As a member of the 2023 graduating class at Morehouse College, and seventh grade math teacher, Bryce Berry beat three candidates in a crowded Democratic primary Tuesday night in the Georgia House District 56 race. Berry’s victory all but solidifies his path to a seat in the House in 2025.
Berry’s victory will see him take on State Rep. Mesha Mainor in November. In 2023, Mainor switched parties due to what she categorized as moral reasons. If Berry wins in November, he will become the youngest person elected to the Georgia House of Representatives at 22 years old.
“I cannot thank District 56 enough for their support and their belief in me,” says Berry. “I’m humbled and honored. Even as a young person, there’s a chance they’ll see the need for new resolute leadership that sees and champions every single district. And so I owe this to District 56. We talked not just to the voters, but to non voters as well.”
Berry informed voters of his future role under the Gold Dome
Berry says his campaign went after the low-information voters that reside in his district. Individuals that felt downtrodden or left out by the process. He says he’s speaking for them.
“I’m someone that I don’t get into the politics of, that we have to degrade and, and defame somebody to get ahead,” I think we all just deserve a chance to get ahead. And we offered them a chance to be seen and heard. And we gave folks hope. That’s what you saw tonight. The move to the results, you saw hope for a district that has a hospital, a district that has jobs, and a district that has the best schools in the nation.”
Berry says his campaign was about maintaining the high road, while the temptations to go low were everywhere. Now, his singular focus is on winning November’s general election. Berry’s education agenda includes raising teacher pay statewide while fully funding Georgia’s public schools. His economic agenda includes providing tax incentives for small businesses that offer fair wages and healthcare benefits.
Mainor was seated in the Georgia House of Representatives in 2021, representing House District 56. It is Democratic stronghold that stretches from Ansley Park, Atlantic Station, Vine City and to Westview. In 2020, President Joe Biden carried the district with 90% of the vote. Mainor garnered 114 votes as the sole participant in the Republican primary.
“This is only half the battle, but it’s a battle we will lead with love, hope and optimism of what Georgia can be,” Berry said Wednesday on social media. “We’re taking this to November and restoring progressive values to District 56.”
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.
Georgia State Rep. Mesha Mainor, R-Atlanta, speaks in favor of school vouchers inside the Georgia House Chamber on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
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.
Georgia State Rep. Karlton Howard, D-Augusta, speaks against school vouchers inside the Georgia House Chamber on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
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.”
