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AJC.com > Legislature > Georgia Beat > Archives > 2005 > January > 27
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Bill provides ‘virtual’ classes for high school students
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Public and private high school students throughout Georgia will be able to take some of their classes over the Internet if a measure approved today by the Senate becomes law.
The bill, part of Gov. Sonny Perdue’s education initiative, would provide online course options for every high school in Georgia.
After a lengthy debate, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of creating the “Georgia Virtual School.”
“This bill is all about how a student can take a class over the Internet for credit for graduation,” said Sen. Dan Moody (R-Alpharetta), chair of the Senate Education and Youth Committee and the sponsor of the bill.
The bill now heads to the House.
Earlier this week, Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox told legislators that the virtual high school is “a great opportunity for Georgia students,” but particularly for students in small or rural counties that lack rigorous Advanced Placement courses, which can help students enter selective universities.
Virtual, or online classes, are now offered in many Georgia schools. Cobb and Gwinnett counties are among the systems that currently have their own programs. Four years ago, the state Department of Education started offering the courses as well.
“We haven’t been able to make that available to all students in all systems,” Cox told the Senate education committee this week.
The legislation would provide state money to subsidize the courses, allowing students to take up to six classes a year. In committee, the bill was amended to extend the option to home and privately schooled students - a major point of contention in Thursday’s Senate debate.
“I rise to oppose this legislation in its current form because it does not place a priority on public school children,” said Sen. Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta). He also said that children under 18 should have priority over adult students for slots in the online program. The bill allows for students up to age 21 to enroll.
Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton) offered a different perspective, arguing that state lawmakers should give every child in Georgia the best possible educational opportunities. He argued that there are people who are paying millions of dollars in property taxes for education and have chosen home schooling, parochial schools and private schools.
“Why should we deny them when they’re paying to educate all children in Georgia,” Thomas said. “It doesn’t make sense to me that we should discriminate against those parents.”
Minority Whip David Adelman (D-Decatur) proposed an amendment to the bill that gave public school students priority over all other students. Sen. Moody, after hearing from numerous other Senators, said he was comfortable with language making public school students have first priority.
Adelman withdrew his amendment. Moody’s amendment, almost exactly the same as Adelman’s, passed 37-18.
Student participation in the Georgia Virtual School initially may be limited because the state only has 30 teachers who are trained to teach online courses. The Department of Education estimates that 2,000 students eventually could take the courses at a cost to the state of $800,000, or $400 per student.
In addition to providing Advanced Placement courses, the bill would make available a variety of other courses. Students would be able to take the online courses after normal school hours, or during the summer. Students in summer classes would have to pay a nominal fee.
The bill authorizes the state Department of Education to set the rules about student enrollment and tuition rates.
— Staff Writer Mary McDonald contributed to this report.
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Dems propose Miller share honor with late Sen. Coverdell
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bipartisanship and brick apparently won’t mix at the state Capitol.
At least that’s how it appeared this morning when the GOP-controlled Rules Committee in the House shot down a Democrat’s suggestion that the state Legislative Office Building be renamed in bipartisan tribute to the late U.S. Sen. Paul Coverdell and former U.S. Sen. Zell Miller.
Leaders in the new GOP-controlled House have introduced a resolution to rename the building across from the state Capitol for Coverdell, a Republican who served Georgia both in Washington and in the state Senate.
House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island), said, “probably none more than members of my party” appreciate the contributions of Miller, a Democrat who has staunchly supported President George W. Bush and been highly critical of his own national party. But Keen said the naming of public structures should be reserved for deceased political leaders and would be an appropriate tribute for Coverdell, who served in the state Senate for 15 years.
House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) had argued that Miller deserved credit for having helped in his tenure as lieutenant governor to get the building renovated for lawmakers. Before the Legislative Office Building opened in the late 1980s, House members operated from their desk on the House floor and from telephone booths in the anteroom, Porter said.
State Rep. Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus) made another suggestion. Since Coverdell served in the Senate, how about including the name of a House member as well? She did not suggest anyone in particular.
The Rules Committee meets again Tuesday and will decide whether to send to the House floor Keen’s proposal for the Paul D. Coverdell Legislative Office Building.
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Conservation bill put on fast track
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue’s land conservation legislation is slated to be the first bill passed by the GOP-controlled Georgia House this year.
This morning, the Republican-led Rules Committee voted to put the bill on the House calendar for Monday, the 9th day of the legislative session. The bill cleared the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee on Wednesday.
Although lawmakers meet again Friday, Rules Committee Chairman Earl Ehrhart said the wait gives lawmakers extra time to review the fine points of the bill.
Perdue wants to make $100 million available to entice farmers, timber companies and other large landowners to permanently protect their pastures, forests and other landscapes from development. The owners would still own their land and could continue to farm or timber it. They would not have to open it up for public access.
Land owners could receive a flat sum for giving up their development rights, and tax breaks. In return, the state could forever protect fragile landscapes, including wetlands, an old-growth forest that’s home to endangered plants and animals, or Civil War battlefields.
Environmental advocates and land conservation groups, including Georgia Conservancy and Georgia Wildlife Federation, and the state offices of the Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Land, support the legislation.
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