ECCC PTA COUNCIL UPDATES:

 

We want to hear your advice. If you have questions, we would be glad to provide information. ECCASecretary@aol.com

GA PTA LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

GA PTA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE April 25, 2010

GA PTA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE April 18, 2010

GA PTA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE March 28, 2010

 

 

PTA                       

Takes

Action

Advocating for every child

Georgia PTA’s weekly update on legislative activity – Mar. 15, 2010

 

Welcome to the weekly reporting of legislative activity for the 2010 session. The General Assembly is scheduled to reach Crossover Day, the 30th day, on Mar. 25th.  Any bill that has not passed out of one chamber to the other, or ‘crossed over’ as it is called, is considered dead for the rest of the legislative session.  The language of a bill may still be appended to another bill (as long as it pertains to the same area of Georgia Code) so it becomes very important to watch for substitute language now as bills move. 

 

The revenue numbers for February were released recently and they don’t look positive.  As a result of the continuing declining dollars, the Governor revised his FY 10 and FY 11 budgets.  The remaining ARRA dollars have been moved from the FY 11 budget to fill the over $300 million hole in the FY 10 budget.  That means the estimates for revenue in FY 11 were reduced by over $300 million.  Education’s budget continues to shrink. One well founded rumor is that the 2010-11 school year will be funded only for 170 schools days, not the 180 required by law, and teacher work days will be limited to 4, not the 10 as required.  That would save nearly $600 million, on the backs of school children.  The local boards of education could continue for 180 days, with their own revenues, like the property tax, which means they will take the heat for raising taxes, but the General Assembly will not.

 

Common Core State Standard Initiative (CCSSI)

 

The draft of the Common Core State Standards has been released.  This initiative, lead by the National Governors Association and the Chief Council of State School Officers, is designed to create common standards across the states. They are internationally benchmarked and are intended to prepare students to be college and career ready.  In an increasingly mobile society it is critical that a student’s education does not suffer because the child moves from one state to another.  The goal is to have every state voluntarily adopt these standards so that what a child learns in Massachusetts is the same as what the child learns in Georgia. These standards will establish what students need to learn, but they will not dictate how teachers should teach. Instead, schools and teachers will decide how best to help students reach the standards.

 

GA PTA supports this voluntary state initiative and encourages its members to read more about it.  The standards themselves are open for review and public input is welcome and encouraged.  Public comment will be accepted until April 2.  Please forward this information to other parents and to the teachers in your school so they, too, can learn more about this initiative.  The standards can be found at www.corestandards.org.

 

Legislation to Watch

 

Every week we will report on legislation that we believe is critical to you.  In the next week we anticipate that there will be many committee hearings as legislators try to push bills so they can ‘cross over’.  Legislation passed at the Capitol will have a big impact on your child, your school, your community and you. If PTA has an official position it will be shown next to the bill number. Please note, if PTA has an established position, a local unit cannot take an opposing position.

 

HB 1097: Establishes a school calendar start date not before the third Monday in August. This removes the local board of education’s ability to set the date that best meets the needs and wishes of the local community.  Voted down in House Education committee.

 

HB 927: Anti-bullying: Expands the definition of ‘bullying’ to include electronic bullying that physically harms a person or damages the property of another, has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education, creates an intimidating or threatening education environment, or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school. DOE is required to develop a model policy and make it available on the department’s web site for use by local school systems. SUPPORT Tabled on House floor.  Please contact your legislator by Mar. 22 and ask them to support this bill.

 

SB 319, Money appropriated for ‘textbooks’ can also be used to purchase computer hardware and software. PASSED Senate and House Science and Tech committee

 

HB 1100: Eliminates the CRCT in grades 1 and 2.  The SBOE can waive any required test if insufficient funds are appropriated. PASSED House Education Committee

 

HB 1121: Tampering with state test answer sheets shall be a misdemeanor such as copy a test booklet, make answer keys available, give inappropriate guidance to students taking the test.  Superintendents and principals are included if they fail to follow testing procedures established by the state.  The penalty is up to a $1000 fine and/or 30 days in jail and is in addition to any other process currently in law, such as loss of certification by the Professional Standards Commission.  The governor’s recommendation. PASSED House Judiciary Non Civil

 

HB 1130: Class sizes can be increased until 2013 by the following:

  • K-5 can be exceeded by one student
  • 6-12 can be exceeded by two students
  • State Board of Education may authorize up to one additional student per class upon requests by a local school board.

A 30 notice and a public hearing must be held by the local school board.  The state board may ask for performance measures in exchange for the additional class size authority such as higher graduation rates, SAT or ACT performance, CRCT or EOCT score increases.  Also removes expenditure controls on QBE programs and the 20 additional instructional day program.  PASSED House Education Committee

 

SB 360: Use of a cell phone or texting while driving for those age 18 and under will get points added to their drivers licenses.  Exceptions are in an emergency, reporting or averting a crime, public safety personnel and public utility service folk.  Fine is $500. PASSED Senate Public Safety

 

SB 308: OPPOSE  If one possessed a concealed weapons permit, one may carry it anywhere except a college dorm and a school building.  Shifts issuance of weapons permits to the Secretary of State rather than the local probate judge.  Current law also forbids guns at school functions and within the 1000 ft school safety zone around a school. PASSED Senate Special Judiciary

 

Key: HR- House Resolution,   HB – House Bill, SR– Senate Resolution, SB– Senate Bill

 

 

PTA 

Takes

Action

Advocating for every child

Georgia PTA’s weekly update on legislative activity – Feb. 25, 2010

 

Welcome to the weekly reporting of legislative activity for the 2010 session. The General Assembly has been in session 20 days so the session is half over.  The General Assembly is taking a two week recess to wait for the February revenue numbers so they can determine what changes will be necessary to the amended FY 10 budget before its final passage. While they are in recess they are conducting Appropriation Committee hearings to review the FY 11 budget. The numbers don’t look good as the economy is slow to recover.  Every area of the budget, including education will see deep cuts. The session will resume March 8.

 

Action Alert

 

While the revenue numbers from existing sources of revenue are down, GA PTA is asking legislators to consider possible new sources of revenue to address the shortfall.  Call your legislators today and ask them to support the passage of HB 39. Your legislators are shown at the end of this email. If they are not listed, go to the Grassroots section of Capitol Watch and update your profile with your address information.

 

HB 39: Increases the tax on cigarettes by $1.  There is a dual benefit to this bill: first, studies show that as the cost of cigarettes rise, consumption decreases thereby improving public health and, second, even with reduced consumption, estimated revenue earned would be $354 M. The budget needs every dollar it can get.

 

Advocacy Days at the Capitol

 

On Feb. 23, PTA conducted its annual PTA Day at the Capitol on Feb. 23rd.  Attendees heard a recap of critical bills at the state and federal level, learned about election year opportunities and limits, and gained an understanding of GA PTAs’ positions and priorities. Despite the recess, numerous legislators joined us at lunch to hear about the issues important to PTA members.  Thank you to all who attended!  Another advocacy opportunity is around the corner as students are invited to participate in PTSA Day at the Capitol on Mar. 4.  They will have the opportunity to learn about the laws that directly affect them and hear from other students about the major issues being discussed under the Gold Dome.  To sign up, go to the GA PTA website: www.georgiapta.org

 

Common Core State Standard Initiative (CCSSI)

 

GA PTA is conducting a short survey (three questions) to gain information about our member’s knowledge and position of this important issue facing our education system. Please click on the link and take the quick survey by the end of today. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/commoncore1    

 

Legislation to Watch

 

Every week we will report on legislation that we believe is critical to you.  With very few committee hearings outside of Appropriations being conducted over this two week recess, not much legislation is moving.  Legislation passed at the Capitol will have a big impact on your child, your school, your community and you. If PTA has an official position it will be shown next to the bill number. Please note, if PTA has an established position, a local unit cannot take an opposing position.

 

SB 361: Another VOUCHER bill: Adds 504 students, foster care students and students from a military family on active duty or in the national guard or reserves to those who can participate in the special needs voucher, renamed the Georgia Early HOPE Scholarship Act, to attend a private school.  The 504 students must have a 504 plan (named after the federal code section in the 1973 bill which authorized it), and all the students must be enrolled in public school for the immediately prior year.  As with special needs scholarships, the student is entitled to the voucher until graduation or a return to public school.  Vouchers must include not only the amount within the QBE formula for that student but a proportional share of state categorical grants, non QBE state grants, equalization grants and the student’s share of transportation, food services, and building programs.  The required formula stipulates that the voucher student will get a share of all of these grants even if the student was not eligible to receive any benefit if enrollment in the public school was continued. PTA OPPOSES any voucher, tax credit, or tax deduction that siphons public money to private schools. Received a Do Pass in Committee and heading to the Senate Floor

 

Key: HR- House Resolution,   HB – House Bill, SR– Senate Resolution, SB– Senate Bill

 

Increase PTA’s Voice on Capitol Hill

 

Join National PTA Takes Action Challenge

We need YOU Georgia PTA Members to sign-up and increase your voice in Washington D.C. 

 

As a member of the network, you will:

  • Receive monthly updates on federal legislative issues affecting families, schools and communities.
  • Speak up for children through messages to your members of Congress on specific federal policy issues.
  • Help your state PTA become the National Challenge Champion.

Join the Network Today!  It takes just a minute of your time to join online at:  http://www.pta.org/takesaction 

Don’t be left behind in knowing about the latest legislative action taking place on Capitol Hill.

 

2010 Nat’l PTA Federal Public Policy Agenda

 

Each year National PTA publishes a public policy agenda that outlines policy priorities and recommendations for Congress. The priorities are selected based on the following criteria: timeliness of issue (is it being considered before Congress and the Administration), opportunities for National PTA to provide leadership and expertise to Congress, alignment to National PTA’s mission and resolutions, and ability to achieve a meaningful policy change that will produce positive results for children and their families.  

Download this 35 page document PDF file at:  http://www.pta.org/public_policy.asp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Please visit www.georgiapta.org for more Georgia PTA information.