Wednesday, January 13, 2010

GAE DAILY LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE 1.12.2010

From the inbox:
 GAE DAILY LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE 2010
 
 
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
 
Perhaps the biggest news today came this morning at the Annual Eggs and Issues Breakfast when Governor Perdue announced plans for a Merit Pay proposal.  According to his comments, there would be two systems.  Individuals could remain in the current system that rewards individuals based on years of experience and additional education or become a part of a new system that would provide compensation based on student achievement.  Potential methods of providing funds would be based on a growth model which would account for student achievement.
While GAE has historically opposed any merit pay system, we have done so only with an alternative in hand.  We have offered and will continue to offer the Tiered Certification/Compensation concept.  In this proposal there are six levels of compensation:
 
Level 1- Education Support Professionals
Level 2- 0-2 year teachers
Level 3- 3-5 year teachers
Level 4- Master Teachers
Level 5- Mentor Teachers
Level 6- Administrator
 
This proposal rewards educators based not only on years of experience but level of responsibility, level of meaningful experience, and educational attainment.  Most importantly, our proposal encourages our strongest educators to keep their skills and talents where they are most needed- in the classroom.  Our children deserve this type of thinking.  Our professionals deserve this type of respect.
 
GAE has not yet taken a position on this bill because we do not have enough information on it and have yet to see a proposal on paper.  We will continue to seek out information and keep you aware of any developments. We will make sure that your interests are fully represented.
 
Click here to see a copy of Governor Perdue's Press Release.
 
GAE in the NEWS- AGAIN!
GAE President Jeff Hubbard provided several interviews to local and statewide media organs in response to Governor Perdue's remarks surrounding a potential Merit Pay proposal.  GAE was the only organization sought after to provide feedback and alternative ideas to the proposals referenced during the Governor's remarks.
Tomorrow [today] the Governor will deliver his State of the State Address to the General Assembly (11am).  President Hubbard will again provide the GAE position on proposals that will be discussed during the Governor's speech.   
 
Committee Meetings
The House Education Committee met today.  A few of the bills discussed were:
 
HB 908 Temporary Suspension of certain Title 20 Provisions Sponsored by Representative David Casas (R-Lilburn) This bill seeks a temporary suspension of several Title 20 Provisions until year 2013! Among those provisions:
 
            Funding for direct instructional costs
 
            Funding related to direct classroom expenditures
             According to Georgia Code, "Direct classroom expenditures mean all expenditures
             by a local school system during a fiscal year for activities directly associated with
             the interaction between teachers and students, including, but not limited to, salaries
             and benefits for teachers and paraprofessionals; costs for instructional materials and
             supplies; costs associated with classroom related activities..."
          
            Increase in class size for grades K-8
            According to Georgia Code, "It is the intent...to provide a clear expectation to
            parents and guardians as to the maximum number of students that may be in their
            child's classroom in kindergarten through eighth grade.
 
            Salary Schedules
            According to Georgia Code, "The State Board of Education shall establish a schedule
            of minimum salaries ... The minimum salary schedule shall provide a minimum
            salary base for each classification of professional personnel required to be
            certificated.
 
*GAE has met with House Education Committee Chair Rep. Coleman about removing the proposals to temporarily suspend class size and the salary schedule.  We will continue to work on having these sections removed.  
 
 
HB 906 - Temporarily Extends Deadline for Annual Contracts for Certified Personnel Sponsored by Representative Jay Neal (R-LaFayette) Last year the legislature granted a deadline extension for contracts for certified personnel moving the date from April 15 to May 15. The same action is being proposed to run through year 2013. GAE has expressed our members' concerns about having job placement for the following academic year. We are strongly urging locals to provide contracts to their employees as quickly as possible.
 
HB (no number, not yet filed but idea discussed in committee) Leadership Degree to be completed.
Sponsored by Representative Jay Neal
This bill would extend the deadline for advanced degrees to have been completed by July 1, 2013.  We will provide more information on this bill as it becomes available.  Possible vote on Thursday.  
 
HB 905- Capital Outlay Projects
Sponsored by Representative Tom Dickson (R-Cohutta) This bill deals with the capitol outlay program or the state's portion of school construction.  Without this legislation this bill would sunset on June 30, 2010.  This bill is necessary for school construction projects and provides a new sunset date of June 30, 2015. Possible vote on Thursday.
 
HB 904- Equalization
Sponsored by Representative Tom Dickson. This bill addresses issues with equalization although it makes no changes in how equalization is calculated.  The bill does establish that in times of economic difficulty the state will consider which systems appear to have the greatest needs.  In sum, a system in the lowest 25 percentile of funding would be eligible to receive 95% of the funding it originally would receive.  Systems that fall in the lower 50 percentile would be eligible to receive 80% of their normal funding.  Finally, those in the lowest 75 percent would be eligible for a portion of what they would normally receive and the top 25 percent would have to divide the remainder of the state-provided funding.
 
 
Cyber Lobby for GAE
 
To begin, register at www.gae.org to become a cyber lobbyist and be able to contact your legislator and certain committee members on bills of interest to you and GAE. Remember to check this section daily for opportunities to contact your legislator!
 

Posted via email from Jim Nichols for GA State House

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