The education related bills that passed on the House floor are: HB405 Members of governing boards of nonprofit organizations which are charter petitioners and charter schools to participate in governance training.  A board training bill for independent charter schools.  HB886 This bill requires local school boards and  charter LEA's hold two public hearings on the proposed budget. Charter advocates are a little surprised on this requirement.  This passed easily out of the House.  They were "slap happy" over this bill. HB810Adds home school students to the standardized college admission test and its relationship to HOPE. HB897 Passed by 120-51.  This is the Title 20 bill that used to be a clean-up bill and is now a vehicle to add "stuff" to Title 20. Section 46 of this massive piece of legislation which pertains to first right of refusal of an underutilized facility for charters in your district is a sore spot in the bill. We will continue to communicate with the author.  

The Senate had a much shorter calendar where three education bills moved out of the Senate: HB979 This limits the size of boards of education in the state to maximum of 7 members.  Not necessarily a bad idea.  It has been on the fast track so it could be in effect by the qualifying time of March 3, 2014.  This is now on the Governor's desk for his signature.  He will sign it into law ASAP.  SB372 HOPE Scholarship will require local school systems to calculate a GPA for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders for the purpose of qualifying for HOPE. Moves to the House. SR875 Property Tax Digest Impact on education funding create a Joint Study Committee. Moves to the House.

The full House Education Committee met late today to hear HB964 The charter school in-the-workplace and charter in the municipality gave it a do pass 7-4 vote.  There were many amendments discussed at the hearing. That may hold up this bill.This is a (back) another door charter bill in my opinion.

HB1006 This is a Virtual School seat time waiver bill that is being sponsored by Dem Rep. Alisha Morgan. It was given a do pass out of the full committee so it will go to the Rules calendar for consideration.  

SB167 The Common Core bill is moving to the House side of the chamber.  GSSA will work with the House Education Committee to offer some ideas for changes.  

The Legislature will take two days off to hold committee meetings and return Monday March 3, 2014, for crossover day.