As those working under the Gold Dome continue to recover from a lengthy Day 28/Crossover Day, the House and Senate Day 29 floor calendars were light and contained no education bills. The most notable news of the day was promising announcements from the House Appropriations Committee, which shared education priorities in the FY2026 budget. The House is expected to vote on the budget tomorrow.
House Budget Writers Propose Big Investment in Public Schools
The House Appropriations Committee added $98 million in new funds for K-12 schools to Gov. Brian Kemp’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget proposal. Most of the additional dollars in the House version of the FY 2026 budget are directed to school safety, student mental health, and literacy. Lawmakers also added funds to provide targeted support to low-income students. Guided by member feedback, PAGE has advocated for increased investment in each of these areas as well as the addition of a student poverty weight in the state's school funding formula.
School Safety Funding
$25 million for the statewide School and Student Safety (S3) database, which helps state and local law enforcement investigate school-based threats. The funds will also be used to support Behavioral Threat Assessment Management Teams (BTAM) to resolve identified threats.
$150,000 to establish a school safety coordinator position at the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE).
Student Mental Health
$19.6 million to establish student mental health support grants, which will provide $20,000 to each middle and high school for mental health services. Services may include contracting with mental health providers, tele-mental health services, or hiring staff for in-school counseling.
$5 million to establish grants for social work services.
$10 million for out-of-school care for statewide and community grantees, which will continue the BOOST program following the expiration of federal funds.
$871,982 to fund school psychologists at a ratio of 1 per 2,420 students, a reduction from the current ratio of 1 per 2,475 students.
Literacy
$18.5 million for 116 RESA-based literacy coaches. Total funding is comprised of $10.8 million in new funds, $1.6 million transferred from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) and $6.1 million transferred from GaDOE.
$247,000 for a literacy coach coordinator position at GOSA.
$2 million to a research group for competency-based standards and evaluation for literacy coaches.
$2 million for a free universal reading screener, which is a transfer of funds from Non-Quality Basic Education formula grants.
Poverty Weight
$28 million for districts to provide targeted support to economically disadvantaged students.
Committee members also recommend holding harmless funding for school nurses and the school nutrition program. Formula funds for both would otherwise be reduced. They also propose a reduction in funding for state’s new private school voucher program, the Promise Scholarship Program to $45.6 million, down from the $141 million proposed by Kemp.
Other notable changes appropriations proposed by the committee include:
$7.5 million to provide educators $100 to purchase school supplies pursuant to SB 464 (2024)
$158,400 for required bus driver safety training
$100.3 million for the Teacher Retirement System to reflect an increase in the employer contribution to 21.91% from 20.78%
-$113 million reduction in formula earnings for QBE Equalization grants
-$115 million reduction for the Local Five Mill Share
$302 million for enrollment growth and educator training and experience
$5.9 million for sparsity grants to support small schools
$2 million for character education programming
-$298,026 reduction in formula funds for differentiated pay for newly certified math and science teachers
$24.7 million in formula funds for State Commission Charter School Supplement
$150,000 for feminine hygiene grants
$94,626 to annualize $2,500 salary increase in FY 2025 for Agricultural Education
$110,000 for 10 new agricultural education programs
$100,000 for a Young Farmer position in Bibb County
$183,509 for two education specialist positions at youth camps
$215,710 for camp affiliated staff through the agriculture education program
$250,000 for Communities in Schools
$2.5 million for Advanced Placement and PSAT exams due to increased participation
$500,000 for Plasma Games
$236,7335 to annual $2,500 salary increase in 2025 for Technology/Career Education
$100,000 for a government and public policy pathway
$17 million for Dual Enrollment to meet projected need
The budget now moves to the House Rules Committee, which will send it to the full chamber for a vote tomorrow.
Upcoming Schedule
Tuesday, March 11 - Legislative Day 30
2 p.m. House Retirement, 406 CLOB
Wednesday, March 12 - Committee Work Day
11 a.m. Senate Ed, 307 CLOB
Thursday, March 13 - Legislative Day 31