Face It Cobb
Helping move K-12 public education forward for Georgia’s children

Good News for Public Education in Georgia
by Kristy Flowers on 1/17/2015

Governor Deal has announced recommendations for the amended FY 2015 budget and the FY 2016 budget.  These proposals include substantial increases in funding for public education.  

We are encouraging all FACE It Cobb members to call Governor Deal's office and thank him for supporting public education.  He needs to hear from us, to ensure that strengthening public education becomes the norm in Georgia, and not the exception.

Here are some highlights:

  • Amended FY2015 K-12 Highlights
    • $134 million: Increasing the funds for a midterm adjustment (this includes $7.3 million for the State Commission Charter School supplement and $2.39 million for midterm adjustments to charter system grants)
    • $2.4 million: Increasing funds for the Georgia Milestones assessment 
    • $1 million: Providing funds to support the Education Reform Task Force 
    • $35 million: For OneGeorgia Authority to provide grants to local school systems for broadband internet connectivity through the Connections for Classrooms program and to provide funds for live online instruction and other digital platforms for students and teachers. (Dept of Community Affairs)

  • FY2016 K-12 Education Highlights 
    • $280 million: To offset the austerity reduction in order to provide local education authorities the flexibility to eliminate teach furlough days, increase instructional days, and increase teacher salaries.
    • $152 million: Increasing funds for enrollment growth, training and experience.
    • $8.9 million: Increasing funds for the State Commission Charter Schools supplement.
    • $2.9 million: Increasing funds for charter systems grants
    • $2.4 million: Increasing funds for 17 teacher and leader effectiveness support positions, one teacher induction position and 2 district effectiveness positions and operating expenses. 
    • $1.6 million: Increasing funds for the E-Rate program to increase bandwidth from 3 Mbps to 100 Mbps for school systems.
    • $1.4 million:  Increasing funds for preschool handicapped program
    • $1.02 million: Increasing funds for differentiated pay for new certified math and science teachers. 
    • $1 million: Increasing funds for the Georgia Milestones assessment
    • $332,000: Increasing funds for School Nurses
    • $10.4 million: Providing funds for strategic professional development initiatives per SB 404 in 2012 (Gov's Office of Student Achievement)    

    • Please remember, these are recommendations from Governor Deal to the Georgia General Assembly.  The House and Senate will begin to weigh in very soon.  We will be asking them to support these additions to the budget for public education.  We are asking you to reach out to them as well.