The past week saw the introduction of 3 pieces of legislation being labeled as a "Parents' Bill of Rights."  HB1178 , SB449 , HB1158, has some differences from the Governor's bills. The main focus of all three bills is codifying a parent's access to instructional materials (read more in the Governor's press release). PTA fully supports parental involvement in their children's education and encourages parents be actively engaged in the decision making processes for their schools and system. Standard 4 of the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships encourages the development of a Parent Bill of Rights. Fulton County Schools has Bills of Rights for Parents, Teachers, and Students.

We have heard two main concerns from educators about the three bills introduced this week:

1.     All three bills have a requirement for parents to "opt-in" for their children to be photographed or recorded, however the Governor's bills do not have exceptions for security or instruction; this would be problematic for the video surveillance systems used by schools for student safety and some instruction (e.g. - foreign language assignments).

2.     The time frame for school systems to produce documents does not account for reduced staffing and hours in summer months; this could particularly impact smaller systems.

We hope these issues will be resolved as the bills begin moving.

HB10 - Support for Students Living in Poverty - Georgia is one of only 8 states to not recognize impoverished students in its education allocation. This bill would provide funds to systems based upon the number of students who fit the definition of poverty. The current proposed budget DOES NOT include funds specifically for impoverished students. House Education   PTA SUPPORTS

HB892 and HB904 - Prohibits corporal punishment in schools. The main difference between these two bills is that HB904 provisions for limited liability for educators who may have reasonable and necessary physical contact with students in certain instances.  House Education  PTA SUPPORTS

HB888 - Bill prohibiting certain instruction. Prohibits requirement for students to ". . . engage in or observe a discussion of any public policy issue." Also would withhold 20% of a system's QBE funding for violations.  House Education

HB903 - Eliminates a license for concealed carry and expands places where firearms may be carried, including school properties. House Public Safety and Homeland Security

HB999 - a bill to create vouchers for private education. PTA OPPOSES vouchers in any form. This bill would establish a "promise scholarship account" for any student in Georgia who has spent at least 6 weeks in a public school. Read more in our previous report. House Education

HB1005 - Requires schools systems to give every student between the ages of 8 and 18 a suicide screening at the beginning of every school year.  One concern we've heard from counselors is that this screening will be a snapshot for on the day of the screening and will not be as effective as the bill's author intends. House Education

HB1013 - Mental Health Parity Act: Would implement the recommendations of the Georgia Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission and requires compliance with federal law regarding mental health parity. This is Speaker Ralston's mental health bill.  House Health and Human Services

HB1084 - In addition to restricting curriculum, could rescind flexibility waivers granted to Strategic Waiver and Charter Systems. Also prohibits the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) from requiring programs with "divisive concepts" for certification.  House Education

HR650 - Forms a House Study Committee on Literacy Instruction. The committee would be comprised of five house members (appointed by the Speaker), a representative from the Dept. of Education, Dept. of Early Care and Learning, Technical College System of Georgia, the University System of Georgia, the Office of Student Achievement, the Deal Center, and someone who specializes in the "study of complex systems." NOTE: the committee does NOT include a classroom teacher or system literacy specialist.   House Education

SB226 - Requires local boards of education to develop a policy which outlines the process for when parents or guardians allege that material(s) provided by the school are harmful to minors, applies to school libraries. House Judiciary Non-Civil 

SB316 - Requires local boards of education to notify parents and students that some acts of bullying or cyber-bullying may be a misdemeanor or felony and can be prosecuted. Senate Judiciary

SB345 - Prohibits all public agencies from requiring any vaccinations - public agencies include schools, colleges, and universities. Senate Health and Human Services  PTA OPPOSES

SB375 - Bill prohibiting certain instruction. In addition to restricting curriculum, also prohibits state agencies, city, and county governments requiring programs with "divisive concepts."  Senate Education and Youth

SB377 - Bill prohibiting certain instruction. Encompasses the University System of Georgia (USG) and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). Withholds 10% of QBE from school systems in violation. Would also withhold "state funding or state administered federal funding" for violations - this includes funding for student scholarships, loans, and grants at the postsecondary institution (lines 228-233)  Senate Education and Youth