Aside from fully funding k-through-12th grade public education at a pre-recession level, the Georgia General Assembly also took a huge step during the 2018 session by passing House Bill 217. It expanded the decade-old successful tax credit scholarship program that serves nearly 14,000 students, while providing transparency and accountability for taxpayers.
The scholarship program has had long waiting lists of families hoping to pursue educational options that were out of reach, a news release from ExcelinEd in Action points out. The program is funded by donations from businesses and individuals who receive an equal amount as a state tax credit, and HB 217 increases the cap on tax credits available under the program from $58 million to $100 million. By nearly doubling this amount, thousands of additional students can finally move from waiting lists to the school of their choice.
The release notes that lawmakers also took important first steps forward to create more financial parity between all public schools with House Bill 787. This bill provides an estimated $18.6 million increase in funding for tens of thousands of students in public charter schools overseen by the State Charter Schools Commission, Georgia’s statewide charter authorizer.
HB 787 helps reduce the gap in funding between public charter schools and traditional public schools, with additional funds ideally following in future years. It boosts per-student funding, adds new capital funding, provides “forward funding” to cover the cost of significant growth and allows these schools to benefit from membership in Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs).
Ryan, Mahoney, Southeast legislative director of ExcelinEd in Action, sums up the House Bill 217 legislative win:
“Traditional schools serve most families very well, but education is not a one-size-fits-all. Regardless of income or where they live, families deserve the power to find the best educational fit for their children’s unique needs.”
