Gov. Brian Kemp delivered the State of the State Address this morning to a joint session of the House and Senate. Key themes included a review of the challenges Georgia has successfully faced during Kemp's administration, tort reform, hurricane recovery efforts with a nod of thanks to both President Joe Biden and President-Elect Donald Trump, and state support for mental health and anti-gang and anti-human-trafficking efforts.
The governor's references to education were brief and included recognition of two school resource officers from Apalachee High School who helped confront and disarm a school shooter in September. He mentioned a total allocation of nearly $300 million for school safety to date and pledged $159 million more.
More budget details became available shortly after the governor's address when his budget proposals were released. Those are outlined below. A transcript of Gov. Kemp's remarks is available HERE and a recording of the address is part of the House floor session video below.
Kemp's AFY25 & FY26 Budget Proposals
Gov. Kemp kicked off the budget-writing process by offering his spending proposals for the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget and the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget. His proposals include key investments in educator compensation, including:
Moving Pre-K teachers to the state salary for K-12 in AFY 2025: $7.4 million
Increasing the employer cost of the per member per month (PMPM) amount of the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) for certified educators from $1,760 to $1,885 in FY 2026: $173 million
Increasing the employer contribution to the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) from 20.78% to 21.91% in FY 2026: $100.3 million
Kemp also proposes a similar increase in the employer cost of the PMPM amount for districts’ classified staff, such as bus drivers, paraprofessionals, administrative support staff, and other employees who keep schools operating. Under the governor’s proposed FY 2026 budget, the monthly cost of the SHBP for each classified staff member would rise from $1,580 to $1,885. School districts currently fund SHBP costs for their classified employees.
Kemp seeks to add $50 million to the AFY 2025 budget for a one-time boost to school safety grants from $47,125 per school to $68,760. This would bring total funding for school safety grants to $159 million. Other notable proposed additions include $3 million to enhance statewide internet connectivity, $10.3 million for pupil transportation, and $20 million to replace 227 school buses.
The governor aims to add $872,333 to reduce the current school psychologist-to-student ratio of 1:2,475 to 1:2,420 in accordance with HB 283 (2013 session), which is a PAGE legislative priority. He also proposes $160,000 to create a crisis recovery network to support student mental health following significant public safety or natural disaster events. If approved by the General Assembly, these investments would be welcome support for student mental health and well-being.
PAGE also requests lawmakers fund a minimum of one full-time social worker for all school districts. Currently 65 districts do not receive funding to cover one full-time social worker, a position that is funded by the state at a ratio of 1:2,475. PAGE also advocates for a reduction in the school counselor-to-student ratio to 1:400 from the current level of 1:450.
The governor’s budget fully funds the 40-year-old Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula, including $115 million increase for student enrollment growth in the AFY 2025 budget and an increase of $305 million in the FY 2026 budget for enrollment growth and training and experience for educators.
Kemp’s spending plans would add funds for private school vouchers. The Special Needs Scholarship, a voucher program for students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a Section 504 plan, would get an increase of $12 million in AFY 2026. The state’s third voucher program, The Promise Scholarship, would launch in its first year of implementation with $141 million in the FY 2026 budget.
Next week, lawmakers begin digging into the details of Kemp’s proposed AFY 2025 and FY 2026 budgets during a three-day joint meeting of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. State leaders, including State Superintendent Richard Woods, will present their agencies’ budget plans. Legislators will revise elements of the governor’s budget proposals as they move through the committee process in both chambers.
Specific budget changes proposed by Kemp include:
AFY 2025
Department of Early Care & Learning
$7,422,147 to move Pre-K teachers to K-12 state salary schedule
Georgia Department of Education
$114,935,908 for mid-term adjustment to QBE
$12,904,817 for state commission charter school supplement
$5,688,691 increase in state commission charter school formula funds for training and experience
(-$1,875,833) reduction in formula funds for the Completion Special Schools Supplement
$12,440,382 increase for the Special Needs Voucher program
$50M in one-time funds to boost school safety grants
(-$24,340,036) reduction in equalization funds to reflect data correction for Gainesville City and Hall County tax digest
$835,166 increase to reflect data correction for two locally approved charter schools in Atlanta Public Schools
$267,110 increase in formula funds for a mid-term adjust to the charter system grant
$150,725 increase for mid-term adjustment to the local charter school grant
$98,859 increase to sustain the Great Promise Partnership as part of work-based learning programs for at-risk students at GaDOE
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
$160,000 increase to provide startup funds to establish a regional crisis recovery network with the Southern Regional Education Board to support student mental health in response to significant public safety or natural disaster incidents impacting schools or school systems.
Student Finance Commission
$21,258,758 increase for dual enrollment to meet projected need
FY 2026
Department of Early Care and Learning
$14,061,322 for year two of a four-year phase-in to reduce Pre-K class size to 20 from 22
$5,263,853 for annual update of teacher training and experience
$1,207,440 for increase in the employer cost of the SHBP for certified educators
Georgia Department of Education
$173,782,658 to fund increase in employer cost of certified educators in the SHBP
$100,372,662 increase for increase in employer contribution to the Teacher Retirement System from 20.78% to 21.91%
$305,904,192 for enrollment growth and increase in training and experience for educators
$34,121,273 for growth in state commission charter school supplement
$10,313,902 for pupil transportation grant to reflect updated bus count and operating costs
$5,918,900 for sparsity grants including the 93 eligible schools
$872,333 to fully fund school psychologists at a ratio of 1:2420 per HB 283 (2013 session)
$3,015,000 to fund 400 Mbps of internet connectivity for all schools statewide
$1,250,000 to establish high demand equipment grant to support K-12 vocational classrooms in high needs areas statewide
$178,510,823 for construction and renovation projects for school districts
$20 million to replace 227 buses
(-$112,926,680) reduction in formula earnings for Equalization grants
(-$115,875,838) reduction for local five mill share
(-$1 million) decrease to remove one-time funds for Communities in Schools to leverage matching grant funds
$399,799 increase to sustain supplements for literacy leads at all 1,343 K-3 schools
(-$1,846,344) reduction in formula earnings for GNETS based on enrollment and training and experience
(-$362,000) reduction to remove one-time grant funds for CPR training and equipment for student health and safety
$543,000 increase for custodian supplement grants
(-$43,186) reduction in formula funds for Residential Treatment Facilities based on attendance
($2,955,870) reduction in formula earnings for school nutrition due to a decrease in the number of meals served
$3,478,250 increase in formula earnings for preschool disabilities services
(-$134,750) reduction to Regional Education Service Agencies based on enrollment
(-$54,206) reduction to formula funds for school nurses
$383,444 to provide funds for 2 full-time and 2 part-time positions and operating costs to sustain Great Promise Partnership operations as a part of work-based learning programs for at-risk students at the Department of Education.
Public School Employees Retirement Fund
$4,122,000 increase for the actuarially determined employer contribution
Georgia Student Finance Commission
$21,436,838 in additional funds for Dual Enrollment to meet projected need
$141,016,057 to establish the Promise Scholarship Program for eligible K-12 students
Budget Hearings Next Week, Register for PAGE's Jan. 29 State Budget Webinar to Learn More
The House and Senate are scheduling joint appropriation hearings to review the governor's proposed budgets. Prior statements by the governor and other state leaders regarding the AFY2025 and FY2026 budgets suggest that education items will feature prominently. This is especially true for school safety items.
To learn more about this topic, the PAGE Legislative Team invites you to a webinar on proposed education budgets, Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 5 p.m.
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Jan. 17 – Legislative Day 5
Jan. 14-17 - Legislature in Recess for Joint Appropriations Hearings, Room 341, Capitol Agenda HERE
Wednesday, Jan. 17 - Education Budget Presentations
9:15-9:45 GaDOE
9:45-10:15 DECAL
10:30-10:50 Georgia Student Finance Commission