Day 15 started with the House Rules Committee Chair Richard Smith setting some restrictions on how many bills will be brought to the full rules committee. From my perspective I thought this was long over due and heading on the right track to limit last minute pieces of legislation that are jammed through and just might be poor policy due to the rush job. There were no education bills heard today in either the House Ed or Senate Ed Committees. There was a Joint Senate Ed and Higher Ed meeting to hear from local superintendents to discuss literacy and the “on the ground” efforts that are currently being implemented to address the reading concerns raised by legislators. Your colleagues Charles Wilson, superintendent of Bulloch County, Dr. Chris McMichael superintendent of Barrow County, and Dr. Grant Rivera superintendent of Marietta City Schools who all presented a very impressive approach in teaching youngsters to read. Many of the efforts were focused K-12 but also reaching back to birth to 5. This is the time the committees are listening to the practitioners who are certainly giving them plenty to consider and hopefully bringing the legislators up to speed on the very focused and targeted strategies used at the local level. Well done superintendents and staff!
Expectations: We are anticipating legislation to drop from the Senate that will contain language to focus on literacy in the state. The danger is when you attempt to legislate this area of instruction the line could be crossed and it could get too prescriptive in nature. We are hoping to guard against this and we will be on the lookout for that “over the line language”. We will keep you posted.
SB 93 – Although not mentioned specifically in the language of this legislation, this is aimed at restricting access to social media like TIK TOK and similar platforms where access to personal information is being collected by a foreign government or non government foreign entity. GEMA and Homeland Security Agency will be charged with maintaining a list of foreign adversaries. Some big name sponsors on the bill so it is likely to move along the process. Click on the bill link and you can review the 5 page bill. We will place this on our watch list.
SB 98 – This bill could be problematic in enforcement. I decided to copy the bills language verbatim:
local board of education member shall discuss any individual personnel matter with the local school superintendent or a school administrator, teacher, or other school personnel except as provided for in Code Section 20-2-943, paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-989.7, Code Section 20-2-989.8, Code Section 20-2-1160, paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of Code Section 50-14-3, Code Section 50-14-4, or as otherwise specifically authorized by law. No local board of education member shall retaliate against the local school superintendent or a school administrator, teacher, or other school personnel for engaging in protected political activity. Such model code of ethics shall include a provision which prohibits local board of education members from:
(1) Discussing any individual personnel matter with the local school superintendent or
a school administrator, teacher, or other school personnel except as provided for in Code
Section 20-2-943, paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-989.7, Code
Section 20-2-989.8, Code Section 20-2-1160, paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of Code
Section 50-14-3, Code Section 50-14-4, or as otherwise specifically authorized by law;
and
(2) Retaliating against the local school superintendent or a school administrator, teacher,
or other school personnel for engaging in protected political activity.
We will definitely watch this one carefully and provide updates on its traction.
Tomorrow is day 16/40.
No Comment
You can post first response comment.