Following last year’s failure of the Opportunity School District (OSD) vote at the ballot box – Speaker Ralston called it a “resounding defeat” – eyes turned to Governor Nathan Deal and other Republicans at the Capitol who had declared education solutions a priority. The OSD failed for a variety of reasons, Ralston has also called a lot of the information about the bill not accurate, but a common complaint was a fear of losing local control.
So, when Republicans returned to the state house in January, a priority was finding a path for both local control and a state-based impetus for improving chronically failing local schools. On Wednesday, the house passed their answer, HB 338, by a vote of 138-37. House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams (D- 89 Atlanta) urged her part members to support the bill and nearly half of the chamber’s Democrats ultimately voted for the Republican sponsored bill. The bill would create a turnaround plan for Georgia’s lowest performing schools. It would “provide for system of supports and assistance for the lowest-performing schools identified 3 as in the greatest need of assistance” and create the position of Chief Turnaround Officer and provide for turnaround coaches.
The State School Superintendent would provide consultation and on-site evaluations and recommendations would be developed. A two-year period would be given to implement the “intensive school improvement plan” and further intervention would be possible if improvements were not made in that window. Additionally, an Education Turnaround Advisory Council would be created, as well Joint Study Committees on the Establishment of a State Accreditation Process and the Establishment of a Leadership Academy. Local school board members could be removed if one-half or more of the schools in the local system have received an unacceptable rating for five or more consecutive years.
The Chief Turnaround Officer will have to have a minimum of ten years experience in K-12 education and hold an advanced degree. Also, he or she will have to been a principal or higher level administrator for at least three years in a public system. The State Board of Education would appoint the CTO, with input from the Superintendent and Turnaround Advisory Council.
Governor Deal was effusive in his praise of the bill and the bill’s sponsor, Representative Kevin Tanner (R- 9 Dawsonville). “I applaud the members of the House of Representatives who demonstrated their commitment to improving education outcomes for Georgia’s most vulnerable students,” said Deal. “Rep. Kevin Tanner worked tirelessly with House and Senate leadership, education committee chairmen and other stakeholders to produce this critical and bipartisan legislation. I’m grateful for their cooperation and collaboration on behalf of Georgia students. This is a critical step forward for improving Georgia’s education system for current and future students, families and communities. I look forward to its passage in the Senate and signing HB 338 into law.”
Tanner told the House he knows there is no such thing as a silver bullet fix for education but this was an opportunity to stand united. Most of the House took him at his word.
