding or about $2,622 per student in Georgia is provided by federal funding. Rural schools receive up to 38% of their funding (Macon County) from the Department. The elimination of funding for the Department of Education will be particularly devastating to more rural districts and districts with large numbers of Title 1 schools that receive more federal funding."
In total, the U.S. Department of Education contributes more than $2.6 billion to Georgia schools. Ninety percent of students are served by public schools and 95% of students with disabilities.
IMMEDIATELY CALL OR EMAIL your Congressional representative to tell them you oppose the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education and the draconian cuts Trump has proposed to the Department's budget.
What percentage of public school funding for your school district comes from the federal government?
Found out here how much your school system receives from the federal government. Scroll down to the interactive map of Georgia, where you can click on your county for details.
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Six days left in session,
spread over two weeks;
Adjournment is April 4
The Georgia General Assembly will be in session Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week. Wednesday is reserved for committee meetings.
By a vote of 144-15, the Georgia House of Representatives passed SB 154, which would insert the words "or its successor" after "United States Department of Education" wherever it appears in Georgia law, apparently anticipating the abolishment of the federal department.
The state Senate will vote Tuesday on HB 340, a bill to ban students' use of cell phones during the school day in grades k-8. The measure includes accomodations for students with an IEP or 504 plan or a "medical plan explicitly mandates the use of a personal electronic device for medical purposes." The bill's sponsor recently told the Senate Education Committee that he anticipates a bill next year that would apply to high school students.
Senate rules require that bills pass out of committee before the 37th day of the session to be eligible for a floor vote before adjournment. All bills introduced this year and that have not passed by adjournment remain eligible for consideration next year.
A subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee will meet Monday at 1 p.m. to consider HB 268, "school safety" legislation brought about as a result of the shootings at Apalachee High School. The bill would provide for reimbursement grants to local school systems that hire qualified "mental health coordinators" and for suicide awareness and prevention programs. By July 1, 2025, the State Board of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, shall establish the essential duties and minimum qualifications for qualified mental health coordinators hired by local school systems.
The bill also requires that records of transferring students with a felony conviction be shared with enrolling local school districts. Such records could be from the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Human Services, and the Division of Family and Children Services. Records pertaining to short-term suspensions, a long-term suspensions, or an expulsion from another school shall also be shared with the enrolling school district.
The House Education Committee has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, March 25, from 2-4 p.m. No agenda has been published.
The Senate Public Safety Committee will take up two bills pertaining to school safety zones and the use of speed detection and red light cameras. The bills are:
HB 225, which would ban all speed detection and red light cameras in school safety zones, and
HB 651, which would continue to allow the use of speed detection and red light cameras in school safety zones but which would require signage or flashing lights to notify drivers of their usage.
State Sen. Brandon Beach has been nominated as the Treasurer of the United States, according to an announcement from the White House today. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, there would be a special election in the 21st state Senate district, which includes parts of Cherokee and Fulton counties and includes the communities and cities of Ball Ground, Canton, Hickory Flat, Milton, and Waleska. The Republican carried the district with more than 70% of the vote in 2024.
The Senate Education Committee, the Senate Higher Education Committee, and the Senate Retirement Committee all have meetings scheduled for next Tuesday. No agendas are available for any of these.
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Teaching Truthful Native History
NEA Aspiring Educators and the NEA American Indian/Alaska Native Caucus to invite you to attend the upcoming virtual engagement, "Teaching Truthful Native History" with Indigenous rights activist and artist Steph Littlebird.
Mark your calendar! Sunday, March 23, 7-8:30 p.m. Littlebird is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, a children’s book illustrator, and artist. Learn about the history of the United States from an Indigenous perspective and explore hidden histories and discover tools you can use to move beyond land acknowledgements into empowered allies and community members. Register here.
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| Next Legislative Update: Tuesday, March 25
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