Senators and representatives were ready to get out of town on the morning of this fifth day of the Georgia General Assembly (Aren't we all??), and their truncated work schedules reflected that desire.  Both chambers convened at 9:00 a.m., and both were done by 10 o'clock.  They will all be warmly welcomed back home by their constituents, no doubt!

Neither chamber passed any education legislation on this day (or, any other legislation for that matter), and no committee meetings were scheduled.  A few more education-related bills have been introduced, and they are listed below:

• The most intriguing bill of the day (HB 731), sponsored primarily by Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta), is a Georgia version of what is knows as a "parent trigger" bill.  In most states, this type of legislation involves a process that could ultimately result in a "hostile takeover" of a school by a group of parents.  This bill seeks to involve Georgia's conversion charter statutes as a "parent trigger" mechanism.
• HB 716 reflects the sponsor's (Rep. Ralph Long, D-Atlanta) concern over air quality at or near schools.
• Senator Johnny Grant (R-Milledgeville) has introduced SB 308, intended to increase the number of career academies in Georgia by involving institutions of higher education.
• SB 310, introduced by Senator Rick Jeffares (R-Locust Grove), seeks to direct the use and expenditure of certain lottery revenues.

The General Assembly will not be in session during the week of January 16, but the entire week will be consumed with joint meetings of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees as they dig into the FY12 Amended Budget and FY13 Budget for the first time.  GSSA's Report from the Capitol will resume on January 23.