Atlanta, Georgia Local News
Georgia’s House Republicans pass controversial school voucher bill along party lines
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After more than two hours of debate, the Georgia House passed the school voucher bill, Senate Bill 233, 91-82. The legislation passed largely along party lines. It now heads back to the Senate for further debate. The bill promises $6,500 per child per year for private school or homeschooling for kids in the lowest 25% of performing public schools. One Democrat did vote for the bill. Patty Marie Stevenson voted with the Republicans.
Supporters of the bill believe the ‘The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act’ provides more options for parents and addresses the gap between public and private school costs.
This is how the program is structured: If a parent wants to use the money to pay for part of a private or homeschooled education, the money would be placed into a Promise Scholarship Account. Additionally, if a parent wants to draw down those funds to pay tuition for a particular school, the state must also determine that the school is authorized to participate in the program (provided that the student gains admission to the private school of his/her choice).
Last year, the Democrats were able to beat back the measure. However, House Republicans were on a quest to not have a second defeat on the school voucher bill. This year’s version of the legislation includes low-and middle-income Georgians, only students in families earning no more than 400% of the federal poverty limit – currently $120,000 a year for a family of four – would qualify for the program.
“What you have before you is a responsible piece of legislation that will enhance the educational options we give children,” said House Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones, R-Milton, during the debate. “I have rarely encountered regular citizens who wanted fewer options.”
Also in the House version of the bill, it codifies the teacher pay raises that were approved in 2019, Governor Brian Kemp’s first year in office. Teacher salaries increased $6,500 per year.
In a move to increase enrollment in pre-kindergarten classes, the legislation also would let public schools use state capital construction funds to build new pre-k facilities.
The bill would take effect during the 2025-26 school year and expire at the end of June 2035.
State Representative Mesha Mainor, a Republican from Atlanta, pointed her finger at Democrats. She claimed they acknowledge the problems associated with Georgia’s public schools but refused to offer solutions. Mainor is a huge advocate of school choice.
“SB 233 is about parental choice, teacher pay raises, Pre-K funding tax credits for schools that have children that want to participate in this program,” said Mainor. “If you vote yes for 233, you codify into law the pay raises for the teachers. If you vote no on SB 233, the teachers in your district may return the favor. If you don’t value them, they may not value you.”
Meanwhile, Bryce Berry, a Democrat and a public school teacher running for House District 56, a seat occupied by Mainor, says he was ‘repulsed’ for his students.
“As a Public School teacher I am repulsed for my students, for my families and for my community,” Berry said in a statement. “This blatantly ignores outstanding unmet needs and will result in school closures, teacher layoffs and students left out and left behind. While Rep. Mainor chooses to work against us, I will work for us and immediately hit the ground running to overturn this law and finally meet the needs of our schools.”
According to a poll by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI) from the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs Survey Research Center, 50.2% of Conservatives (+14.4% margin), 57.3% of Moderates (+26.1) and 56.7% of Liberals (+18.5) responded that they would not support any form of public money funding private school vouchers. The effects of this bill, if it passes out of the Senate without further changes, could be potentially damaging to rural public schools. It goes without saying, it would also damage public schools in Atlanta that do not receive adequate funding from the State.
Furthermore, there are studies that inextricably link students’ academic performance to their socioeconomic backgrounds. According to a 2020 study by the United States Department of Agriculture, Georgia had more children (aged 0-17) in poverty than 43 other states. Georgia is also one of only six states that does not provide added support for students living in poverty. State Representative Karlton Howard, a Democrat from Augusta, says the bill will further a two-tiered system where families who reside on the margins will see their education options reduced.
“Ultimately, what it does is perpetuates inequality in our educational system,” said Howard. “And frankly, I’m not swayed by the promise of teacher pay raises or kindergarten improvements if it comes at the cost of defending our public schools. Why don’t we instead invest in our public school education system? Supporting policies that promote equality, equity and fairness for all students? It is clear who this bill serves. It serves the wealthy.”
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